[1] The recommendations of the 1977 constitutional convention on a proposed electoral system were introduced prior to the 1978 elections.
The three-member constituencies covered South Tarawa, the capital and home to nearly one-third of the entire population of 56,000.
For the first time, Christmas, Fanning and Washington Islands, as well as Banaba, each returned one member from their populations of migrant workers and their families.
The 35 members of the House of Assembly were elected from 23 constituencies (with each island forming a constituency) using the two-round system; if no candidate received a majority of the vote in the first round, a second round was held within seven days.
[3] An election for Chief Minister was held on 17 March between Ieremia Tabai, Roniti Teiwaki, Babera Kirata and Taomati Iuta.