Mariana Islands
District

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

Capital:

name: Saipan
geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (commonwealth in political union with the US); there are no
first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are four municipalities at the second order:
Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian

Independence:

none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

National holiday:

Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

Constitution:

Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
effective 1 January 1978; Covenant Agreement fully effective 4
November 1986

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 George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January
2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
head of government: Governor Benigno R. FITIAL (since 9 January
2006); Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. VILLAGOMEZ (since 9 January
2006)
cabinet: the cabinet consists of the heads of the 10 principal
departments under the executive branch who are appointed by the
governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; other members
include Special Assistants to the governor and office heads
appointed by and reporting directly to the governor
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice
president; however, they may vote in the Democratic and Republican
presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor
elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms
(eligible for a second term); election last held 5 November 2005
(next to be held in November 2009)
election results: Benigno R. FITIAL elected governor in a four-way
race; percent of vote - Benigno R. FITIAL 2