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Northern Mariana Islands Government
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| Country name: |
conventional long form:
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form:
Northern Mariana Islands
former:
Mariana Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
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| Dependency status: |
commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs
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| Government type: |
commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature
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| Administrative divisions: |
none (commonwealth in political union with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four municipalities at the second order; Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian
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| Independence: |
none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
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| National holiday: |
Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
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| Constitution: |
Covenant Agreement effective 4 November 1986 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978
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| Legal system: |
based on US system, except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation
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| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
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| Executive branch: |
chief of state:
President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
head of government:
Governor Pedro P. TENORIO (since NA January 1998) and Lieutenant Governor Jesus R. SABLAN (since NA January 1998)
cabinet:
NA
elections:
US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held in NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2001)
election results:
Pedro P. TENORIO elected governor in a three-way race; percent of vote - Pedro P. TENORIO (Republican Party) 47%
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| Legislative branch: |
bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year staggered terms) and the House of Representatives (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections:
Senate - last held 9 November 1999 (next to be held NA November 2001); House of Representatives - last held 9 November 1999 (next to be held NA November 2001)
election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Republican Party 6, Democratic Party 2, Reform Party 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Republican Party 10, Democratic Party 8
note:
the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in the US Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party - Republican Party 1 (Juan N. BABAUTA)
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| Judicial branch: |
Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court
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| Political parties and leaders: |
Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO]; Republican Party [Benigno R. FITIAL]
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| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
NA
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| International organization participation: |
ESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), SPC
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| Flag description: |
blue, with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath
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