ARTICLE IV - THE LEGISLATURE

Section 1.    Legislative Power Vested in the Nitijela.

(1)   The legislative power of the Republic of the Marshall Islands shall be vested in the Nitijela and shall be exercised by Act.

(2)   The power conferred by this Section shall include the power:

(a)   to repeal, revoke or amend any law in force in the Republic; and
(b)   to confer, by Act, the authority to promulgate rules, regulations, orders or other subordinate instruments pursuant to that Act and in furtherance of its stated purposes; and
(c)   to make all other laws which it considers necessary and proper for carrying into execution any of its other powers, or any power vested by this Constitution in any other government agency or any public officer. [By way of Constitutional Amendment #1, the term “Marshall Islands”  as that  term  is first  used herein,  was replaced  with the term  “Republic  of the Marshall Islands”  that Amendment also replaced the term “Marshall Islands” as it appears subsequently herein, with the term “Republic”]

Section 2.    Membership of the Nitijela.

(1)   The Nitijela shall consist of 33 members to be elected from the following electoral districts in the number indicated beside the name of each electoral district:
Majuro...........................................................................    5
Kwajalein.......................................................................    3
Ailinglaplap....................................................................    2
Arno.............................................................................    2
Jaluit............................................................................    2
Jabat ..............................................................................    1
Mili.................................................................................    1
Ebon...............................................................................    1
Lib..................................................................................    1
Namdrik..........................................................................    1
Maloelap.........................................................................    1
Wotje..............................................................................    1
Likiep..............................................................................    1
Ailuk................................................................................    1
Aur...................................................................................    1
Namu................................................................................    1
Wotho ..............................................................................    1
Enewetak & Ujelang.........................................................    1
Bikini & Kili.....................................................................    1
Rongelap...........................................................................    1
Mejit ................................................................................    1
Utrik.................................................................................    1
Lae ...................................................................................    1
Ujae    ...............................................................................    1

Narikrik, Erikub, Jemo, Taka, Bikar, Bokak, Rongrik and Ailinginae shall each be included in the electoral district with which it is most closely associated, pursuant to the customary law or any traditional practice.

(2)   At any election in any electoral district, every qualified voter shall have the right to vote for as many candidates as there are seats to be filled; and the requisite number of candidates who receive the greatest number of votes, whether or not the number of votes received by any candidate constitutes a majority, shall be the member or members elected to represent that electoral district, and shall be so declared pursuant to law.

(3)   Subject to paragraphs (4) and(5) of this Section, the Nitijela may, by Act, amend paragraph (1) of this Section so as to vary the total number of members of the Nitijela, or the number of electoral districts, or their geographic boundaries, or the number of members to be elected from any electoral district.

(4)   Any such amendment of paragraph (1) of this Section shall, so far as practicable, be made in accordance with the principle that every member of the Nitijela should represent approximately the same number of voters; but account shall also be taken of geographical features, community interests, the boundaries of existing administrative and recognized traditional areas, means of communication and density and mobility of population

(5)   The Nitijela shall not proceed further than the first reading of any Bill or amendment to a Bill which, in the opinion of the Speaker, makes provision for amending paragraph (1) of this Section, unless it has before it a report, made by a committee of the Nitijela, or by some other body authorized for the purpose by Act, reviewing the composition of the Nitijela and stating whether or not it would be desirable in the circumstances, having regard to the provisions of paragraph (4) of this Section, to amend paragraph(1); and that report has been published.

(6)   It shall be the duty of the Nitijela to call, at least once in 10 years, for a report , pursuant to paragraph (5) of this Section and to publish that report.