Local Government Act 1980
TITLE 4 – LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
CHAPTER 1 - LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
sRepublic of the Marshall Islands
Jepilpilin Ke Ejukaan
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1980
Arrangement of Sections
Section Page
PART I - PRELIMINARY 5
§101. Short title. .............................................................................................................................. 5
§102. Interpretation. ....................................................................................................................... 5
§103. Reserved. ............................................................................................................................... 7
PART II- NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS 7
§104. Saving of existing Municipal Councils. ............................................................................. 7
§105. Right to a system of Local Government. ........................................................................... 7
§106. Power to make ordinances. ................................................................................................. 7
§107. Local Government Areas. .................................................................................................... 8
PART III - LEGAL STATUS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS 9
§108. Incorporation of Local Governments. ............................................................................... 9
PART IV - CONSTITUTIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS 9
DIVISION 1 - GENERAL 9
§109. Requirement of Written Constitution. ............................................................................... 9
§110. Former Unchartered Municipal Counties. ...................................................................... 10
§111. Former unchartered Municipal Councils. ....................................................................... 10
DIVISION 2 - MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION 11
§112. Application of Division 2. ................................................................................................. 11
§113. The legislature. .................................................................................................................... 11
§114. The executive. ..................................................................................................................... 12
§115. The head of the Local Government. ................................................................................. 12
§116. Staff. ..................................................................................................................................... 12
§117. Meetings of Councils. ........................................................................................................ 13
§118. Budget and accounts. ........................................................................................................ 13
§119. Wards. .................................................................................................................................. 14
§120. Amendment of the constitution. ...................................................................................... 14
PART V - AMALGAMATION AND TRANSFER OF TERRITORY 15
§121. Amalgamation. ................................................................................................................... 15
§122. Transfer of property. ......................................................................................................... 16
PART VI- ELECTIONS 17
§123. Electoral methods. ............................................................................................................. 17
§124. Elections by ballot. ............................................................................................................. 17
§125. Elections by consensus. ..................................................................................................... 17
DIVISION 2 - ELECTION BY CONSENSUS 17
§126. Certifying officers. ............................................................................................................. 17
§127. Announcement of election. ............................................................................................... 17
§128. Election meetings. .............................................................................................................. 18
§129. Declaration of result of election. ...................................................................................... 19
DIVISION 3 - MISCELLANEOUS 19
§130. Unmanageable electorates. ............................................................................................... 19
§131. Administrative instructions by Chief Electoral Officer. ............................................... 19
§132. Offenses in relation to elections by consensus. .............................................................. 19
PART VII- GRANTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS 20
§133. The Fund. ............................................................................................................................ 20
§134. Payments into the Fund. ................................................................................................... 20
§135. Payments out of the Fund. ................................................................................................ 20
§136. Withdrawals, etc. ............................................................................................................... 21
§137. Accounts, etc. ...................................................................................................................... 21
PART VIII- RELATIONS WITH CENTRAL GOVERNMENT 21
§138. Functions of Secretary. ...................................................................................................... 21
§139. Local Government Advisor. ............................................................................................. 22
§140. Audit. ................................................................................................................................... 22
§141. Inquiries............................................................................................................................... 23
§142. Suspension of local government. ..................................................................................... 25
§143. National budget consultation. .......................................................................................... 26
§144. Order of collection of taxes. .............................................................................................. 26
§145. Vesting of certain Central Government functions in local governments. .................. 26
§146. Administrative memoranda by Minister. ....................................................................... 27
§147. Reports by Minister. ........................................................................................................... 27
PART IX - MISCELLANEOUS 28
§148. Inter-governmental arrangements. .................................................................................. 28
§149. Joint committees. ................................................................................................................ 28
§150. Loans. ................................................................................................................................... 28
§151. Peace Officers. ..................................................................................................................... 29
§152. Service on Local Government. .......................................................................................... 29
§153. Regulations. ......................................................................................................................... 29
§154. Reserved. ............................................................................................................................. 30
PART X - TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS 30
§155. Saving of existing local governments. ............................................................................. 30
SCHEDULE 31
DEFAULT CONSTITUTION 31
§ 1. Name of the local government ......................................................................................... 31
§ 2. Local government area. ..................................................................................................... 31
§ 3. Capitol. ................................................................................................................................. 31
§ 4. Division of the local government area into wards. ........................................................ 31
§ 5. Establishment of the legislature. ...................................................................................... 32
§ 6. Membership and elections. ............................................................................................... 32
§7. Qualifications. ..................................................................................................................... 32
§8. Term of office. ..................................................................................................................... 32
§9. Vacation of seats. ................................................................................................................ 33
§10. Casual vacancies. ................................................................................................................ 33
§11. Meetings. ............................................................................................................................. 34
§12. Procedures. .......................................................................................................................... 34
§13. Committees. ........................................................................................................................ 35
§14. Office of the head of the local government. .................................................................... 35
§15. Qualifications. ..................................................................................................................... 35
§16. Election................................................................................................................................. 35
§17. Vacation of office. ............................................................................................................... 35
§18. Acting head of the local government. ............................................................................. 36
§19. Functions of the head of the local government. ............................................................. 36
§20. Establishment of the executive. ........................................................................................ 37
§21. Composition. ....................................................................................................................... 37
§22. Vacation office. ................................................................................................................... 37
§23. Acting appointments. ........................................................................................................ 38
§24. Allocation of responsibilities to Executive Members. ................................................... 38
§25. Functions of the Executive Committee. ........................................................................... 39
§26. Advice to the Council, etc., of certain matters................................................................ 39
§27. Control of revenue and expenditure. .............................................................................. 40
§28. Financial responsibility of the Executive Committee. .................................................. 40
§29. Budgets and appropriations. ............................................................................................ 41
§30. Loans. ................................................................................................................................... 42
§31. Accounts. ............................................................................................................................. 42
§32. Audit. ................................................................................................................................... 42
§33. Financial Memoranda........................................................................................................ 43
§34. Employment of staff. ......................................................................................................... 43
§35. Secondment, etc., of public servants. .............................................................................. 43
§36. Method of amendment. ..................................................................................................... 44
§37. Central Government recommendations as to ordinances, etc. .................................... 44
§38. Advice as to validity of ordinance, etc ............................................................................ 44
§39. Vacancies. ............................................................................................................................ 45
§40. Service. ................................................................................................................................. 45
§41. Effective date. ..................................................................................................................... 45
SCHEDULE I 45
REFERENCE SECTION: 2 - DEFAULT CONSTITUTION 45
SCHEDULE 2 45
REFERENCE SECTION: 4, DEFAULT CONSTITUTION 45
ENDNOTES 46

TITLE 4 – LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
CHAPTER 1 - LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
sRepublic of the Marshall Islands
Jepilpilin Ke Ejukaan
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1980
AN ACT to provide for the implementation of Article IX, and Article XIII, Section 2
of the Constitution of the Marshall Islands by providing for the manner of operation
of the system of local government.
Commencement: 18 February, 1981
Source: M.I. Code (1975)
Amended By: P. L. 1981-2 P. L. 1981-16 P. L. 1986-37
P. L. 1991-114 P. L. 1994-99 P. L. 2003- 80 P. L. 2006-67
P.L. 2013-12
PART I - PRELIMINARY
§101. Short title.
This Chapter may be cited as the “Local Government Act 1980”. [P.L. 1981-2, §1.]
§102. Interpretation.
