politics of nauru

Nauru is a democratic republic. The country's 18-member Parliament is run under a British-style system. There is a loose multiparty system; the two main parties are the Democratic Party and Nauru Party (informal). Elections for the Parliament are held every three years; voting is compulsory for all citizens aged 20 or more. The Parliament elects a president from amongst its members, who appoints a Cabinet of 5-6 people. The President is both the head of state and head of government. A series of no-confidence votes, resignations and elections between 1999 and 2003 saw Ren Harris and Bernard Dowiyogo as President for numerous short periods during a period of political instability. Dowigoyo died in office on March 10, 2003, in Washington, D.C., after heart surgery. Ludwig Scotty was elected President on May 29, 2003, but this did not bring to an end the years of political uncertainty as he was replaced by Harris a few months later.

List of Presidents since independence

Name (birth-death)	Dates of presidency
1. Hammer DeRoburt (1922-1992)	31 Jan 1968 to 22 Dec 1976
2. Bernard Dowiyogo (1946-2003)	22 Dec 1976 to 19 Apr 1978
3. Lagumot Harris (1938?-1999)	19 Apr 1978 to 15 May 1978
4. Hammer DeRoburt (2nd admin)	15 May 1978 to 17 Sep 1986
5. Kennan Adeang	17 Sep 1986 to 01 Oct 1986
6. Hammer DeRoburt (3rd admin)	01 Oct 1986 to ?? Dec 1986
7. Kennan Adeang (2nd admin)	?? Dec 1986 to ?? Dec 1986
8. Hammer DeRoburt (4th admin)	?? Dec 1986 to 17 Aug 1989
9. Kenos Aroi	17 Aug 1989 to 12 Dec 1989
0. Bernard Dowiyogo (2nd admin)	12 Dec 1989 to 22 Nov 1995
1. Lagumot Harris (2nd admin)	22 Nov 1995 to 11 Nov 1996
2. Bernard Dowiyogo (3rd admin)	11 Nov 1996 to 26 Nov 1996
3. Kennan Adeang (3rd admin)	26 Nov 1996 to 19 Dec 1996
4. Rueben Kun	19 Dec 1996 to 13 Feb 1997
5. Kinza Clodumar (1944?-)	13 Feb 1997 to 18 Jun 1998
6. Bernard Dowiyogo (4th admin)	18 Jun 1998 to 27 Apr 1999
7. Ren Harris (1948-)	27 Apr 1999 to 20 Apr 2000
8. Bernard Dowiyogo (5th admin)	20 Apr 2000 to 30 Mar 2001
9. Ren Harris (2nd admin)	30 Mar 2001 to 09 Jan 2003
0. Bernard Dowiyogo (6th admin)	09 Jan 2003 to 17 Jan 2003
1. Ren Harris (3rd admin)	17 Jan 2003 to 18 Jan 2003
2. Bernard Dowiyogo (7th admin; died in office)	18 Jan 2003 to 10 Mar 2003
3. Derog Gioura (1931?-)	10 Mar 2003 to 29 May 2003 (acting to 20 Mar 2003)
4. Ludwig Scotty	29 May 2003 to 08 Aug 2003
5. Ren Harris (4th admin)	08 Aug 2003 to 22 Jun 2004
6. Ludwig Scotty (2nd admin)	22 Jun 2004 to Present

Legal System

Nauruan law is based on British common law and Acts of the Nauru Parliament. Decisions are made by the Supreme Court.

International organization participation:

Nauru is a member of the following organisations: Asian Development Bank, The Commonwealth, ESCAP, ICAO, ICC, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Pacific Islands Forum, Pacific Community, SOPAC, Sparteca, United Nations, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Constituencies

Nauru has 8 constituencies which are groups of the administrative regions above. They are:

Aiwo
Anabar (made up of Anabar, Anibare and Ijuw)
Anetan (made up of Anetan and Ewa)
Boe
Buada
Meneng
Ubenide (made from Baiti, Denigomodu, Nibok and Uaboe)
Yaren

Each constituency returns 2 members to the Nauruan Parliament, except for Ubenide which returns 4.