Politics of the Northern Mariana Islands

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Northern Mariana Islands

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of the Northern Mariana Islands

Governor Benigno R. Fitial Legislature Political parties Elections

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Politics of the Northern Mariana Islands takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic system, whereby the Governor is head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. The Northern Mariana Islands are a commonwealth in political union with the United States. Federal funds to the Commonwealth are administered by the Office of Insular Affairs of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Local government is carried out through three regional mayors.

The Northern Mariana Islands and the United States reached a Covenant Agreement effective 4 November 1986. The Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands became effective 1 January 1978.

Contents 1 Executive branch 2 Legislative branch 3 Political parties and elections 4 Judicial branch 5 International organization participation 6 Political Culture

[edit] Executive branch

Main office holders
Office	Name	Party	Since
Governor	Benigno Fitial	Covenant Party	January 2006

[edit] Legislative branch

The Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature has two chambers. The House of Representatives has 18 members, elected for a two year term in single-seat constituencies. The Senate has 9 members, elected for a two year term in single-seat constituencies. Furthermore the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in the US Congress as the other United States [insular areas] do. Instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" located in Washington, DC who speaks for the Commonwealth on national issues.

[edit] Political parties and elections

The following election results include names of political parties. See for additional information about parties the List of political parties in the Northern Mariana Islands. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in the Northern Mariana Islands.

[discuss] – [edit]
Summary of the 5 November 2005 Northern Mariana Islands Gubernatorial election results

Candidates and nominating parties	Votes	%
Benigno R. Fitial - Covenant Party	3,809	28.1
Heinz Hofschneider - Independent	3,710	27.3
Juan Babauta - Republican Party	3,610	26.6
Froilan Tenorio - Democratic Party	2,442	18.0
Total	13,517

[discuss] – [edit]
Summary of the 5 November 2005 Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature election results

Parties	Votes	%	Seats House	Votes	%	Seats Senate
Covenant Party			7			3
Republican Party			7			3
Democratic Party			2			2
Independent			2			1
Total		100.0	18		100.0	9

[edit] Judicial branch

Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court

[edit] International organization participation

ESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), SPC

[edit] Political Culture

Historically, the Northern Mariana Islands have been subject to the colonizing powers of Spain, Germany, Japan, and the United States under a United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Agreement. Each power contributed elements that mixed with local indigenous cultures to form the current political culture of the Northern Mariana Islands.

When United States citizenship was granted in 1986 to people who qualified as descendents of the Northern Marianas, few among the island's native population had been adequatley prepared for democracy. As a result, politics in the Northern Mariana Islands is often "more a function of family relationships and personal loyalities" where the size of one's extended family is more important than a candidate's personal qualifications. The authors of Saipansucks.com, charge that this is nepotism carried out within the trappings of democracy.[1][2].

	Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Topics	Archipelago  · Geography · Politics · Economy · Campaign
Capital	Saipan
Islands	Farallon de Pajaros (Uracas) · Maug Islands :#blue Asuncion · Agrihan (Agrigan) · Pagan · Alamagan · Guguan · Zealandia Bank · Sarigan · Anatahan · Farallon de Medinilla · Saipan · Tinian  · Aguijan (Agiguan) · Rota
Municipalities	Northern Islands Municipality · Saipan · Tinian · Rota