Editing Marshall Islands (section)

===Independence===
[[File:Runit Dome 001.jpg|thumb|The Runit Dome, built to contain radioactive debris]]
On May 1, 1979, in recognition of the evolving political status of the Marshall Islands, the United States recognized the [[constitution of the Marshall Islands]] and the establishment of the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The constitution incorporates both American and British constitutional concepts.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Michal |first=Edward J. |date=1993 |title=Protected States: The Political Status of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23699959 |journal=The Contemporary Pacific |volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=303–332 |jstor=23699959 |issn=1043-898X}}</ref>

There have been a number of local and national elections since the Republic of the Marshall Islands was founded. The United Democratic Party, running on a reform platform, won the 1999 parliamentary election, taking control of the presidency and cabinet.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Walsh |first=Julianne M |date=2001 |title=Marshall Islands |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/8331 |journal=The Contemporary Pacific |language=en |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=211–216 |doi=10.1353/cp.2001.0034 |issn=1527-9464}}</ref>

The islands signed a [[Compact of Free Association]] with the United States in 1986. Trusteeship was ended under [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 683]] of December 22, 1990. Until 1999 the islanders received [[United States dollar|US$]]180 million for continued American use of Kwajalein atoll, US$250 million in compensation for [[nuclear test]]ing, and US$600 million in other payments under the compact.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Keitner |first1=Chimene |last2=Reisman |first2=W. Michael |date=2003–2004 |title=Free Association: The United States Experience |url=https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/tilj39&id=19&div=&collection= |journal=Texas International Law Journal |volume=39 |pages=1}}</ref>

Despite the constitution, the government was largely controlled by Iroij. It was not until 1999, following [[political corruption]] allegations, that the [[Aristocracy (government)|aristocratic]] government was overthrown, with [[Imata Kabua]] replaced by the [[commoner]] [[Kessai Note]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Stege |first=Kristina E |date=2002 |title=Marshall Islands |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/8404 |journal=The Contemporary Pacific |language=en |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=198–203 |doi=10.1353/cp.2002.0033 |issn=1527-9464}}</ref>

The Runit Dome was built on [[Runit Island]] to deposit U.S.-produced [[radioactive]] soil and debris, including lethal amounts of [[plutonium]]. There are ongoing concerns about deterioration of the waste site and a potential [[radioactive contamination|radioactive spill]].<ref>{{cite news |title=How the U.S. betrayed the Marshall Islands, kindling the next nuclear disaster |url=https://www.latimes.com/projects/marshall-islands-nuclear-testing-sea-level-rise/ |work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 10, 2019 |access-date=November 14, 2019 |archive-date=November 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114163729/https://www.latimes.com/projects/marshall-islands-nuclear-testing-sea-level-rise/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:2008 Summer Olympics - Marshall Islands eniras.jpg|thumb|left|Marshallese enter the 2008 Olympic Games]]
In February 2018, the Marshall Islands became the first country in the world to recognize its [[cryptocurrency]] as its own legal tender for [[digital currency]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Labriola |first=Monica C |date=2019 |title=Marshall Islands |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26776186 |journal=The Contemporary Pacific |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=170–179 |jstor=26776186 |issn=1043-898X}}</ref>

In January 2020, [[David Kabua]], son of founding president [[Amata Kabua]], was elected as the new [[President of the Marshall Islands]]. His predecessor [[Hilda Heine]] lost the position after a vote.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/406763/new-president-for-marshall-islands |title=New president for Marshall Islands |work=[[RNZ]] |date=6 January 2020 |access-date=24 August 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=18 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918180418/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/406763/new-president-for-marshall-islands}}</ref>

Since the late 1980s, Marshallese have migrated to the US, with over 4,000 in Arkansas and over 7,000 in Hawaii in the 2010 US Census.<ref>{{cite web |title=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/marshallese-5972/ |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |access-date=April 27, 2022 |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922073835/https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/marshallese-5972/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following independence, the Marshall Islands continued to play a prominent role in the testing and launches of missiles and rockets for both military and commercial space purposes. All five of the [[SpaceX]] [[Falcon 1]] rocket flights were carried out on [[Omelek Island]] within the Kwajalein Atoll. The fourth launch of the [[Falcon 1]] was successful, marking the first time in history a privately developed, fully liquid-fueled launch vehicle achieved orbit. SpaceX founder [[Elon Musk]] was present in Kwajalein for select launches.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Berger |first1=Eric |title=Liftoff: Elon Musk and the desperate early days that launched SpaceX |date=2021 |publisher=William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers |location=New York, NY |isbn=978-0062979971 |pages=76 |edition=First}}</ref>