Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Nauru
conventional short form:
Nauru
local long form:
Republic of Nauru
local short form:
Nauru
former:
Pleasant Island
Government type:
republic
Capital:
no official capital; government offices in Yaren District
time difference:
UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 31 January (1968)
Constitution:
29 January 1968; amended 17 May 1968
Legal system:
mixed legal system of common law based on the English model and customary law
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal and compulsory
[see also: Suffrage country ranks ]
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Sprent DABWIDO (since 15 November 2011); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Sprent DABWIDO (since 15 November 2011)
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 on 10 November 2011 (next to be held in 2014)
election results:
a no-confidence vote on 15 November 2011 removed Frederick PITCHER as president after six days; Sprent DABWIDO elected in a parliamentary vote of 9 to 8
Legislative branch:
unicameral parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections:
last held on 19 June 2010 (next to be held in 2013)
election results:
percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 18
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; Nauru First (Naoero Amo) Party; Nauru Party (informal); note - loose multiparty system
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Woman Information and News Agency (women's issues)
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, ICAO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Marlene I. MOSES
chancery:
800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, NY 10017
telephone:
[1] (212) 937-0074
FAX:
[1] (212) 937-0079
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; blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, 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
National anthem:
name: "Nauru Bwiema" (Song of Nauru)
lyrics/music:
Margaret HENDRIE/Laurence Henry HICKS
note:
adopted 1968