Government Ministries
Nauru’s government consists of an 18-member parliament with a cabinet of five or six members, elected every three years and appointed to the cabinet by the president. Each cabinet member, as well as the president, is responsible for running a variety of ministries, including the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Ministry for Home Affairs. There are also a variety of standing and select committees such as the Printing Committee, the Private Business Committee and the Select Committee on Land Issues, through which members of parliament deal with regular projects or specific incidents. The highest-ranking civil servant in Nauru is the Chief Secretary. This individual is appointed by the cabinet, cannot be a member of parliament and is responsible for management of government ministries. Within each ministry, the highest ranking public servant is the secretary of the ministry.