(1) In this Chapter:
(a) “amend”, in relation to the constitution of a local government,
includes repeal and replace;
(b) “Central Government law” means the Constitution of the
Marshall Islands, an Act or, to the extent that it has the force of
law in the Republic, any other legislative or executive
instrument (other than an ordinance), or a provision of any of
those laws;
(c) “Central Government tax” means a tax of any kind that is
imposed under a Central Government law;
(d) “Council” means the legislative arm of a local government, by
whatever name it is known;
(e) “eligible voter” means, in relation to an election or a
referendum, a person who is entitled, in accordance with the
Elections and Referenda Act 1980 (2 MIRC 1), to vote in the
election or referendum;
(f) “executive committee” means the executive arm of a local
government, by whatever name it is known;
(g) “head of a local government” means a person in the office
provided for by Section 115 of this Chapter, by whatever name
that office is known;
(h) “local government area” means the area of jurisdiction of a
local government, as described in Section 107 of this Chapter;
(i) “Minister” means the Minister responsible for local
government matters;
(j) “municipal ordinance” means any ordinance duly enacted
before the effective date of the Constitution of the Marshall
Islands by any municipality in the exercise of the powers
granted under any law of the Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands;
(k) “ordinance” means an ordinance that is in force, and includes
a subordinate instrument made under any such ordinance, (1)
“referendum” means a referendum conducted under the
Elections and Referenda Act 1980 (2 MIRC 1);
(m) “registered voter” means, in relation to an election or a
referendum, a person who would be a registered voter, for the
purpose of that election or referendum, under the Elections and
Referenda Act 1980 (2 MIRC 1) if, in the case of an election by
consensus, the election were conducted under that Chapter;
(n) “Secretary” means the Department head of the Department of
the Minister’s Ministry, or a member of that Department
nominated by the Minister for that purpose;
(o) “ward” means one of the areas into which, for electoral
purposes, a local government area may be divided, as
provided for in Section 119 of this Chapter.
(2) In this Chapter, a reference to consensus is a reference to agreement
by the great majority of the people concerned, to such an extent that a
head count would be clearly superfluous
(3) In this Chapter, a reference to an election “by ballot” is a reference to
an election under Part VIII of the Election and Referenda Act 1980 (2
MIRC 1). [P.L. 1981-2, §2.]
§103. Reserved.
PART II- NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
§104. Saving of existing Municipal Councils.
Article XIII, Section 2 of the Constitution of the Marshall Islands provides as
follows:
“Every Municipal Council, whether chartered or not, existing
immediately before the effective date of this Constitution shall be a
local government for the purposes of Article IX.” [P.L. 1981-2, §4.]
§105. Right to a system of Local Government.
Article IX, Section 1(1) of the Constitution of the Marshall Islands provides
as follows:
“the people of every populated atoll or island that is not part of an
atoll shall have the right to a system of local government which shall
operate in accordance with any applicable law.” [P.L. 1981-2, §5.]
§106. Power to make ordinances.
Article IX, Section 2 of the Constitution of the Marshall Islands
provides that:
(a) “A local government may make ordinances for the area in
respect of which it has jurisdiction, provided that such
ordinances are not inconsistent with any Act”; and
(b) “an ordinance may provide for the levying of taxes and for the
appropriation of funds for local purposes”. [P.L. 1981-2, §6.]
§107. Local Government Areas.
(1) Article IX, Section 1(2) and (3) of the Constitution of the Marshall
Islands provides as follows:
“(2) The system of local government shall in each case extend to the
sea and the seabed of the internal waters of the atoll or island and to
the surrounding sea and seabed to a distance of 5 miles from the
baselines from which the territorial sea of that atoll or island is
measured.”
“(3) The whole of the land and sea areas to which any system of
local government extends shall lie within the jurisdiction of a local
government: and, where there is more than one local government, the
land and sea boundaries of their respective jurisdictions shall be as
defined by law.”
(2) Any amendment to the constitution of a local government that
involves an alteration to the boundaries of a local government area
requires the approval of the Minister unless he certifies that the
alteration does not affect and is not likely to affect any other local
government.
(3) The principles to be applied in granting or withholding approval are:
(a) as to land boundaries, that they should:
(i) as far as practicable, follow natural features;
(ii) not unduly cut across the boundaries of land
holdings; and
(iii) not unduly fragment social groups; and
(b) as to seabed boundaries, that they should comply with the
median line principle except to the extent that this would
involve cutting across the boundaries of rights in the seabed in
which case those boundaries should, if practicable, be
followed.
(4) Unless the Minister is satisfied that any of the principles set out in
subsection (3) of this section would be contravened to a serious extent
he shall not withhold his approval under subsection (2) of this
section, except that he may make it a condition of his approval that
the alteration to the boundaries be approved in a referendum held
among such persons as he determines to be likely to be affected by
the alteration.
(5) For the purposes of this section, the amalgamation of two or more
local government areas shall not be taken to involve an alteration to
boundaries. [P.L. 1981-2, §7.]
PART III - LEGAL STATUS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
§108. Incorporation of Local Governments.
For the purposes of the performances of its functions under Article IX of the
Constitution of the Marshall Islands, this Chapter, or any other law, a local
government:
(a) is a corporation with perpetual succession;
(b) shall have a seal;
(c) may acquire, hold charge, and dispose of property;
(d) may sue and be sued in its corporate name;
(e) may do and suffer any thing that a corporation may do and
suffer, but as provided by Article I Section (4)(c) of the
Constitution of the Marshall Islands, no property or assets of a
local government shall be seized or attached to satisfy any
judgment. [P.L. 1981-2, §8.]
PART IV - CONSTITUTIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
DIVISION 1 - GENERAL
§109. Requirement of Written Constitution.
(1) All Local Governments must, subject to section 111 of this chapter,
have written constitutions in accordance with this chapter.
(2) Subject to sections 110(2) and 111(3) of this Chapter, if a local
government does not have a written constitution that complies with
this chapter the provisions of the schedule appearing at the end of
this chapter shall be deemed to be the constitution of such local
government, subject to such modifications to meet local requirements
as the Minister, after consultation with the Attorney-General, by
order, determines. [P.L. 1981-2, §9.]
§110. Former Unchartered Municipal Counties.
(1) As of the effective date of this chapter, the constitution of a local
government that was a chartered municipal Council to which
Article III Section 2 of the Constitution of the Marshall Islands applies
is its charter as in force immediately before that date.
(2) If any provision of a constitution established by Subsection (1) of this
section is inconsistent with any provision of this chapter other than
the schedule appearing at the end of this chapter, then:
(a) until the end of the period of six (6) months or such longer
period as the Minister allows, after the effective date of this
Chapter, or until the Constitution is amended to remove the
inconsistency, whichever occurs first, the provisions of the
Constitution prevails over the provisions of this chapter;
(b) if at the end of that period of six months, or such longer period
as the Minister allows, after the effective date of this Chapter
the constitution has not been amended to remove the
inconsistency, the Minister, may by order amend the
constitution in such a way as to remove the inconsistency.[P.L. 1981-2, §10.]
§111. Former unchartered Municipal Councils.
(1) A local government that was an unchartered Municipal Council to
which Article XIII, Section 2 of the Constitution of the Marshall
Islands applies shall, within the period of six (6) months, or such
longer period as the Minister allows, after the effective date of this
Chapter adopt a constitution that is in accordance with this Chapter.
(2) The constitution shall be adopted by resolution of the Council subject
to approval in a referendum in the local government area.
(3) If at the end of the period of six (6) months, or such longer period as
the Minister allows, after the effective date of this Chapter a
constitution has not been adopted and approved in accordance with
Subsections (1) and (2) of this Section, the provisions of the Schedule
appearing at the end of this Chapter shall be deemed to be the
constitution, subject to such modifications to meet local requirements
as the Minister, after consultation with the Attorney-General, by
order determines. [P.L. 1981-2, §11.]
DIVISION 2 - MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION
§112. Application of Division 2.
The constitution of every local government shall comply with this Division,
but may contain other provisions not inconsistent with this Chapter or any
other Central Government law. [P.L. 1981-2, §12.]
§113. The legislature.
(1) The constitution of every local government shall provide for a
Council, in which the ordinance-making powers of the local
government under Article IX, Section 2 of the Constitution of the
Marshall Islands, shall be vested
(2) The Council shall consist of such number of members as the
constitution provides, but not less than two-thirds (2/3), or such lesser
number exceeding one-half (½) as the Minister in special
circumstances approves, shall be elected by eligible voters.
(3) The Constitution of every Local Government shall provide that
elections to the Council shall be conducted once in every fourth
calendar year, and the term of office of any elected member shall not
exceed four (4) calendar years, as follows:
(a) if the general election is by ballot, the election shall, beginning
in the year 1995, be conducted in every fourth calendar year on
the third Monday in November in accordance with Section 140
of the Elections and Referenda Act 1980 (2 MIRC 1); or
(b) if the general election is by consensus, the first election
meeting of the general election shall, beginning in the year
1995, be conducted m every fourth calendar year on the third
Monday in November in accordance with Part VI, Division 2
of this Chapter. [P.L. 1981-2, §13, amended by P.L. 1991-2, §2(1), deleting subsection(3) and substituting new subsection (3).]
