Senate of Palau
The Senate of Palau is the upper house of the Palau National Congress. The Senate has 13 members serving four-year terms in multi-seat constituencies. No political parties exist. The most recent election was held on 1 November 2016.
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.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.
| Name |
| Regis Akitaya |
| Hokkons Baules |
| Elias Camsek Chin |
| Rukebai Inabo |
| Aric Nakamura |
| Steve Kuartei |
| Frank Kyota |
| Kerai Mariur |
| Phillip Reklai |
| Mark Rudimch |
| Jerrlyn Uduch Sengebau Senior |
| John Skebong |
| Mason Whipps |
Committees
The Senate of Palau has 12 standing committees. They are:| 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 | |
| Isidoro Rudimch | 2nd | January 1985 - October 1986 | |
| Joshua Koshiba | 2nd | October 1986 - December 1988 | |
| Joshua Koshiba | 3rd | January 1989 - 1991 | |
| Isidoro Rudimch | 3rd | 1991 - November 1992 | |
| Peter Sugiyama | 4th | January 1993 - November 1996 | |
| Isidoro Rudimch | 5th | February 1997 - 31 August 1999 | |
| Seit Andres | 5th | September 1999 - December 2000 | |
| Seit Andres | 6th | January 2001 - December 2004 | |
| Surangel S. Whipps | 7th | January 2005 - April 2005 | |
| Johnny Reklai | 7th | April 2005 - March 2007 | |
| Joshua Koshiba | 7th | 27 March 2007 – 25 April 2007 | |
| Surangel S. Whipps | 7th | 25 April 2007 - 15 January 2009 | |
| Mlib Tmetuchl | 8th | 15 January 2009 - 16 January 2013 | |
| Elias Camsek Chin | 9th | 16 January 2013 - 19 January 2017 | |
| Hokkons Baules | 10th | 19 January 2017 - |