Northern Marianas State and Local Government

The Green Papers: State and Local Government

Northern Marianas


Official Name/Status All States
	The COMMONWEALTH of Northern Marianas
	Status: unincorporated TERRITORY
	part of United Nations TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS under United States Administration from 18 July 1947; Commonwealth-type government instituted, 1 January 1978
	COMMONWEALTH status achieved 3 November 1986 (official separation from the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands under US law, formally accepted by the UN on 22 December 1990)

Enabling Act (of the Congress of the United States):

Executive Branch All States

Chief Executive
	• Governor

Major Executive Officers Elected Statewide All States 2017 Office holders
	• Governor (2010--): 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2018
	• Governor (2001-2009): 4 year term, Final Election Cycle: 2009. Territorial Governor
	• Delegate to the House of Representatives: 2 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2018. President George W. Bush signed S. 2739 on 8 May 2008 creating this office.

Legislative Branch All States

Judicial Branch All States

Local Government



Incorporated Municipalities All States

Statutory Election Information All States

General Election All States
	• (--2009) First Saturday in November in odd-numbered years.
	• (2009--) ... general elections shall be held on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in even numbered years ... [CNMI Election Law CHAPTER 5. Article 1. 6501.] If-in an election for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor-no candidate receives more than one-half (1/2) of the total votes cast and counted, there shall be a runoff election fourteen (14) days after the Commonwealth Election Commission has certified the results of the general election ... The candidates who received the highest and second highest number of votes cast and counted in the general election shall compete in the runoff election. The candidates who receive more than half of the votes cast and counted in the runoff shall be declared the winner. [CNMI Election Law CHAPTER 5. Article 1. 6509.(a) and (b)]
Polling times All States
	• Polling places shall open at 7:00 a.m. on the day of the election and shall be kept open until 7:00 p.m. [PL 12-18, 2 (6522)][1 CMC 6522]

Election Authority
	• Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Election Commission
Legislature All States
	• Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature
Democratic
	• Democratic Party of the Northern Marianas
Republican
	• CNMI Republican Party
Media & others
	• Marianas Business Journal
	• Marianas Variety
	• Northern Mariana Islands News - World News Report
	• Saipan Tribune