§114. The executive.
(1) The constitution of every local government shall provide for an
executive committee, which shall be the principal executive arm of
local government and shall have such powers, functions, duties and
responsibilities as are conferred or imposed on it by this or any other
Act, the constitution of the local government or an ordinance.
(2) The executive committee shall consist of the head of the local
government, a member of the Nitijela representing the local
government area, and such other members of the Council selected in
such manner as the constitution provides.
(3) Nothing in Subsection (2) of this Section prevents:
(a) persons other than members of the Council being nonvoting
members of the executive committee; or
(b) the executive committee including all members of the Council.[P.L. 1981-2, §14.][Subsection (2) amended by P.L.2013-12 to include a Member of the
Nitijela]
§115. The head of the Local Government.
(1) The constitution of every local government shall provide for an office
of head of the local government, and for the manner of election or
appointment to it.
(2) Unless the appointment is an ex officio one, the term of office of the
head of a local government shall not exceed four (4) years.
(3) The head of a local government:
(a) is the chairman of the executive committee;
(b) if he is not already a member of the Council, is ex officio a
member of it; and
(c) has such powers, function, duties and responsibilities as are
conferred or imposed on him by this or any other Act, the
constitution of the local government or an ordinance.[P.L. 1981-2, §15.]
§116. Staff.
(1) The constitution of every local government shall make provision for
the staff of the local government.
(2) The staff of a local government are not members of the Public Service,
and Article VII of the Constitution of the Marshall Islands does not
apply to them.
(3) Nothing in this Section prevents the Minister from making
arrangements for the secondment to a local government of a member
of the Public Service, or from making available to a local government
the services of a member of the Public Service. [P.L. 1981-2, §16.]
§117. Meetings of Councils.
(1) The constitution of every local government shall provide for a
meeting of the Council at least once every three (3) months.
(2) Unless the constitution of a local government provides for a quorum
that is different (not being less than one-half (½) of the total
membership), the quorum for a meeting of the Council shall be one-
half (½) of the total membership.
(3) Unless this Chapter or the constitution of the local government
requires a greater majority for a particular purpose, all questions at a
meeting of a Council shall be decided according to the majority of the
votes of those present and voting.
(4) Unless the constitution of a local government provides otherwise:
(a) the head of the local government shall preside at all meetings
of the Council when he is present, and in his absence a
member of the Council elected by the members present shall
preside;
(b) the member presiding has a deliberative vote but not a casting
vote; and
(c) no decision shall be made on an evenly divided vote.
(5) Subject to this Chapter and the constitution of the local government, a
Council shall make its own rules of procedure. [P.L. 1981-2, §17; amended byP.L. 1981-J6, §2, amending Subsection (1) to change the meeting from once every month to once every
three months.]
§118. Budget and accounts.
(1) The constitution of a local government shall provide for the executive
committee to introduce into the Council at least one set of budget
estimates of revenues and expenditures and at least one
Appropriation Ordinance with respect to each financial year, and
shall further provide that no money of the Council shall be expended
unless appropriated by ordinance for the purpose, or for a purpose
that includes the purpose, for which it is to be expended.
(2) Subject to any instructions issued under Section 146(2) of this
Chapter, the constitution of a local government shall make provision,
to the satisfaction of the Minister, for the keeping of proper accounts
and records of revenue, expenditure, assets and liabilities.[P.L. 1981-2, §18.]
§119. Wards.
(1) The constitution of a local government may provide for the division
of the local government area into areas to be known as wards, each
returning one or more members to the Council.
(2) Nothing in Subsection (1) of this Section prevents:
(a) the whole of a local government area being declared to be a
single ward for all or any purposes; or
(b) a ward consisting of a number of other wards. [P.L. 1981-2, §19.]
§120. Amendment of the constitution.
(1) The constitution of a local government shall provide for its
amendment either:
(a) by ordinance approved by a two thirds (2/3) majority of the
total membership of the Council;
(b) by ordinance ratified by referendum of all eligible voters in the
local government area; or
(c) by both such procedures.
(2) The constitution may prescribe additional requirements (such as
special notice) for its amendment. [P.L. 1981-2, §20.]
PART V - AMALGAMATION AND TRANSFER OF TERRITORY
§121. Amalgamation.
(1) With the approval of the Minister (which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld), any two or more local governments may, by
resolution, decide to amalgamate.
(2) On the passing of the resolutions, the local governments concerned
may, by agreement, establish a constitutional convention consisting
of some or all of their members and such other persons (if any) as are
agreed.
(3) The constitutional convention may adopt a constitution in accordance
with this Chapter for the combined area of the local governments.
(4) The constitution so adopted shall be subject to:
(a) ratification:
(i) by resolution of each Council; and
(ii) by a majority of the eligible voters in each of the local
government areas in a referendum in the combined area
of the local governments; and
(b) approval by the Minister.
(5) The Minister shall not withhold his approval under Subsection (4)(b)
of this Section unless he is satisfied, after consultation with the
Attorney-General, that the constitution is inconsistent with this
Chapter.
(6) If the Minister withholds his approval in accordance with
Subsection (5) of this Section, he may suggest amendments to remove
the inconsistency, and if those amendments are agreed to by a two-
thirds (2/3) majority of the total membership of each Council, or a
majority of the eligible voters in each of the local government areas in
a referendum in the combined area of the local governments, the
constitution, as amended accordingly, shall be deemed to have been
ratified and approved in accordance with Subsection (4) of this
Section.
(7) Where there is more than one local government on an atoll or island,
the Cabinet may, by written order to each of them, require them to
amalgamate, in accordance with this Section, within a period, not
being less than six (6) months, fixed by the Cabinet or such longer
period as the Minister allows.
(8) If at the end of the period referred to in Subsection (7) of this Section,
the local governments have not amalgamated, the Cabinet may, by
order to each of them, declare that the provisions of the Schedule
appearing at the end of this Chapter, apply with respect to the atoll or
island, with such modifications to meet local requirements as the
Minister may, after consultation with the Attorney General, by order
determine.
(9) In a case to which Subsection (8) of this Section applies, on the
effective date of the new constitution:
(a) the former local governments are abolished; and
(b) all property, assets and liabilities of the former local
governments rest in the new local government for the atoll or
island in such manner and on such conditions as the Minister,
after consultation with the Attorney-General, by order
determines. [P.L. 1981-2, §21.]
§122. Transfer of property.
(1) Two local governments may agree on the transfer of part of the area
of one into the area of the other, or for the exchange of areas.
(2) The transfer or exchange shall not take effect unless and until:
(a) it is approved by the Minister (which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld);
(b) the agreement has been ratified by a majority of the eligible
voters in each of the local government areas, and a majority of
the eligible voters in the area to be transferred (or in each of
the areas to be exchanged) in referendum in the combined area
of the local agreements; and
(c) the constitution of each local government has been amended,
conditioned on the agreement taking effect, to make
adjustments to take account of the transfer or exchange.[P.L. 1981-2, §22.]
PART VI- ELECTIONS
DIVISION - 1
§123. Electoral methods.
(1) Elections for the purposes of this Chapter shall be either by ballot, or
by consensus, and where provision is made in the constitution of a
local government for an election the constitution may specify which
method shall be used.
(2) If a constitution does not so specify, elections shall be by ballot.[P.L. 1981-2, §23.]
§124. Elections by ballot.
An election that is to be conducted by ballot shall be conducted in
accordance with the Elections and Referenda Act 1980 (2 MIRC 1). [P.L. 1981-2, §24.]
§125. Elections by consensus.
An election that is to be conducted by consensus shall be conducted in
accordance with Division 2 of this Part. [P.L. 1981-2, §25.]
DIVISION 2 - ELECTION BY CONSENSUS
§126. Certifying officers.
(1) The Chief Electoral Officer shall appoint for each local government
area one or more responsible and impartial persons to be the
certifying officer or officers for the area.
(2) The head of the local government, a member of the Council, or a
candidate, is not eligible to be a certifying officer. [P.L. 1981-2, §26.]
§127. Announcement of election.
When an election is to be held, a certifying officer shall, in whatever manner
is customary in the area concerned for the announcement of important
news, announce two election meetings, on dates approximately one week
apart. [P.L. 1981-2, §27.]
