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> Micronesia, Federated States
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History and Government
History: The Federated States of Micronesia became a US-administered Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in 1947. This followed successive colonisation by the Portuguese, Spanish and Germans, and latterly Japanese rule between the two World Wars, under a mandate from the League of Nations (a forerunner of the United Nations). In November 1986, the Federated States signed a Compact of Free Association with the USA, allowing for near-independence with US defence support. Admission to and support from the South Pacific Forum – an association that groups Australasia with the smaller Pacific island nations – has been particularly valuable. Other than political matters, successive governments – including the present administration of Premier Leo Falcam, elected in 1999 – have been pre-occupied with the economic situation, as the Federated States suffer from remoteness and lack of industry and infrastructure. There is some development potential, particularly in the fishing and fish-processing industry, but Micronesia has some way to go before it ceases to be dependent on aid from the USA, which amounted to US$1.3 billion between 1986 and the end of the century. In 1991, the Federated States of Micronesia were admitted to the UN.
Government: The locally drafted constitution promulgated in May 1979 provides for a separate legislature for each of the four states of Kosrae, Yap, Pohnpei (formerly Ponape) and Chuuk (formerly Truk) and for a federal legislature (congress) of 14 senators. Each state elects one senator for a four-year term; these four are known as the ‘senators-at-large’. The other ten senators are elected for two years and their representation is allocated according to the population of each state. The president and vice-president are elected by the congress senators-at-large.
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