The Republic of Palau has a parliamentary-presidential system, known as The Palua National Congress, operating through a bicameral model. The House of Delegates has 16 members (one from each state) and the Senate has 13 members (nationwide). Elected members serve a four year term and the President and Vice-President run as a team for electoral success. All adult Palauans are entitled to vote in the four-yearly general elections, held in synchrony with the US Presidential Elections.

Palau has a separate judicial system consisting of the Supreme Court, the Court of Common Pleas, and the Land Court. There has been a series of allegations of bribery, killings, suicides and coercion since independence, particularly in the early years; however, recent years have been marked by more stable and non-controversial government.