§128. Election meetings.
(1) At the first election meeting, a certifying officer shall:
(a) carefully explain the purpose of the meeting;
(b) exclude, to the best of his ability, all persons who are not
eligible voters;
(c) attempt to get a decision by the consensus as to the person or
persons to be elected, or as to acceptable candidates; and
(d) immediately before closing the meeting, publicly announce his
findings (if any), the date of the next meeting, and the fact that
the purpose of the meeting will be to make a final decision.
(2) At the second election meeting, a certifying officer shall:
(a) carefully explain the result (if any) of the previous meeting
and the purpose of the present meeting;
(b) exclude, to the best of his ability, all persons who are not
eligible voters;
(c) attempt to get a decision, or a confirmation of the previous
decision, by consensus as to the person or persons to be
elected; and
(d) if he gets a decision:
(i) announce the fact and close the meeting; and
(ii) certify the result to the local government and to the
Chief Electoral Officer; or
(e) if he does not get a decision, proceed in accordance with
Subsection (l)(d) of this Section and hold a further meeting or
further meetings until either:
(i) a decision is arrived at (in which case he shall proceed
in accordance with Paragraph (d) of this Subsection): or
(ii) he decides that a decision by consensus is not likely to
be arrived at within a reasonable time.
(3) If the certifying officer decides that a decision by consensus is not
likely to be arrived at within a reasonable time, he shall certify
accordingly to the local government and to the Chief Electoral
Officer, and an election by ballot shall be held as soon as practicable.[P.L. 1981-2, §28.]
§129. Declaration of result of election.
The result of the election shall be announced in the same manner as the
result of an election by ballot, under Section 185 of the Elections and Referenda
Act 1980 (2 MIRC 1). [P.L. 1981-2, §29.]
DIVISION 3 - MISCELLANEOUS
§130. Unmanageable electorates.
Where in the opinion of the Chief Electoral Officer an electorate is such
(whether because of area, number of electors, geography or otherwise) that
the holding of a single meeting for the purposes of an election would be
impracticable, or would be ineffective to properly ascertain public opinion,
he may, by written order to the local government, so declare, either
generally or in a particular case, and all elections, or the particular election,
as the case may be, in that electorate shall be by ballot. [P.L. 1981-2, §30.]
§131. Administrative instructions by Chief Electoral Officer.
(1) The Chief Electoral Officer may issue administrative instructions, not
inconsistent with this Chapter, for the guidance of certifying officers
and others in the conduct of elections by consensus.
(2) Failure to comply with any provision of any instruction issued under
Subsection (1) of this Section does not of itself invalidate an election.[P.L. 1981-2, §31.]
§132. Offenses in relation to elections by consensus.
(1) The following provisions of the Elections Offenses Act (2 MIRC 2),
with the necessary modifications, apply to and with respect to
elections by consensus in the same way that they apply to and with
respect to elections by ballot:
(a) Section 205 (double voting);
(b) Section 206 (personation);
(c) Section 207 (voting while not entitled);
(d) Section 210 (radio campaigning on polling day);
(e) Section 211 (Bribery);
(f) Section 212 (intimidating Voters and candidates);
(g) Section 214 (interference with election or referendum);
(h) Section 215 (false and misleading information);
(i) Section 216 (gambling on polling
(j) Section 217 (alcoholic beverages on polling day);
(k) Section 218 (general penalty); and
(1) Section 219 (attempts).
(2) For the purposes of the application to elections by consensus of the
provisions of the Elections and Referenda Act 1980 (2 MIRC I) referred
to in Subsection (1) of this Section, references in those provisions to
the day of an election shall be read as references to the day of any
meeting held under Section 128 of this Chapter. [P.L. 1 981-2, §32.][Offenses in
§211 and 212 modified by P.L. 2003-80].
PART VII- GRANTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
§133. The Fund.
(1) A Local Government Fund is hereby established, for the specific
purpose of acting as a channel through which monies may be granted
by the Government of the Marshall Islands to local governments.
(2) The Local Government Fund is a [trust and agency] fund within the
National Treasury and under the control and supervision of the
Ministry of Finance, which shall provide for its administration in
accordance with the Financial Management Act of 1990, as amended,
11 MIRC 1. [P.L. 1981-2, §33; amended by P.L. 1981-16, §3, replacing “Local Government Fund’amended by P.L. 1994-99, §3(2).]
§134. Payments into the Fund.
There shall be paid into the local Government Fund any amounts
appropriated by the Nitijela for the purposes of the Fund, and any other
amounts payable by or under any other law into the Fund. [P.L. 1 981-2, §34;amended by P.L. 198116, §4, substituting new Section 34.]
§135. Payments out of the Fund.
Monies may be paid out of the Local Government Fund only to or on behalf
of local governments. [P.L. 1981-2, §35; amended by P.L. 1981-16, §5, replacing “LocalGovernment Trust Fund” with “Local Government Fund”.]
§136. Withdrawals, etc.
(1) No money may be withdrawn from the Local Government Fund
except with the authority of the Secretary of Finance, who shall
satisfy himself that the withdrawal is made in accordance with this
Chapter, and any other applicable law.
(2) A delegation under Article VIII, Section 5(1) of the Constitution of the
Marshall Islands to expend monies out of the Local Government
Fund is given to the Secretary of Finance. [P.L. 1981-2, §36; amended by P.L. 1 981-16, §6, adding “and any other applicable law” to Subsection (1) and replacing “Local Government
Trust Fund” with “Local Government Fund”]
§137. Accounts, etc.
(1) The Secretary of Finance shall maintain proper accounts and records
of the Local Government Fund, and the accounts to be laid before the
Nitijela by the Minister of Finance under Article VIII, Section 5(4) of
the Constitution of the Marshall Islands shall include amounts
relating to the Fund.
(2) The accounts and records maintained under Subsection (1) of this
Section are subject to audit under Article VIII, Section 15 of the
Constitution of the Marshall Islands.[P.L. 1981-2, §37; amended by P.L. 1981-16, §7,replacing “Local Government Trust Fund” with “Local Government Fund”]
PART VIII- RELATIONS WITH CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
§138. Functions of Secretary.
The Secretary shall maintain a continuing general oversight of the operation
of the system of local government and of the individual local governments,
and in particular shall:
(a) coordinate relations between each local government and the
Government of the Marshall Islands;
(b) arrange periodic seminars and workshops for the purpose of
training and informing members of the staffs of local
governments:
(c) supervise the Local Government Advisor referred to in
Section 139 of this Chapter; and
(d) at least one in each period of twelve (12) months, at such time
or times as is or are directed by the Minister, submit to the
Minister a report summarizing the needs, problems and
achievements of each local government and of the system of
local government, with appropriate recommendations.[P.L. 1981-2, §38.]
§139. Local Government Advisor.
(1) Within the Ministry there shall be a Local Government Advisor.
(2) The function of the Local Government Advisor is to maintain
personal and regular contact with the local governments so as:
(a) to expedite the exchange of information between the local
governments and the Secretary;
(b) to assist in identifying the needs of each local government area
for effective and efficient self-government;
(c) to check that the procedures and practices of each local
government comply with the law; and
(d) generally to assist local governments. [P.L. 1981-2, §39.]
§140. Audit.
(1) The Minister may arrange for an audit inspection of the funds and
accounts of a local government to be carried out by the Auditor-
General or a person authorized by him in the following
circumstances:
(a) on the petition of not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the
registered voters in the local government area; or
(b) of his own motion, if he has reason to suspect any fiscal
irregularity in the conduct of the affairs and operations of the
local government.
(2) For the purpose of an audit inspection under Subsection (1) of this
Section, the Auditor-General or authorized person has the powers
and rights specified in Article VIII, Section 15 of the Constitution of
the Marshall Islands.
(3) The report on the audit inspection shall be sent to the Minister (who
may, if he thinks it proper to do so, publish it), and to the local
government. [P.L. 1981-2, §40.]
(4) Where the Minister has been provided with evidence that any
member of a Local Government has committed or is committing
illegal activities, the Minister shall refer the matter to the Attorney
General’s office for further investigation or prosecution
(5) For the purposes of subsection (4), evidence provided to the Minister
may include:
(a) findings of the Auditor-General in the report provided under
subsection (3); or
(b) reliable evidence from any other source.
