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Parliament name (generic / translated) Maneaba Ni Maungatabu / House of Assembly More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Unicameral Affiliation to the IPU No Affiliation date(s) LEADERSHIP President Tebuai Uaai (M)  Notes Elected on 5 Dec. 2016. Secretary General Eni Tekanene (M)  COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 46 / 46 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 3 (6.52%) Mode of designation directly elected 44 appointed 1 other 1 Notes Appointed members: appointed by the Banaban community, the vast majority of whom live on the island of Rabi in Fiji. Other: the Attorney General is an ex officio member. In case the Attorney General is an elected member, the statutory number will be 45. The Speaker is designated from outside Parliament. Term 4 years Last renewal dates 30 December 2015 7 January 2016 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address House of Assembly P.O.Box 52 BAIRIKI, Tarawa (Export mailing lists) Phone (686) 21 880 21 053 21 084 Fax (686) 21 278 E-mail clerk@parliament.gov.ki Website http://www.parliament.gov.ki/

Parliament name (generic / translated) Maneaba Ni Maungatabu / House of Assembly Structure of parliament Unicameral LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 1 January 1900 Last updated on 07.06.2007 Mode of designation directly elected 44 appointed 1 other 1 Constituencies 23 single and multi-member electoral districts. Voting system Majority: Direct elections. Majority vote (absolute and simple) in two rounds; second round contest among three best-placed candidates in each constituency. In multi-member electoral districts, voters may cast votes for up to the full number of vacant seats available. Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections within 3 months. Voting is not compulsory. Voter requirements - age: 18 years - Kiribati citizenship - regular residence in electoral district (of vote) - disqualifications: insanity, imprisonment of at least one year, electoral fraud CANDIDATES Eligibility Qualified electors - age: 21 years - Kiribati citizenship - ineligibility: allegiance to foreign State, death sentence Incompatibilities - election-related employment - public office - civil service Candidacy requirements - support of three electors

Parliament name (generic / translated) Maneaba Ni Maungatabu / House of Assembly Structure of parliament Unicameral BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) (from/to) 30 December 2015 7 January 2016 Timing and scope of renewal The elections saw 22 new parliamentarians elected to the 46-member parliament. Several ministers and veteran parliamentarians, including former President Teatao Teannaki, lost their seats. A record 18 women – up from 12 in 2011 – were candidates, however, only three were elected, compared to four in the previous parliament. Parties are loose groupings in Kiribati and there were no official manifestos. During the election campaign, many candidates focused on climate change, and promised to work for more economic development and better employment. The Speaker is elected among persons who are not members of Parliament. On 5 February 2016, the new House of Assembly held its first session and elected Mr. Teatao Teannaki as its Speaker. He is from the Tobwaan Kiribati Party (TKP), which was formed after a merger between the Karikirakean Te I-Kiribati Party and the Maurin Kiribati Party. The House of Assembly also selected three presidential candidates from among its members: Mr. Taaneti Mamau (TKP), Mr. Rimeta Beniamina (Boutokan teKoaua Party, BTK) and Mr. Tianeti Ioane (BTK). Outgoing President Anote Tong of (BTK) was constitutionally barred from running for the presidency after serving the maximum three terms as President. On 9 March, Mr. Mamau (TKP) was elected as the new President. Date of previous elections: 21 & 28 October 2011 Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 25 November 2015 Timing of election: Upon normal expiry* *General elections are due within three months of the dissolution of parliament (i.e., by February 2016) Expected date of next elections: December 2019 Number of seats at stake: 44 (full renewal) Number of candidates: 133 (115 men, 18 women) Percentage of women candidates: 13.5% Number of parties contesting the election: 3 Number of parties winning seats: 3* *The Karikirakean Te I-Kiribati Party and the Maurin Kiribati Party formed the Tobwaan Kiribati Party (TKP) after the elections. Alternation of power: Yes Date of the first session of the new parliament: 5 February 2016 Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Teatao Teannaki (Tobwaan Kiribati Party, TKP) STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 (from/to) 30 December 2015 7 January 2016 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 40'000 Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes Boutokaan te Koaua (Pillars of Truth) Tobwaaan Kiribati Party (TKP) Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats Boutokaan te Koaua (Pillars of Truth) 26 Tobwaaan Kiribati Party (TKP) 19 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 43 3 6.52% Distribution of seats according to age Distribution of seats according to profession Comments Source: House of Assembly (11.01.2016, 26.02.2016) Note: The distribution of seats according to political group above refers to the composition of parliament on 5 February 2016. They include 44 directly elected members and one appointed member. Note on the distribution of seats according to sex: The statistics include one appointed member and one ex officio member (the Attorney General). Both are men.

Parliament name (generic / translated) Maneaba Ni Maungatabu / House of Assembly Structure of parliament Unicameral APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title Speaker of the House of Assembly Term - duration: 4 years (term of House) - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution Appointment - elected by all the Members - election is held at the first sitting of the newly elected Assembly or when a vacancy occurs - after Members are sworn in Eligibility - any qualified person who is not a Member of the House of Assembly - candidatures must be submitted by a Member of the House of Assembly - candidatures must be supported by another Member of the House of Assembly Voting system - if three candidatures, or less, are submitted : a vote by secret ballot is held. A simple majority required - if more than three candidatures are submitted : half of the candidates are elected in the first round, then further rounds are held until only two candidates are left ; the one who obtains a majority of the votes cast is then elected Procedures / results - the Chief Justice presides over the House of Assembly during the voting STATUS Status - in the absence of the Speaker, a private Member elected by the House of Assembly for that sitting, can assume his/her role and functions Board Material facilities NA (no information received) FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions - organizes the debates and sets speaking time - examines the admissibility of questions, petitions, bills and amendments - examines the admissibility of request for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting up of such committees Chairing of public sittings - can open and close sittings within the framework of the Standing Orders - - can suspend sittings for short periods - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - makes announcements concerning the House of Assembly - takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures - establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak - calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities - checks the quorum Special powers - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the House of Assembly Speaking and voting rights, other functions NA (no information received)

This page was last updated on 12 January 2017
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