conventional long form:
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form:
Northern Mariana Islands
Digraph:
CQ
Type:
commonwealth in political union with the US; self-governing with
locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature;
federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of
the Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs
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 of
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Legal system:
based on US system except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and
taxation
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but
do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice
President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
head of government:
Governor Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO (since 9 January 1990); Lieutenant
Governor Benjamin T. MANGLONA (since 9 January 1990); election last
held in NA November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1993); results -
Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO, Republican Party, was elected governor
Legislative branch:
bicameral Legislature
Senate:
elections last held NA November 1991 (next to be held NA November
1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total)
Republicans 6, Democrats 3
House of Representatives:
elections last held NA November 1991 (next to be held NA November
1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (18 total)
Republicans 10, Democrats 6, Independent 2
US House of Representatives:
the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in Congress;
instead, it has an elected official "resident representative" located
in Washington, DC; seats - (1 total) Republican (Juan N. BABAUTA)
Judicial branch:
Commonwealth Supreme Court, Superior Court, Federal District Court
Political parties and leaders:
Republican Party, Governor Lorenzo GUERRERO; Democratic Party, Carlos
SHODA, chairman
Member of:
ESCAP (associate), SPC
Flag:
blue with a white five-pointed star superimposed on the gray
silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used