(6) Any member of a Local Government who is convicted of an offense
under this Chapter or any other enactment of the Marshall Islands or
under the Constitution of Local Government shall:
(a) if convicted of a misdemeanor offense, be suspended; or
(b) if convicted of a felony, be terminated from employment.
(7) Where an elected official has been required to stand down from office
under subsection 6(b), a new officer shall be elected or appointed in
accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of that Local
Government. [P.L. 1981-2, §40.] [Amended by P.L. 2006-67]
§141. Inquiries.
(1) The Minister may appoint, in writing, a person to inspect the affairs
of a local government under the following circumstances:
(a) on the petition of not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the
registered voters in the local government area; or
(b) of his own motion, if he has reason to suspect any irregularity,
mismanagement or failure to comply with the law in the
conduct of the affairs and operations of the local government.
(2) An inspector:
(a) shall be allowed, by the local government and other persons,
full and free access to all records of or relating to the local
government, (b) may take evidence, orally or in writing, from
any person, on oath or affirmation;
(c) may require any person to attend and give evidence, or to
produce any document; and
(d) generally, shall make full and impartial inquiry into the affairs
and operations of the local government.
(3) For the purposes of his inquiry an inspector may administer oaths
and affirmations.
(4) A person who hinders or obstructs an inspector in the performance of
his functions, or subject to Subsection (5) of this Section, fails to
comply with a requirement under Subsection (2)(c) of this Section,
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction be liable
to a fine not exceeding $500 or to a term of imprisonment not
exceeding six (6) months, or both.
(5) It is a defense to a charge of an offense against Subsection (4) of this
Section if the accused person proves that the evidence or document
was not relevant to the inquiry.
(6) The report of the inquiry shall be sent to the local government and to
the Minister who may, if he thinks it proper to do so, publish it.
(7) Where the Minister has been provided with evidence that any
member of a Local Government has committed or is committing
illegal activities, the Minister shall refer the matter to the Attorney
General’s office for further investigation or prosecution.
(8) For the purposes of subsection (7), evidence provided to the Minister
may include-
(a) findings of the inspector in the report provided under
subsection (6); or
(b) reliable evidence from any other source.
(9) Any member of a Local Government who is convicted of an offense
under this Chapter or any other enactment of the Marshall Islands or
under the Constitution of a Government, shall:
(a) if convicted of a misdemeanor offense, be suspended; or
(b) if convicted of a felony, be terminated from employment.
(10) Where an elected official has been required to stand down from office
under subsection 9(b), a new officer shall be elected or appointed in
accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of that Local
Government. [P.L. 1981-2, §41.][Amended by P.L. 2006-67].
§142. Suspension of local government.
(1) If the operation, administration or financial condition of a local
government endangers the health, safety or economic well being of a
local government area, or if suspension is recommended in a report
under Section 140 or 141 of this Chapter, the Cabinet may, by written
order served on the local government:
(a) suspend the operation of a local government; and
(b) appoint an Administrator-Receiver for the local government
and vest in him some or all of the powers and functions of the
local government.
(2) In relation to powers and functions vested in him under
Subsection (1)(b) of this Section, the Administrator-Receiver shall be
deemed to be, and shall act in the name of, the local government.
(3) The suspension and the appointment of an Administrator-Receiver
shall be immediately communicated to the local government and
promulgated in the local government area.
(4) Nothing prevents an action for declaratory judgment in the High
Court or other remedy by any member of the Council arising out of
the same issues, or out of the suspension or of the appointment or
actions of the Administrator Receiver.
(5) The suspension of a local government and the appointment of an
Administrator Receiver terminates automatically upon the
occurrence of either of the following, but in any case upon
termination by the Cabinet:
(a) if the High Court advises or declares that the appointment was
not justified;
(b) at the end of the period of one year:
(c) immediately after the next general election to the Council; or
(d) when the Administrator-Receiver advises the Minister, in
writing, that the danger is past or the other cause of the
suspension has been eliminated.
(6) An Administrator-Receiver may, by notice in writing to the Minister,
resign his office, and the Cabinet may terminate his appointment at
any time without terminating the suspension.
(7) Prior to the end of the term of appointment of the Administrator-
Receiver, or in the case of a termination under Subsections (5) or (6),
on the termination of his or her appointment, an Administrator-
Receiver shall account to:
(a) the Minister; and
(b) through the Minister, to the Cabinet and the local
government - for his activities (including his financial and
property operations). [P.L. 1981-2, §42.][Amended by P.L. 2006-67].
§143. National budget consultation.
Before allocating in the budget estimates finance to and as between local
governments, the Cabinet shall consult with the heads of all local
governments. [P.L. 1981-2, §43.]
§144. Order of collection of taxes.
Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions in Article IX,
Section 2(2) of the Constitution of the Marshall Islands:
(a) A local government Council may impose and collect tax on the
consumption of beer and liquor; and
(b) If a local government tax is of the same kind as a Central
Government tax liability to the latter has priority over liability
to the former. [MI. Code (1975) if 4.201-4.203; amended by P.L. 1981-2, §44.]
§145. Vesting of certain Central Government functions in local
governments.
(1) With the agreement of the local government, where the Cabinet is of
the opinion that, because of its being of essentially local concern a
Central Government law would more appropriately be administered,
or a function vested by a Central Government law in a member of the
Public Service would more appropriately be performed (in relation to
the area of a local government) by the local government, the Cabinet
may, by order, vest the administration of that law, or the
performance of that function, in the local government in relation to
that area.
(2) An ordinance may make provision for the more effective
implementation of an order under Subsection (1) of this Section.[P.L. 1981-2, §45.]
§146. Administrative memoranda by Minister.
(1) The Minister may issue instructions (to be known as “Local
Government Administrative Memoranda”), not inconsistent with this
Chapter, relating to matters of administration and procedures in the
system of local government, and in particular with respect to:
(a) the format and publication of ordinances; and
(b) collaboration and the coordination of activities between local
governments and between local governments and the
Government of the Marshall Islands
(2) The Minister, after consultation with the Minister of Finance, may
issue instructions (to be known as “Local Government Financial
Memoranda”), not inconsistent with this Chapter, relating to matters
of financial administration in the system of local government, and in
particular with respect to:
(a) accounts and accounting;
(b) the maintenance of proper records of the financial transaction
of local governments and of dealings with their property or
property in their possession or control; and
(c) the duties and responsibilities of members of the staffs of local
governments in these regards.
(4) Failure to comply with any instruction issued under Subsection (1) or
(2) of this Section does not of itself invalidate or make ineffective any
act of a local government acting on its behalf, but such a failure may
be a ground for disciplinary or other proceedings against a person if
an Act or an ordinance so provides. [P.L. 1981-2, §46.]
§147. Reports by Minister.
(1) The Minister shall, at least one in every period of twelve (12) months
present to the Nitijela a report on the operation of this Chapter and of
the system of local government.
(2) At the first appropriate opportunity, the Minister shall report to the
Nitijela the suspension under Section 142 of this Chapter of the
operation of a local government, or the termination of a suspension.[P.L. 1981-2, §47.]
PART IX - MISCELLANEOUS
§148. Inter-governmental arrangements.
(1) Two or more local governments, or the Minister on behalf of the
Government of the Marshall Islands and one or more local
governments, may agree as to the performance of any work or service
by one party on behalf of another party, on such terms and
conditions as are agreed on.
(2) Subsection (1) of this Section extends to the collection of taxes and
tax-sharing arrangements.
(3) An agreement under Subsection (1) of this Section is of no force or
effect until ratified by ordinance by each of the local governments
involved. [P.L. 1981-2, §48]
§149. Joint committees.
(1) Two or more local governments may agree on the establishment of a
joint committee to perform any function (other than the power to
make laws) which can more effectively be performed jointly.
(2) An agreement under Subsection (1) of this Section is of no force or
effect until ratified by ordinance by each of the local governments
involved. [P.L. 1 981-2, §49.]
§150. Loans.
(1) A loan made to a local government, or a charge against the future
revenue of a local government, is void and unenforceable unless
authorized or ratified by ordinance.
