Politics in Solomon Islands

The political system of Solomon Islands operates under the Constitution of Solomon Islands. The Constitution protects fundamental rights and recognises customary law within the wider constitutional and legal framework. Public responsibilities are shared between the national government, nine provinces and Honiara City, whose institutions have different functions and areas of responsibility. At national level, Parliament makes laws and the government exercises executive authority through Cabinet and the public administration. The Governor-General performs constitutional functions as the King's representative. Elections form the representative side of this system. National parliamentary elections use 50 single-member constituencies and a first-past-the-post system, in which the candidate receiving the most votes in a constituency wins. Provincial Assemblies and Honiara City Council are also chosen through elections. A voter registers in one constituency, while the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission manages registration, polling, counting and publication of results. Understanding Solomon Islands politics therefore requires separating constitutional roles, administrative responsibilities and the different elections used to select representatives.