The country's 18-member Parliament is run under a British-style system. There is a loose multiparty system; the two main parties are the Democratic Party and Nauru Party (informal). Elections for the Parliament are held every three years; voting is compulsory for all citizens aged 20 or more.
The Parliament elects a president from amongst its members, who appoints a Cabinet of 5-6 people. The President is both the head of state and head of government.
A series of no-confidence votes, resignations and elections between 1999 and 2003 saw Rene Harris and Bernard Dowiyogo as President for numerous short periods during a period of political instability. Dowigoyo died in office on March 10, 2003, in Washington, D.C., after heart surgery. Ludwig Scotty was elected President on May 29, 2003, but this did not bring to an end the years of political uncertainty as he was replaced by Harris a few months later. Government
| Name (birth-death) | Dates of presidency |
|---|---|
| Hammer DeRoburt (1922-1992) | 31.01.1968-22.12.1976 |
| Bernard Dowiyogo (1946-2003) | 22.12.1976-19.04.1978 |
| Lagumot Harris (1938?-1999) | 19.04.1978-15.05.1978 |
| Hammer DeRoburt | 15.05.1978-17.09.1986 |
| Kennan Adeang | 17.09.1986-01.10.1986 |
| Hammer DeRoburt | 01.10.1986-12.1986 |
| Kennan Adeang | 12.1986-12.1986 |
| Hammer DeRoburt | 12.1986-17.08.1989 |
| Kenos Aroi | 17.08.1989-12.12.1989 |
| Bernard Dowiyogo | 12.12.1989-22.11.1995 |
| Lagumot Harris | 22.11.1995-11.11.1996 |
| Bernard Dowiyogo | 11.11.1996-26.11.1996 |
| Kennan Adeang | 26.11.1996-19.12.1996 |
| Rueben Kun | 19.12.1996-13.02.1997 |
| Kinza Clodumar (1944?-) | 13.02.1997-18.06.1998 |
| Bernard Dowiyogo | 18.06.1998-27.04.1999 |
| Rene Harris (1948-) | 27.04.1999-20.04.2000 |
| Bernard Dowiyogo | 20.04.2000-30.03.2001 |
| Rene Harris | 30.03.2001-09.01.2003 |
| Bernard Dowiyogo | 09.01.2003-17.01.2003 |
| Rene Harris | 17.01.2003-18.01.2003 |
| Bernard Dowiyogo | 18.01.2003-10.03.2003 |
| Derog Gioura (1931?-) | 10.03.2003-29.05.2003 |
| Ludwig Scotty | 29.05.2003-08.08.2003 |
| Rene Harris | 08.08.2003- |
The President's official residence is State House; however, the building was recently burned down during riots over the government's policy with respect to asylum seekers.
Legal System
Nauruan law is based on British common law and Acts of the Nauru Parliament. Decisions are made by the Supreme Court.
International organization participation:
Nauru is a member of the following organisations: Asian Development Bank, The Commonwealth, ESCAP, ICAO, ICC, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Pacific Islands Forum, Pacific Community, Sparteca, United Nations, UNESCO, UPU, WHO