(2) Unless authorized by the Minister a local government shall not incur
indebtedness chargeable to future revenue which extends beyond the
next five (5) full financial years, and a local government shall not in
any financial year incur any indebtedness or grant any charge against
future revenue such that the total liability of the local government in
that year for debt services exceeds fifteen percent (15%) of the
estimated revenue for that year.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) of this Section do not apply to the acceptance
of loans from, or the granting of charges to, the Government of the
Marshall Islands.
(4) In this Section, “debt service” means payment of the interest on a
loan, loan charges and such installments of principal as are or become
legally due. [P.L. 1981-2, §50; amended by P.L. 1986-37, §2, including the words “unlessauthorized by the Minister” in Subsection (2).]
§151. Peace Officers.
(1) A local government may, by ordinance, provide for the appointment
and powers of peace officers.
(2) The powers conferred under Subsection (1) of this Section may
include power to enforce all or any ordinances, but unless deputized
by the Chief of Police for the purpose, no peace officer may enforce
any Central Government law.
(3) Nothing in Subsection (1) of this Section prevents persons other than
peace officers from being empowered by law to enforce particular
ordinances. [P.L. 1981-2, §51.]
§152. Service on Local Government.
Where any document or thing is to be given to, served on or communicated
to a local government, it may be given to, served on or communicated to the
head of the local government. [P.L. 1981-2, §52.]
§153. Regulations.
The Cabinet may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Chapter,
prescribing all matters that are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for
carrying out or giving effect to this Chapter and in particular with regard to
the exercise of the powers and the performance of the functions, duties and
responsibilities of an Administrator-Receiver. [P.L. 1981-2, §53.]
§154. Reserved.
PART X - TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
§155. Saving of existing local governments.
(1) For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that, subject to
Subsection (2) of this Section and to Section 108 of this Chapter,
nothing in this Chapter affects the status or identity of any local
government, or of the Council, executive committee or head of any
local government, in existence immediately before the effective date,
or any act done or suffered by or in relation to any local government
before that date.
(2) An ordinance in force immediately before the effective date of this
Chapter continues in force as of that date except to the extent that it is
inconsistent with this Chapter or the constitution of the local
government. [P.L. 1981-2, §55.]
l Page 31
SCHEDULE
DEFAULT CONSTITUTION
CONSTITUTION OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
PART I - PRELIMINARY
§ 1. Name of the local government
The name of the local government is______________________ local
government.
§ 2. Local government area.1
The area of jurisdiction of the local government is an atoll/Island2 and, in
accordance with Article IX, Section 1(2) and (3) of the Constitution of the
Marshall Islands, extends to the sea and the seabed of the internal waters of
that atoll/island and to the surrounding sea and seabed to a distance of 5
miles from the baselines from which the territorial sea of that atoll/island is
measured, as more particularly described in Schedule 1 attached hereto.
§ 3. Capitol.
The principal office of the local government shall be located at, or at such
other place in the local government area as the Council by resolution
declares.
PART II- WARDS3
§ 4. Division of the local government area into wards.
In accordance with Section 119 of the Local Government Act 1980 (4 MIRC
1), the local government area is divided into the following wards, as more
particularly described in Schedule 2 attached hereto, each electing the
number of members of the Council set out against its name:
(a) ____________Ward, returning ____________members;
(b) _____________Ward, returning____________ members;
and etc.
PART III- THE LEGISLATURE
§ 5. Establishment of the legislature.
A legislature, to be known as the _____________________ Council, is hereby
established for the local government, and in accordance with Section 113(1)
of the Local Government Act 1980 (4 MIRC 1) the ordinance-making, taxing
and appropriation powers of the local government under Article IX, Section
2 of the Constitution of the Marshall Islands are vested in it.
§ 6. Membership and elections.
(1) The Council shall consist of members being:
(a) the members elected by the wards, as specified in Section 4 of
this Constitution; and
(b) 4
(2) The members referred to in Subsection (1)(a) of this Section shall be
elected by ballot/consensus5 by eligible voters, as provided for by
Sections 113 and 123 of the Local Government Act 1980 (4 MIRC 1).
(3) 6
(4) 7
§7. Qualifications.
(1) The qualifications for election as a member referred to in Section 6(1)
(a) of this Constitution are set out in Section 109(1) of the Elections
and Referenda Act 1980 (2 MIRC 1).8
(2) [see footnote 7]
§8. Term of office.
(1) The term of office of a member referred to in Section 6(l)(a)2 of this
Constitution:
(a) commences on the day after the day on which his election is
announced under Section 129 of the Local Government Act
l Page 33
1980 (4 MIRC 1) or Section 185 of the Elections and Referenda
Act 1980 (2 MIRC1), as the case may be; and
(b) terminates (unless the seat of the member becomes vacant
earlier under Section 9 of this Constitution on the day before
the day announced for the first election meeting under
Division 2 of Part VI of the Local Government Act 1980 (4
MIRC 1) at the next general election to the Council, or the day
proclaimed under Section 142 of the Elections and Referenda
Act 1980 (2 MIRC1) for that election, as the case may be.
(2) 9
§9. Vacation of seats.
(1) The seat of a member of the Council becomes vacant if, and only if:
(a) his term of office terminates in accordance with Section 8 of
this Constitution;
(b) he ceases to possess the qualifications for election that he was
required, under Section 7 of this Constitution, to have at the
time of his election or appointment; [see footnote 3]
(c) he dies;
(d) he resigns his seat by notice in writing to the local government;
or
(e) he is removed from office under Subsection (2) of this Section.
(2) The Council may, by the affirmative vote of not less than three-
fourths of the total membership of the Council, remove a member
from office, for cause.
§10. Casual vacancies.
(1) If the seat of a member of the Council referred to in Section 6(1)(a) of
this Constitution becomes vacant otherwise than by the termination
of his term of office in accordance with Section 8 of this Constitution,
the vacancy shall be filled as soon as practicable by a special election
in the ward or area that he represented.
(2) [see footnote 7]
§11. Meetings.
(1) Meetings of the Council shall be held at least once in every month of
the calendar, on such days and at such times as are fixed by the
Council, by resolution, or in default by the Mayor, by notice in
accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Council.
(2) The Chief Electoral Officer shall, as soon as practicable after the
declaration of the results of the first general election to the Council,
by notice to all members, call a meeting of the Council.
(3) The Mayor may at any time, and shall as soon as practicable after
receipt of a petition of a majority of the members of the Council,
stating the business to be dealt with, call a meeting of the Council, by
notice in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Council
stating the business to be dealt with.
(4) A special meeting shall deal only with the subjects stated in the notice
calling the meeting.
(5) Meetings of the Council shall be held in public.
(6) The quorum for a meeting of the Council is a majority of the total
number of the membership of the Council.
(7) The Mayor shall preside at all meetings of the Council at which he is
present, and, subject to Section 18 of this Constitution and to the
Rules of Procedure of the Council, in his absence or during a vacancy
in his office a member elected by the members present shall preside.
(8) Except as otherwise provided by the Local Government Act 1980 (4
MIRC 1), all questions before a meeting of the Council shall be
determined in accordance with the majority of the votes of the
members present and voting, but no question shall be decided on an
evenly divided vote.
§12. Procedures.
(1) The Council shall keep and publish a journal of its proceedings.
(2) The Council shall make Rules of Procedure, not inconsistent with this
Constitution, any Central Government law or any ordinance of the
local government, for the regulation and orderly conduct of its
proceedings and the dispatch of its official business.
l Page 35
(3) Subject to this Constitution. any Central Government law or any
ordinance of the local government, the Council may regulate its own
proceedings.
§13. Committees.
The Council may establish standing and other committees to deal with any
matter than can, in its opinion, more properly or more conveniently be dealt
with by a committee.
PART IV - THE HEAD OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
§14. Office of the head of the local government.
An office of head of the local government, who shall be known as the
Mayor, is hereby established for the local government.
§15. Qualifications.
The Mayor must be a member of the Council who is 25 years of age or more.
§16. Election.
(1) The Mayor shall be elected by the Council by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the total number of the membership of the Council.
(2) If on a ballot no member receives the votes of a majority of the total
number of the membership of the Council, the candidate receiving
the lowest number of votes (or if there be more than one such
candidate, one of them selected by lot) shall be excluded and a fresh
ballot taken, and so on until one candidate has received the votes of a
majority of the total number of the membership.
(3) If at the end of that procedure no candidate has received the votes of
a majority of the total membership of the Council, the election is void
and a fresh election shall be held on the next sitting day of the
Council, and so on until a member is elected Mayor.
