Data code: NR
Government type: republic
Capital: no official capital; government offices in Yaren District
Administrative divisions: 14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren
Independence: 31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, New Zealand-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, 31 January (1968)
Constitution: 29 January 1968
Legal system: acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Rene HARRIS (since NA 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Rene HARRIS (since NA 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of Parliament
elections:
president elected by Parliament for a three-year term; election last held 27 April 1999 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results:
Rene HARRIS elected president; percent of Parliament vote - NA
note:
former President Bernard DOWIYOGO was deposed in a no-confidence vote
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections:
last held 8 February 1997 (next to be held NA February 2000)
election results:
percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 18
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: loose multiparty system; Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; Nauru Party (informal) [Bernard DOWIYOGO]
International organization participation: AsDB, C, ESCAP, ICAO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Nauru does not have an embassy in the US, but will open a UN office early in 2000 at 800 2nd Avenue, New York, New York
consulate(s):
Agana (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru
Flag description: blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator (the yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru
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