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Northern Mariana Islands Government

What is the capital of Northern Mariana Islands?

Country Name Northern Mariana Islands
Full Country Name Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Abbreviation CNMI
Former Name Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands District
Etymology- history of name formally claimed and named by Spain in 1667 in honor of the Spanish Queen, MARIANA of Austria
Government Type a commonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the US; republican form of government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches
Capital Name Saipan
Capital - geographic coordinate 15 12 N, 145 45 E
Capital Time Difference UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Independence none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
National Holiday Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Constitution history: partially effective 9 January 1978 (Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); fully effective 4 November 1986 (Covenant Agreement)

amendments: proposed by constitutional convention, by public petition, or by the Legislature; ratification of proposed amendments requires approval by voters at the next general election or special election; amendments proposed by constitutional convention or by petition become effective if approved by a majority of voters and at least two-thirds majority of voters in each of two senatorial districts; amendments proposed by the Legislature are effective if approved by majority vote; amended several times, last in 2012
Dependency Status commonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs, Washington, DC

Northern Mariana Islands Capital City Map

Source: Google Maps

Northern Mariana Islands Government and Politics

Who is the president of Northern Mariana Islands?

Executive Branch: chief of state: President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021)

head of government: Governor Arnold PALACIOS (since 9 January 2023); Lieutenant Governor David APATANG (since 9 January 2023)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate

elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of the Northern Mariana Islands do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; election last held on 8 November 2022 with a runoff held on 25 November 2022 (next to be held in 2026)

election results: Arnold PALACIOS elected governor in second round; percent of vote in first round - Ralph TORRES (Republican) 38.8%; Arnold PALACIOS (independent) 32.2%, Tina SABLAN (Democrat) 28%; percent of vote - Arnold PALACIOS 54%, Ralph TORRES 46%; David APATANG (independent) elected lieutenant governor
Citizenship Criteria: see United States
Legal System: the laws of the US apply, except for customs and some aspects of taxation
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Legislative Branch: description: bicameral Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature consists of:

Senate (9 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)

House of Representatives (20 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 2-year terms)

the Northern Mariana Islands directly elects 1 delegate to the US House of Representatives by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term

elections:

CNMI Senate - last held on 8 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024)

CNMI House of Representatives - last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2024)

Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands delegate to the US House of Representatives - last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2024)

election results:

CNMI Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 6, independent 3; composition - men 7, women 2, percent of women 22.2%

CNMI House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 9, Democrat Party 8, independent 3; composition - men 15, women 5, percent of women 25%; note - overall CNMI legislature percent of women 24.1%

delegate to US House of Representatives - seat won by independent; composition - 1 man

note: the Northern Mariana Islands delegate to the US House of Representatives can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the "Committee of the Whole House" but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote
Judicial Branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices); US Federal District Court (consists of 1 judge); note - US Federal District Court jurisdiction limited to US federal laws; appeals beyond the CNMI Supreme Court are referred to the US Supreme Court

judge selection and term of office: CNMI Supreme Court judges appointed by the governor and confirmed by the CNMI Senate; judges appointed for 8-year terms and another term if directly elected in a popular election; US Federal District Court judges appointed by the US president and confirmed by the US Senate; judges appointed for renewable 10-year terms

subordinate courts: Superior Court
Regions or States: none (commonwealth in political union with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 4 municipalities at the second order: Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian
Political Parties and Leaders: Democratic Party [Daniel QUITUGUA]

Republican Party [James ADA]
International Organization Participation: PIF (observer), SPC, UPU
Diplomatic Representation from US: embassy: none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
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