§17. Vacation of office.
(1) The office of the Mayor becomes vacant if, and only if:
(a) his seat in the Council becomes vacant under Section 9 of this
Constitution;
(b) he is dismissed under Subsection (2) of this Section; or
(c) he resigns his office by notice in writing to the Clerk of the
local government.
(2) The Council may, by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds
of the total membership of the Council, dismiss the Mayor from
office.
(3) If the office of the Mayor becomes vacant by reason of the
termination of the term of his office as a member of the Council in
accordance with Section 8 of this Constitution, he shall continue to
perform the functions of the Mayor until a new Mayor is elected, but
unless he becomes again a member of the Council he shall not vote or
take part in its deliberations otherwise than as the member presiding
at a meeting.
§18. Acting head of the local government.
(1) In the event of the absence or incapacity of the Mayor, his functions
shall be performed by a member of the Executive Committee
appointed by him, or in default, the Executive Committee.
(2) For the purpose of the performance of any function of the Mayor that
a member of the Executive Committee is authorized to perform by
virtue of Subsection (1) of this Section, the member shall be deemed
to be the Mayor, and any reference in any law or in the Rules of
Procedure of the Council to the Mayor shall be read as including a
reference to that member accordingly.
§19. Functions of the head of the local government.
The Mayor has such powers, functions, duties and responsibilities as are
conferred or imposed on him by this Constitution, an ordinance of the local
government, a Central Government law or the Rules of Procedure of the
local government.
l Page 37
PART V - THE EXECUTIVE
§20. Establishment of the executive.
(1) An executive committee of the local government, to be known as the
Executive Committee of the ______________________ Council, is
hereby established, which shall, in accordance with Section 114(1) of
the Local Government Act 1980 (4 MIRC 1), be the principal executive
arm of the local government.
(2) The Executive Committee is collectively responsible to the Council
for the executive government of the local government area, and for
the performance of the functions of the Executive Committee and the
members of the Executive Committee under this Constitution, an
ordinance of the local government or a Central Government law.
§21. Composition.
(1) The Executive Committee shall consist
(a) the Mayor; and
(b) three (3) members of the Council appointed by the Mayor in
writing, to be known as Executive Members.
(2) The quorum for a meeting of the Executive Committee is two (2).
§22. Vacation office.
(1) The office of the Mayor or becomes vacant in accordance with
Section 17 of this Constitution.
(2) The office of an Executive Member becomes vacant if, and only if:
(a) his seat in the Council becomes vacant under Section 9 of this
Constitution;
(b) the office of the Mayor becomes vacant under Section 17 of this
Constitution;
(c) he is dismissed from office under Subsection (3) of this Section;
or
(d) he resigns his office by notice in writing to the Mayor.
(3) The Mayor may at any time, with or without cause, dismiss an
Executive Member from office.
(4) If the office of the Mayor becomes vacant otherwise than by reason of
his dismissal under Section 17(2) of this Constitution, the Executive
Members shall continue to perform their functions (including the
function of appointing under Section 18 of this Constitution a
member of the Executive Committee to perform the function of the
Mayor).
(5) If the office of an Executive Member becomes vacant by reason of
termination of the term of his office as a member of the Council under
Section 8 of this Constitution, he may continue to perform the
functions of an Executive Member until a new Mayor is elected, but
unless he becomes again a member of the Council he shall not vote or
take part in its deliberations.
§23. Acting appointments.
In the event of the absence or incapacity of an Executive Member, the Mayor
may during such absence or incapacity:
(a) appoint another Executive Member to perform some or all of
his functions
(b) appoint a member of the Council to act as an Executive
Member; or
(c) do both of the foregoing.
§24. Allocation of responsibilities to Executive Members.
(1) Subject to this Constitution, any ordinance of the local government
and any Central Government law, the Mayor may from time to time
allocate to an Executive Member responsibility for matters within the
competence of the Executive Committee (including responsibility for
the administration of ordinances of the local government).
(2) The Mayor is responsible for any matter the responsibility for which
is not for the time being allocated under Subsection (1) of this Section.
(3) Nothing in this Section affects the collective responsibility of the
Executive Committee under Section 20(2) of this Constitution.
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§25. Functions of the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee has such powers, functions, duties and
responsibilities as are conferred or imposed on it by this Constitution, an
ordinance of the local government or a Central Government law.
§26. Advice to the Council, etc., of certain matters.
(1) The Mayor shall promptly notify the Council and the Minister of the
Government of the Marshall Islands responsible for local government
matters of:
(a) the appointment, dismissal or resignation of a member of the
Executive Committee;
(b) the appointment, or the termination of the appointment, of a
member of the Council to act as an Executive Member under
Section 23(b) of this Constitution;
(c) the appointment by him of a member of the Executive
Committee to perform the functions of the Mayor under
Section 18(1) of this Constitution; or
(d) the allocation under Section 24(1) of this Constitution of
responsibilities to Executive Members and the appointment
under Section 23(a) of this Constitution of an Executive
Member to perform functions of another Executive Member.
(2) The Executive Committee shall promptly notify the Council and the
Minister of the Government of the Marshall Islands responsible for
local government matters of the appointment by it of a member of the
Executive Committee to perform the functions of the Mayor under
Section 18(1) of this Constitution.
(3) The Clerk of the local government shall promptly notify the Council
and the Minister of the Government of the Marshall Islands
responsible for local government matters of the resignation or the
dismissal of the Mayor under Sections l7(1)(c) and 17(2) of this
Constitution, respectively.
PART VI- FINANCE
§27. Control of revenue and expenditure.
(1) No taxes shall be imposed and no other revenue shall be raised, and
no monies of the local government shall be expended, unless
authorized by law.
(2) Subsection (1) of this Section does not apply to the acceptance of
grants (other than loans) from the Government of the Marshall
Islands, or to expenditure from such grants for the purposes for
which, and subject to the conditions on which, they are made.
(3) All money received by the local government, shall, unless otherwise
authorized by ordinance of the local government or by or under
Local Government Financial Memoranda issued under Section 146(2)
of the Local Government Act 1980 (4 MIRC 1), be paid into a fund or
account established in accordance with such an ordinance or the
Financial Memoranda.
§28. Financial responsibility of the Executive Committee.
(1) It is the responsibility of the Executive Committee to make proposals
to the Council on all matters relating to the budget, and in particular
the Executive Committee shall make recommendations to the Council
for the raising of taxes and other revenue, and for the expenditure of
money of the local government.
(2) The Executive Committee is accountable to the Council for all
expenditure of money of the local government and for relating such
expenditure to appropriations made by the Council or to other
authority conferred by this Constitution, an ordinance of the local
government or a Central Government law.
(3) Except on the recommendation or with the consent of the Executive
Committee, signified by or on behalf of the Mayor, the Council shall
not make or approve any ordinance or other proceeding introduced
by a member other than the Mayor or an Executive Member if the
ordinance or proceeding would, in the opinion of the member of the
Council presiding:
(a) dispose of or charge any of the revenue of the local
government;
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(b) revoke or alter (otherwise than by way of reduction) any such
disposition or charge; or
(c) impose alter or abolish any tax, rate, due, fee or fine.
§29. Budgets and appropriations.
(1) The Executive Committee shall cause to be introduced into the
Council with respect to each financial year:
(a) a set of budget estimates of revenue and expenditure; and
(b) an Appropriation Ordinance to make appropriations for
expenditure.
The Executive Committee may also introduce additional
supplementary estimates and Supplementary Appropriation
Ordinances.
(2) Subject to any Local Government Administrative Memoranda issued
under Section 146(1)(a) of the Local Government Act 1980 (4
MIRC I) in relation to the format of ordinances and to any Local
Government Financial Memoranda issued under Section 146(2) of
that Act, Appropriation Ordinances and Supplementary
Appropriation Ordinances shall follow the general form of Central
Government Appropriation Bills and Supplementary Appropriation
Bills under Article VIII, Sections 6 and 8 of the Constitution of the
Marshall Islands.
(3) Subject to any Local Government Financial Memoranda issued under
Section 146(2) of the Local Government Act 1980 (4 MIRC 1), an
ordinance of the local government may make provision, in
accordance with the principles of Article VIII, Sections 7 and 9 of the
Constitution of the Marshall Islands, for anticipated and
reprogrammed expenditures and a Contingencies Fund.
