Country name
conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form : Northern Mariana Islands

Data code CQ

Dependency status commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealthadministered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Territorial andInternational Affairs

Government type commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenantgovernor, and legislature

National capital Saipan

Administrative divisions none

Independence none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

National holiday Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

Constitution Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986 and the Constitution ofthe Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Legal system based on US system except for customs, wages, immigration laws, andtaxation

Suffrage 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens butdo not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch
chief of state: President of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993);Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
head of government: Governor Froilan C. TENORIO (since NA January 1994) and Lieutenant GovernorJesus C. BORJA (since NA January 1994)
cabinet: NA
elections : governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popularvote for four-year terms; election last held in NA November 1993 (next tobe held NA November 1997)
election results: Froilan C. TENORIO elected governor of Northern Mariana Islands; percentof vote - Froilan C. TENORIO (Democrat) 56%

Legislative branch bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members are electedby popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections : Senate - last held NA November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1997);House of Representatives - last held NA November 1995 (next to be held NANovember 1997)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA (Republicansretained a majority of the seats); House of Representatives - percent of voteby party - NA; seats by party - NA (Republicans retained a majority of theseats)
note : the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in Congress; instead,it has an elected official or "resident representative" located in Washington,DC; seats by party - Republican 1 (Juan N. BABAUTA)

Judicial branch Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court

Political parties and leaders Republican Party, Benigno R. FITIAL, leader; Democratic Party, BenignoSABLAN, chairman

International organization participation ESCAP (associate), SPC

Flag description blue with a white five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouetteof a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in thecenter, surrounded by a wreath

NOTE: The information regarding Northern Mariana Islands on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Northern Mariana Islands Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Northern Mariana Islands Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.