2004 Palauan constitutional referendum

Politics of Palau
Constitution Human rights LGBT rights
Executive President Surangel Whipps Jr. Vice President Uduch Sengebau Senior
Legislative National Congress Senate President: Hokkons Baules House of Delegates Speaker: Sabino Anastacio
Judiciary Supreme Court Chief Justice: Oldiais Ngiraikelau
Elections Recent elections General: 2012 2016 2020 Political parties
Administrative divisions States Governor of Koror Governor of Peleliu
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Gustav Aitaro Diplomatic missions of / in Palau Passport Visa requirements Visa policy Compact of Free Association
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A six-part referendum was held in Palau on 2 November 2004 alongside the country's general elections. Voters were asked questions on summoning a Constitutional Convention, payment of members of the National Congress, creating a unicameral Congress, term limits for Congress members, election of the President and Vice President and dual citizenship. All proposals were approved except the unicameral Congress, which despite receiving a majority of the public vote, did not meet the quorum of 12 of 16 states required for amendments to the constitution.

Results

Convening of a constitutional convention

Shall there be a Convention to revise or amend the Constitution?^[1]

Congressional attendance

Voters were asked whether they approved of a popular initiative to amend the constitution regarding the payment of members of the National Congress. The proposed amendment of article IX, section 8 would have read:

The compensation of the members of the Olbiil Era Kelulau shall be uniform fee for each day the member attends an official session of the Olbiil Era Kelulau. The amount of the fee shall be determined by law. No increase in compensation shall apply to the members of the Olbiil Era Kelulau during the term of enactment, nor may an increase in compensation be enacted in the period between the date of a regular general election and the date a new Olbiil Era Kelulau takes office."^[2]

Unicameral parliament

Three-term limit for National Congress members

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to limit the number of terms a member of the National Congress could serve to three. The text would read:

No person shall serve as a member of the Olbiil Era Kelulau for more than three terms; provided however, that any person elected as a member of the Olbiil Era Kelulau in the regular general election in which this amendment is adopted shall be entitle to serve the four-year for which he or she was elected regardless of the number of previous terms served.^[3]

Joint election of the president and vice president

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to elect the president and vice president together rather than separately. It would amend Article VIII, section 4 of the constitution to read:

The President and Vice President shall be elected in a nationwide election for a term of four (4) years. The President and Vice President shall be chosen jointly by the casting by each voter of A single vote applicable to both offices. A person may not serve as President for more than two consecutive terms.^[4]

Dual citizenship

A popular initiative proposed amending the constitution to allow Palauan citizens to hold dual citizenship, and give citizenship at birth to people with Palauan parents. The proposed wording was:

A person born of parent, one or both of whom are of recognized Palauan ancestry, is a citizenship shall not affect a person's Palauan citizenship, nor shall a person of recognized Palauan ancestry be required to renounce United States citizenship to become a naturalized citizen of Palau. Persons of other foreign nations may retain their Palauan citizenship or become naturalized Palauan citizens as provided by law. Palauan citizen may renounce their Palauan citizenship. Renouncements made prior to the effective date of this amendment are not affected by this amendment.^[5]

References