Constitutional Convention elections were held in the Marshall Islands on 21 February 2017.Voters stay home Marshall Islands Journal, 23 July 2017
Background A constitutional convention is used in the Marshall Islands to consider proposed constitutional amendments that have been endorsed by the Legislature. The convention cannot propose new amendments and can only debate those approved by the parliament.Marshall Is seats to be hotly contested Radio New Zealand, 23 December 2016 Previous conventions had been held in 1977, 1989 and 1995.
While more were added after the election, the proposed changes for the 2017 Constitutional Convention initially included:At long last: Yes to Con-Con Marshall Islands Journal, 1 October 2015 Direct election of the President. Creating the position of Vice-President. Stopping the Legislature removing the President, Vice-President and Cabinet from office by motion of no confidence. Requiring presidential candidates to be a natural-born citizen. Reserving six seats in the Legislature for women. Requiring automatic rejection of appropriation bills that do not provide a balanced budget. Protection from sexual discrimination being enshrined in the Bill of Rights. Creation of an ombudsman's office. Empowering the Attorney General to ask an independent body to investigate possible cases of fraud, corruption or unethical behaviour by elected officials and other high-ranking officials. Increasing the number of members of the Council of Iroij by one. Introducing a constitutional ban on the sale of land except where the lineage of the (clan) owning the land is extinct.
Electoral system The 45 members of the Constitutional Convention consisted of 33 directly-elected delegates elected from the 33 Legislature districts, and 12 Iroijs (chiefs).Brief Overview of Political Development in the Republic of the Marshall Islands RMI Constitutional Convention Postal voting was not allowed.
Campaign A total of 119 candidates contested the 33 directly-elected seats, whilst 24 ran for the 12 seats reserved for the Iroijs. All but seven of the thirty-three members of the Legislature ran for election to the convention.Marshalls candidates gear for Con-Con election Marianas Variety, 23 December 2016
Results Elected membersSeatMemberDirectly-electedJack J. AdingTony AiseiaJack AkeangMaynard AlfredJejwarick H. AntonJerakoj J. BejangWinnie BenjaminKejjo BienDonald F. CapelleStephen K. DriboMcAvoy M. EspernThomas HeinePeterson JibasJimmy JonathanDavid KabuaHilton KendallJien Morris LekkaNuia LoeakYoland Logdge-NedNidel LorakRebecca LorennijLomes McKayAlmo MomotaroPhillip H. MullerNeti NathanCasten NemraKessai H. NoteDavid PaulAtbi RiklonJorelik TibonStanny TomeingBrenson WaseRuben ZackhrasIroijsHelkena AnniBruce BilimonElbod BoazKiorina CapelleWilbur HeineKosma JohanesMichael KabuaTommy Kijiner Jr.Kotak LoeakChristopher J. LoeakLein ZedkeiaSource: RMI Constitutional Convention
Aftermath The Constitutional Convention opened in April 2017. Kessai Note was elected as the body's President, defeating Christopher Loeak by a vote of 22–21.Long-awaited Con-Con starts Marshall Islands Journal, 20 April 2017
After a long pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the works of the convention was finally put to a referendum on 25 April 2025.
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