Country name
conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands

Data code CQ

Dependency status commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs

Government type commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature

National 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 4 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 of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
head of government: Governor Pedro P. TENORIO (since NA January 1998) and Lieutenant Governor Jesus R. SABLAN (since NA January 1998)
cabinet: NA
elections: governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held in NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2001)
election results: Pedro P. TENORIO elected governor of Northern Mariana Islands in three-way race; percent of vote - Pedro P. TENORIO (Republican) 47%

Legislative branch bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year staggered terms) and the House of Representatives (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 1999); House of Representatives - last held NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 1999)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA (Republicans retained a majority of the seats); House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA (Republicans retained a majority of the seats)
note: the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party - Republican 1 (Juan N. BABAUTA)

Judicial branch Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court

Political parties and leaders Republican Party, Benigno R. FITIAL, leader; Democratic Party, chairman (currently vacant)

International organization participation ESCAP (associate), SPC

Flag description blue with a white five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath

NOTE: The information regarding Northern Mariana Islands on this page is re-published from the 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Northern Mariana Islands Government 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Northern Mariana Islands Government 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.