Palau Government

The government of the Republic of Palau is classified as being a unitary presidential constitutional republic which operates under a non-partisan democracy. The head of state and of the government is the President. The Senate as well as the Palau National Congress makes up the country’s legislative branch. The Compact of Free Association that has existed between Palau and the U.S. since 1994 ensures that America will continue to provide military assistance to the island nation for a period of fifty years.

The current President of Palau is Tommy Remengesau who is the seventh man to hold this post. Remengesau began his four year term as head of state on January 17, 2013 and previously served as the country’s Vice President from 1993 to 2001. Palau’s current Vice President is Raynold Oilouch. He is the ninth person to occupy this position and has been in office since January 19, 2017.

Palau’s National Congress is known as Olbiil Era Kelulau which translates to, “House of Whispered Decisions.” This governmental body includes the Senate as well as the House of Delegates. Before being moved to the capital of Ngerulmud the National Congress met in Koror, Palau’s most populous city, which served as its capital up until 2006. Palau’s government complex is made up of three separate buildings housing the Olbiil era Kelulau as well as the country’s judicial and executive branches all of which are connected to one another by an open plaza. Opened on October 7, 2006 the government complex cost over forty five million American dollars.

Residents of Palau elect their President as well as the legislature which is made up of the Palau National Congress and the Senate. The National Congress includes sixteen members all of whom are elected to four year terms. The Senate is presently composed of thirteen members each serving four year terms. Palau’s head of state can only be re- elected once.