l relationship with all four political units: the
Northern Mariana Islands is a Commonwealth in political union with the
US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free
Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994); the Federated
States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association with the US
(effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the Marshall Islands
signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 21 October
1986)

Independence: 4 July 1776 (from England)

National holiday: Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

Constitution: 17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789

Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of
legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President William Jefferson
CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr.
(since 20 January 1993); election last held 3 November 1992 (next to
be held 5 November 1996); results - William Jefferson CLINTON
(Democratic Party) 43.2%, George BUSH (Republican Party) 37.7%, Ross
PEROT (Independent) 19.0%, other 0.1%
cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president with Senate approval

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress
Senate: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5
November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (100
total) Republican Party 54, Democratic Party 46
House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to
be held 5 November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
- (435 total) Republican Party 231, Democratic Party 203, independent
1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: Republican Party, Haley BARBOUR,
national committee chairman; Jeanie AUSTIN, co-chairman; Democratic
Party, David C. WILHELM, national committee chairman; several other
groups or parties of minor political significance

Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group,
BIS, CCC, CP, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP, FAO, G- 2, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8,
G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OSCE, PCA,
SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR,
UNMIH, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UN