Senate of Palau

The Senate of Palau is the upper house of the Palau National Congress (Olbiil era Kelulau). The Senate has 13 members serving four-year terms in multi-seat constituencies. No political parties exist. The most recent election was held on 3 November 2020.[1]

Senate

Olbiil Era Kelulau
Type
Type
Leadership
President of the Senate
Hokkons Baules, Independent
since 19 January 2017
Vice-President of the Senate
Floor Leader of the Senate
Sergeant-At Arms
Ricky Mechol
Structure
Seats13
Length of term
4 years
Elections
Multi-seat constituencies
Last election
3 November 2020
Next election
2024
Meeting place
Olbiil era Kelulau building in the capitol complex, Ngerulmud
Website
Palau
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Palau

Membership

The Constitution does not indicate the number of a members of the Senate. Every 8 years, the National Congress appoints a reapportionment commission to draw up and recommend a district map allocating seats in accordance with the population. Therefore, the number of senators may change as frequently as every 8 years. Any voter can challenge a reapportionment before the Palau Supreme Court.[2]

During the first legislature in 1981, there were 18 Senators, which was reduced to 14 in 1984. In 2000, the number dropped to 9, but in 2008, the number rose to 13, before dropping again to 11 in 2016.[2]

Current Senators 11th OEK
Name
Regis Akitaya
Hokkons Baules
Secilil Eldebechel
Rukebai Inabo
TJ Imrur Remengesau
Steve Kuartei
Umiich Sengebau
Kerai Mariur
Kazuki L. "TOPPS" Sungino
Mark Rudimch
Jonathan CIO Isechal
Andrew Tabelaul
Mason Whipps

Committees

The Senate of Palau has 12 standing committees. They are:

Current Standing Committees[3]
Committee Chair Vice Chair
Ways & Means and Financial Matters Mark Rudimch Kerai Mariur
Judiciary and Governmental Affairs Kerai Mariur J. Uduch Sengebai, Sr.
Capital Improvement Projects John Skebong Frank Kyota
Health and Education Stevenson Kuartei Aric Nakamura
Tourism Development Camsek Chin John Skebong
Foreign Affairs and State Matters Aric Nakamura Stevenson Kuartei
Resources, Commerce, Trade, and Development Frank Kyota Mark Rudimch
Youth and Social Welfare Regis Akitaya Frank Kyota
Culture and Traditions J. Uduch Sengebai, Sr. Stevenson Kuartei
Public Utilities, Communications, and Housing Development Rukebai Inabo John Skebong
Banking and Insurance Mason Whipps Kerai Mariur
Maritime and Climate Change Phillip Reklai Aric Nakamura

Presidents of the Senate
Name Congress Period Notes
Kaleb Udui 1st January 1981 - November 1984 [4][5]
Isidoro Rudimch 2nd January 1985 – October 1986 [4]
Joshua Koshiba 2nd October 1986 – December 1988 [4]
Joshua Koshiba 3rd January 1989 - 1991 [4]
Isidoro Rudimch 3rd 1991 - November 1992 [4][6]
Peter Sugiyama 4th January 1993 - November 1996 [4][6]
Isidoro Rudimch 5th February 1997 – 31 August 1999 [4][7]
Seit Andres 5th September 1999 – December 2000 [4][8]
Seit Andres 6th January 2001 - December 2004 [8]
Surangel S. Whipps 7th January 2005 - April 2005 [9]
Johnny Reklai 7th April 2005 - March 2007 [10]
Joshua Koshiba 7th 27 March 2007 – 25 April 2007 [10]
Surangel S. Whipps 7th 25 April 2007 – 15 January 2009 [9]
Mlib Tmetuchl 8th 15 January 2009 – 16 January 2013 [11]
Elias Camsek Chin 9th 16 January 2013 – 19 January 2017 [12]
Hokkons Baules 10th, 11th 19 January 2017 –January 2020

January 2020-

References
  1. "REPUBLIC OF PALAU LEGISLATIVE ELECTION OF 1 NOVEMBER 2016". Psephos. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  2. "History". Olbiil Era Kelulau. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  3. "Senate Standing Committees". Olbiil Era Kelulau. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  4. http://www.pacificdigitallibrary.org/cgi-bin/pdl?e=d-000off-pdl--00-2--0--010-TE--4-------0-1l--10en-50---20-text-Melekeok--00-3-1-00bySR-0-0-000utfZz-8-00&a=d&cl=search&d=HASH016711a6ce4c09ca468bbb3e.18
  5. "Pacific Islands Monthly: PIM". 1981.
  6. "Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands". 1991.
  7. https://web.archive.org/web/20040707163338/http://oek.palaunet.com/Senate/Sen%20Andres.html
  8. http://www.pireport.org/articles/2015/12/22/special-election-palau-replace-late-senator-kesolei
  9. http://www.pacificdigitallibrary.org/cgi-bin/pdl?e=d-000off-pdl--00-2--0--010-TE--4-------0-1l--10en-50---20-text-Ngatpang--00-3-1-00bySR-0-0-000utfZz-8-00&a=d&cl=search&d=HASH920402ba72afcf1f2138f8.6
  10. http://www.pireport.org/articles/2007/04/04/naming-new-palau-senate-president-questioned
  11. http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2243_08.htm
  12. "Parline for The Senate of Palau". Retrieved 16 November 2016.


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