Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature
Encyclopedia
The Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature is the territorial legislature of the U.S. commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
. The legislative branch of the territory is bicameral, consisting of a 20-member lower
House of Representatives
, and an upper house
Senate
with nine Senators. Both Representatives and Senators serve two-year terms without term limits
. The territorial legislature meets in the commonwealth capital of Saipan
.
Similar to the United States Congress
, the Senate seats are divided into three districts (three seats each) whose "boundaries" are identical to those of the municipalities (except that the barely inhabited Northern Islands
is incorporated with Saipan), and the House seats are divided according to population, with one seat each for Rota
and Tinian
and the rest belong to Saipan (with one of the districts including the Northern Islands).
The Legislature also has a youth congress, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Youth Congress.
Thomas S. Kleppe effective April 1, 1976, replacing the less autonomous Mariana Islands District Legislature. The cabinet
-level order reorganized local government in the commonwealth to reflect its greater self-government, which had established a political union with the United States
in the previous year under a public plebiscite.
The Commonwealth was officially established in January 1978, and as the constitution prescribed, the first House of Representatives had 14 members (12 from Saipan). Over the years, as permitted by the constitution, House membership was increased to 20 (18 from Saipan) beginning with the 16th Legislature in 2008.
The Northern Mariana Islands' election calendar is quite unique in that general elections are held in odd-numbered years. Until the recent 2008 election of the first ever non-voting delegate
to the U.S. Congress, there was no election at all in November of even-numbered years like everywhere else in the United States.
Northern Mariana Islands
The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , is a commonwealth in political union with the United States, occupying a strategic region of the western Pacific Ocean. It consists of 15 islands about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines...
. The legislative branch of the territory is bicameral, consisting of a 20-member lower
Lower house
A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide the lower house has come to wield more power...
House of Representatives
Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives
The Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives is the lower house of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature.In the 2007 election cycle, the CNMI House membership was increased from 18 to 20...
, and an upper house
Upper house
An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
Senate
Northern Mariana Islands Senate
The Northern Mariana Islands Senate is the upper house of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. The Senate consists of nine senators representing three senatorial districts , each a multi-member constituency with three senators.In the November 2007 elections, the three senators up...
with nine Senators. Both Representatives and Senators serve two-year terms without term limits
Term limits in the United States
Term limits in the United States apply to many offices at both the federal and state level, and date back to the American Revolution.-Pre-constitution:...
. The territorial legislature meets in the commonwealth capital of Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
.
Similar to the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, the Senate seats are divided into three districts (three seats each) whose "boundaries" are identical to those of the municipalities (except that the barely inhabited Northern Islands
Northern Islands Municipality
Northern Islands Municipality is one of the four main political divisions of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. It consists of a long string of the northernmost islands of the Northern Marianas, including Farallon de Pajaros, the Maug Islands, Asuncion, Agrihan, Pagan, Alamagan,...
is incorporated with Saipan), and the House seats are divided according to population, with one seat each for Rota
Rota (island)
Rota also known as the "peaceful island", is the southernmost island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the second southernmost of the Marianas Archipelago. It lies approximately 40 miles north-northeast of the United States territory of Guam...
and Tinian
Tinian
Tinian is one of the three principal islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.-Geography:Tinian is about 5 miles southwest of its sister island, Saipan, from which it is separated by the Saipan Channel. It has a land area of 39 sq.mi....
and the rest belong to Saipan (with one of the districts including the Northern Islands).
The Legislature also has a youth congress, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Youth Congress.
History
The modern legislature was created under Secretarial Order No. 2989 by federal Interior SecretaryUnited States Secretary of the Interior
The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
Thomas S. Kleppe effective April 1, 1976, replacing the less autonomous Mariana Islands District Legislature. The cabinet
United States Cabinet
The Cabinet of the United States is composed of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States, which are generally the heads of the federal executive departments...
-level order reorganized local government in the commonwealth to reflect its greater self-government, which had established a political union with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the previous year under a public plebiscite.
The Commonwealth was officially established in January 1978, and as the constitution prescribed, the first House of Representatives had 14 members (12 from Saipan). Over the years, as permitted by the constitution, House membership was increased to 20 (18 from Saipan) beginning with the 16th Legislature in 2008.
The Northern Mariana Islands' election calendar is quite unique in that general elections are held in odd-numbered years. Until the recent 2008 election of the first ever non-voting delegate
Delegate (United States Congress)
A delegate to Congress is a non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives who is elected from a U.S. territory and from Washington, D.C. to a two-year term. While unable to vote in the full House, a non-voting delegate may vote in a House committee of which the delegate is a member...
to the U.S. Congress, there was no election at all in November of even-numbered years like everywhere else in the United States.
See also
- Northern Mariana Islands House of RepresentativesNorthern Mariana Islands House of RepresentativesThe Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives is the lower house of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature.In the 2007 election cycle, the CNMI House membership was increased from 18 to 20...
- Northern Mariana Islands SenateNorthern Mariana Islands SenateThe Northern Mariana Islands Senate is the upper house of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. The Senate consists of nine senators representing three senatorial districts , each a multi-member constituency with three senators.In the November 2007 elections, the three senators up...
- List of Northern Mariana Islands Governors