The Government of Kiribati - The World Countries

Kiribati - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Kiribati, it was the name is the local pronunciation of "Gilberts," the former designation of the islands; originally named after explorer Thomas GILBERT, who mapped many of the islands in 1788. The Government system in this country is the presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 3 geographical units: Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions, but there are 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) and 21 island councils - one for each of the inhabited islands (Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina)

National symbols

Frigatebird; national colors: red, white, blue, yellow.

The flag

The National flag of Kiribati has the upper half is red with a yellow frigatebird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the Pacific ocean; the white stripes represent the three island groups - the Gilbert, Line, and Phoenix Islands; the 17 rays of the sun represent the 16 Gilbert Islands and Banaba (formerly Ocean Island); the frigatebird symbolizes authority and freedom.

The National Anthem

Title	"Teirake kaini Kiribati" (Stand Up, Kiribati)
Lyric/music	Urium Tamuera IOTEBA

note: adopted 1979

More about the government of Kiribati

Constitution
Date of Independence	12 July 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday	Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Legal system	English common law supplemented by customary law
International law organization participation	has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
History	The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Order in Council 1915, The Gilbert Islands Order in Council 1975 (preindependence); latest promulgated 12 July 1979 (at independence)
Amendments	Proposed by the House of Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership; passage of amendments affecting the constitutional section on amendment procedures and parts of the constitutional chapter on citizenship requires deferral of the proposal to the next Assembly meeting where approval is required by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership and support of the nominated or elected Banaban member of the Assembly; amendments affecting the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms also requires approval by at least two-thirds majority in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2018
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth	no
Citizenship by descent only	at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Kiribati
Dual citizenship recognized	no
Residency requirement for naturalization	7 years
Executive Branch
Chief of state	President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016)
Head of government	President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016)
Cabinet	Cabinet appointed by the president from among House of Assembly members
Elections/appointments	president directly elected by simple majority popular vote following nomination of candidates from among House of Assembly members for a 4-year term (eligible for 2 additional terms); election last held on 22 June 2020 (next to be held in 2024); vice president appointed by the president
Election results	2020: Taneti MAAMAU reelected president; percent of vote - Taneti MAAMAU (TKB) 59.3%, Banuera BERINA (BKM) 40.7%
Legislative branch
Description	Unicameral House of Assembly or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (45 seats; 44 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in two rounds if needed, and 1 member appointed by the Rabi Council of Leaders - representing Banaba Island; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections	First round held on 14 August 2024; second round held on 19 August 2024 (next to be held in 2028)
Election results	Percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 33 TKP, 8 BKM, 4 Independents; composition - 40 men, 5 women; percentage women 11% (as of September 2024)
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	High Court (consists of a chief justice and other judges as prescribed by the president); note - the High Court has jurisdiction on constitutional issues
Judge selection and term of office	Chief justice appointed by the president on the advice of the cabinet in consultation with the Public Service Commission (PSC); other judges appointed by the president on the advice of the chief justice along with the PSC
Subordinate courts	Court of Appeal; magistrates' courts
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Teburoro TITO (since 24 January 2018); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
Chancery	685 Third Avenue, Suite 1109, New York, NY 10017
Telephone	[1] (212) 867-3310
FAX	[1] (212) 867-3320
Email address and website	[email protected]
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Marie DAMOUR (since 6 December 2022); note - Ambassador DAMOUR is based in the US Embassy in the Republic of Fiji and is accredited to Kiribati as well as Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites	1 (natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales	Phoenix Islands Protected Area