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> Northern Mariana Islands
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History and Government
History: Formerly a Japanese colony, the Northern Marianas became part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, administered by the USA under a mandate granted by the United Nations in 1947. Following a referendum in 1975, the Northern Marianas Islands became internally self-governing with a bicameral legislature (see Government below). In 1984, President Reagan extended the American civil and political rights available to the residents of the Northern Marianas and two years later, after the end of the UN mandate, the territory acquired US Commonwealth status. At this point, the residents were granted US citizenship. Domestic politics mirror the Republican–Democrat duopoly of the USA. At the most recent elections held in November 2001, the Republican candidate, Juan Babauta, won with 43 per cent of the poll. The Republicans also convincingly won legislative elections for the Senate in 2001, as well as for the House of Representatives in 1999. The islands face significant social and economic problems that are largely attributable to the rapid growth of the population in the last two decades and the lack both of adequate employment opportunities and social infrastructure.
Government: The constitution, which came into operation in January 1978, allows for an executive governor and a bicameral legislature consisting of an 18-seat House of Representatives and a nine-member Senate.
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