(4) Nothing in this Section prevents appropriations for specific purposes
being included in an ordinance of the local government other than an
Appropriation Ordinance or a Supplementary Appropriation
Ordinance.
(5) Appropriations lapse at the end of the financial year to which they
respectively relate, unless, in relation to any particular head of
appropriation, an ordinance of the local government provides
otherwise.
§30. Loans.
The local government shall not accept loans, grant charges against its future
revenue, or incur indebtedness chargeable to future revenue otherwise than
in accordance with Section 150 of the Local Government Act 1980 (4
MIRC 1).
§31. Accounts.
(1) The Executive Committee shall cause to be kept full and proper
accounts and records of revenue and expenditure of the local
government, assets of or under the control of the local government
and liabilities of the local government.
(2) The accounts and records shall comply with any Local Government
Financial Memoranda issued under Section 146(2) of the Local
Government Act 1980 (4 MIRC 1), subject to any directions of the
Auditor-General, and any ordinance of the local government.
(3) The Executive Committee shall, as soon as practicable after the end of
a financial year lay before the Council accounts relating to all
revenues and expenditures of the local government for that financial
year, together with any report of the audit of the accounts under
Section 32 of this Constitution.
§32. Audit.
(1) In addition to the audit provided for by Section 140 of the Local
Government Act 1980 (4 MIRC 1), the Auditor-General or a person
authorized by him may at any time audit the accounts and records of
the local government, and any accounts laid or to be paid before the
Council under Section 31(3) of this Constitution.
(2) The Auditor-General or authorized person shall report to the Council
and to the Minister of the Government of the Marshall Islands
responsible for local government matters on the audit and shall, in
his report, draw attention to any irregularities in the accounts and
records, or in the accounts, as the case may be.
(3) For the purpose of an audit under Subsection (1) of this Section, the
Auditor-General or authorized person has the powers and rights
referred to in Article VIII, Section 15 of the Constitution of the
Marshall Islands.
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§33. Financial Memoranda.
Subject to this Constitution, all persons concerned with the financial
administration of the local government shall comply with any Local
Government Financial Memoranda issued under Section 146(2) of the Local
Government Act 1980 (4 MIRC 1).
PART VII- STAFF
§34. Employment of staff.
(1) The Mayor, on behalf of the local government, may appoint a Clerk
of the local government, and such other officers and employees as he
considers necessary for the effective operation of the local
government.
(2) The local government is the employer of the Clerk and the other
officers and employees.
(3) The terms and conditions of appointment and employment of the
Clerk and the other officers and employees shall be determined by or
under an ordinance of the local government, and in the absence of
such an ordinance are, with the necessary modifications, those
members of the Public Service holding equivalent positions, for
which purpose any reference in any Central Government law to:
(a) the Chief Secretary or a Department head, shall be read as a
reference to the clerk or
(b) the Public Service Commission, shall be read as a reference to
the Executive Committee.
§35. Secondment, etc., of public servants.
Subject to any arrangements made under Section 116(3) of the Local
Government Act 1980 (4 MIRC 1), and to anything to the contrary in any
ordinance of the local government, a member of the Public Service who is
seconded to the local government in accordance with that Section, shall be
deemed to be an officer of the local government for the purposes of any
ordinance of the local government other than an ordinance prescribing
terms and conditions of employment by the local government.
PART VIII- AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION
§36. Method of amendment.
(1) This Constitution may be amended by ordinance of the local
government approved on two occasions by a two-thirds (2/3)
majority of the total membership of the Council, provided that:
(a) not less than thirty (30) days, or such shorter period as is
approved in any particular case, and for a special reason, by
the Minister of the Government of the Marshall Islands
responsible for local government matters, has elapsed between
the first and second such occasion; and
(b) before the second occasion the Mayor has obtained from that
Minister and presented to the Council a report by the
Attorney-General on the validity of the amendment.
(2) If the Minister of the Government of the Marshall Islands responsible
for local government matters recommends to the local government,
amendments to this Constitution, the Council shall consider those
amendments, but need not adopt them, with or without modification.
§37. Central Government recommendations as to ordinances, etc.
If the Minister of the Government of the Marshall Islands responsible for
local government matters recommends to the local government that an
ordinance be made, amended or repealed, the Mayor shall cause the
recommendation to be presented to the Council together with the comments
of the Executive Committee pertaining thereto.
§38. Advice as to validity of ordinance, etc
(1) The Mayor may, and shall if so directed by the Council, request the
Minister of the Government of the Marshall Islands responsible for
local government matters for a report by the Attorney-General on the
validity of any ordinance or proposed ordinance of the local
government, or of any action or proposed action by the local
government.
(2) If the Minister furnishes a report as requested in accordance with
Subsection (2), the Mayor shall present the report to the Council.
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§39. Vacancies.
The validity of anything done by the Council or the Executive Committee or
(subject to any ordinance of the local government and to the Rules of
Procedure of the Council) by a committee of the Council, is not affected by
any vacancy in its membership, provided that the number necessary to form
a quorum for a meeting remains.
§40. Service.
Where any document or thing is to be given to, served on or communicated
to a local government at a time when there is a vacancy in the office of the
Mayor or the Mayor is absent or incapacitated, and there is no person
appointed under Section 18 of this Constitution, it is sufficient if it is
addressed to the Clerk of the local government.
§41. Effective date.
This Constitution shall be effective on a date fixed by the Minister of the
Government of the Marshall Islands responsible for local government
matters.
SCHEDULE I
REFERENCE SECTION: 2 - DEFAULT CONSTITUTION
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
(Include the baselines from which the territorial sea is measured, or an accurate reference to
them, e.g., by reference to a map or chart.)
SCHEDULE 2
REFERENCE SECTION: 4, DEFAULT CONSTITUTION
Name of Wards Description of ward
ENDNOTES
Endnote References
1 If the local government covers only part of an atoll or island, or if it covers an atoll or
island that is less than 10 miles from an atoll or island that has its own local government,
this Section will need not be redrafted to describe the boundaries in accordance with the
principles prescribed in Section 107(3) of the Local Government Act 1980 (4 MIRC 1).
2 Or as the case may be.
3 Omit if unnecessary or not desired.
4 Iroij, etc., membership and appointed or ex officio membership, if desired, specifying
manner of election or appointment either here or in a separate Subsection.
5 Delete whichever is inappropriate.
6 One of the following provisions should be enacted as appropriate as Subsection (3):
(a) If the Local Government Constitution provides for a general election to be conducted by
ballot, the following language shall be inserted: “The general election of members
referred to in Subsection (1 )(a) [or as the case may be] of this Section shall, beginning in
the year 1995, be conducted once in every fourth calendar year on the third Monday in
November.”
(b) If the Local Government Constitution provides for a general election to be conducted by
consensus. the following language shall be inserted: “The general election of members
referred to in Subsection (1)(a) [or as the case may be] of this Section shall, beginning in
the year 1995, be conducted once in every fourth calendar year, the first election meeting
of which shall be conducted on the third Monday in November.”
[P.L. 1991-114, § 2(2).deleting Subsection 6(3) of the Act and substituting alternate
provisions as new Subsection 6(3).]
Each Local Government shall, if necessary to comply with the terms of P. L. 199 1114, enact
conforming amendments to their respective Local Government Constitutions in
accordance with this Chapter before January 1, 1995. The Ministry of Interior and Outer
islands Affairs shall assist Local Governments in determining whether such conforming
amendments are required and in the drafting of such amendments.
In the event that any such amendment to a Local Government Constitution would operate
to shorten the term of office of any person elected by ballot or by consensus in
accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Constitution in effect
immediately prior to the effective date of such amendment, the Local Government
Council shall:
(a) give reasonable notice to all prospective candidates prior to any such election that the
term of office for all candidates will be shortened for that election; and
(b) shall state the new term of office for that election. [P.L. 1991-114, § 3, setting forth
the transition provisions for amending existing Local Government Constitution to
conform to these amendments.]
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7 Provision for Iroij, etc., membership and appointed membership, if any.
8 Add any further qualifications or disqualifications desired, in accordance with Section 9(2)
of the Elections and Referenda Act 1980 (2 MIRC 1).
9 Not to exceed four years