The country is governed by a unicameral National Parliament consisting of 50 elected members. Terms are for four years. The Prime Minister is elected by Parliament and chooses a cabinet to assist in the governance of the country. All adults over the age of 21 years are entitled to vote in general and regional elections.

There are nine separate provinces and the Capital Territory that are the local government structures for dealing with local issues. Only persons holding citizenship in the Solomon Islands may own land, which adds additional strain on inter-race relations.