Iroijlaplap
Encyclopedia
Iroijlaplap is the title
given to the paramount chief
s in the Marshall Islands
. An ordinary chief holds the title of Iroij (female: Leroij).
Article III of the Constitution of the Marshall Islands recognises the title, and establishes a Council of Iroij, composed of holders of the title of Iroijlaplap, or other analogous traditional titles, chosen from holders of the chieftainship among the several constituent islands. The Council is empowered to "consider any matter of concern to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and it may express its opinion thereon to the Cabinet". The Council is also entitled to formally request the reconsideration of any bill in the Nitijela (the legislature of the Marshall Islands
), that affects customary law, traditional practices, or land tenure.
There are currently four iroijlaplap, two of which have served as the country's president
:
Title
A title is a prefix or suffix added to someone's name to signify either veneration, an official position or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may even be inserted between a first and last name...
given to the paramount chief
Paramount chief
A paramount chief is the highest-level traditional chief or political leader in a regional or local polity or country typically administered politically with a chief-based system. This definition is used occasionally in anthropological and archaeological theory to refer to the rulers of multiple...
s in the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
. An ordinary chief holds the title of Iroij (female: Leroij).
Article III of the Constitution of the Marshall Islands recognises the title, and establishes a Council of Iroij, composed of holders of the title of Iroijlaplap, or other analogous traditional titles, chosen from holders of the chieftainship among the several constituent islands. The Council is empowered to "consider any matter of concern to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and it may express its opinion thereon to the Cabinet". The Council is also entitled to formally request the reconsideration of any bill in the Nitijela (the legislature of the Marshall Islands
Legislature of the Marshall Islands
The Legislature of the Marshall Islands has 33 members, elected for a four year term in single-seat and five multi-seat constituencies...
), that affects customary law, traditional practices, or land tenure.
There are currently four iroijlaplap, two of which have served as the country's president
President of the Marshall Islands
-List of Presidents of the Marshall Islands:...
:
- Imata KabuaImata KabuaImata Kabua was President of the Marshall Islands from 14 January 1997 to 10 January 2000. He became the Iroijlaplap of Kwajalein after the death of Amata Kabua.-References:* . Rulers.org. Accessed 2011-02-01....
- Anjua LoeakAnjua LoeakAnjua Loeak is the current iroijlaplap of Ailinglaplap, and one of four paramount chiefs in the Marshall Islands. Loeak's domain lies in the Ralik Chain and is shared with the iroijlaplap of Kwajalein, currently Imata Kabua....
- Jurelang ZedkaiaJurelang ZedkaiaJurelang Zedkaia is a Marshallese traditional chief and politician. Zedkaia was elected the 5th President of the Marshall Islands on October 26, 2009, following the ouster of his predecessor, Litokwa Tomeing, in the country's first successful vote of no confidence.-Biography:Zedkaia is the...
- Remios HermiosRemios HermiosRemios Hermios is one of two iroijlaplap of the Ratak Chain in the Marshall Islands. His traditional domain includes the atolls of Aur, Maloelap, Erikub, Wotje, Likiep, Ailuk, Utirik and Taongi; he and his predecessors have also laid claim to U.S.-administered Wake Island...