Who runs local government in Marshall Islands?
The Marshall Islands combines elected local governments on each inhabited atoll with a constitutional role for hereditary paramount chiefs (iroij). Local governments have elected mayors and councils, while the Council of Iroij, made up of chiefs, advises on laws that affect custom and land, which is still held under customary tenure.
Republic of the Marshall Islands · Unitary parliamentary republic · Oceania
The levels of government below the nation
| Level | How it is chosen | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Local governments (one for each inhabited atoll or island, about 24) | Mayor and council elected by residents; many have their own local constitutions | Local services, local laws, some taxes; recognised by the national Constitution. |
| Council of Iroij (12 members) | Paramount chiefs (iroijlaplap) or their representatives from listed districts of the Ralik and Ratak chains | Advises Cabinet and can ask parliament (the Nitijela) to reconsider bills affecting customary law, land tenure or traditional practice. |
Three questions about local power in Marshall Islands
Are local leaders elected?
Mayors, local councils and the Nitijela are elected. Iroij hold their position by inheritance.
Which laws set up local government?
Local governments and the Council of Iroij are both in the Constitution. Customary land rights are protected by the Constitution and decided in the Traditional Rights Court.
Who are local leaders accountable to?
Local officials face voters. The Council of Iroij can delay but not veto laws. Chiefs' land decisions can be challenged in the courts.
Traditional and customary authority
Land is held under a layered customary system: iroij (chiefs), alap (lineage heads) and ri-jerbal (workers) each have rights to the same land, and land cannot be sold outright. The Constitution protects these rights and set up a Traditional Rights Court to decide questions of customary title. Chiefs remain powerful in land deals, such as leases for the US military base on Kwajalein.
Community and neighbourhood power
Churches, women's groups and community associations organise much of local life, and on outer islands the local government and church are often the main institutions. Communities displaced by US nuclear testing (Bikini, Enewetak, Rongelap, Utrik) have their own local governments and trust funds.
Points to know
- The Council of Iroij has 5 members from the Ralik chain and 7 from the Ratak chain.
- Some nuclear-affected atolls govern displaced communities living on other islands.
- Several Nitijela members are themselves iroij.
Local terms
- Iroij
- Hereditary chief; iroijlaplap is a paramount chief.
- Nitijela
- The national parliament.
Sources
- Constitution of Marshall Islands 1979 (rev. 1995) (English text), Constitute Project, checked 14 October 2026
- Legislation (Marshall Islands Revised Code and Acts), Nitijela (Parliament) of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, checked 14 October 2026
See also: Marshall Islands's official statistics and leaders · the 10 levels of power.