(1521); Liberation Day, 21 July

Constitution: Organic Act of 1 August 1950

Legal system: modeled on US; federal laws apply

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote
in US presidential elections

Executive branch:
chief of state: President (of the United States) William Jefferson
CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr.
(since 20 January 1993)
head of government: Governor Carl GUTIERREZ (since 8 November 1994)
and Lieutenant Governor Madeleine BORDALLO (since 8 November 1994)
were elected for a four-year term by popular vote; election last
held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998); results -
Carl GUTIERREZ (Democrat) defeated Tommy TANAKA (Republican) with
54.6% of the vote
cabinet: executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with
the consent of the Guam legislature

Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislature: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA
November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21
total) Democrats 14, Republican 7
US House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994
(next to be held NA November 1996); Guam elects one delegate;
results - Robert UNDERWOOD was reelected as delegate; seats - (1
total) Democrat 1

Judicial branch: Federal District Court, judge is appointed by the
president; Territorial Superior Court, judges appointed for
eight-year terms by the governor

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party (controls the
legislature); Republican Party (party of the Governor)

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), IOC,
SPC

Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of the US)

US diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)

Flag: territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on
all four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical
ellipse containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a
palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US
flag is the national flag

Economy
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Economic overview: The economy depends mainly on US military
spending and on revenues from tourism. Over the past 20 years, the
tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for
new hotels and the expansion of older ones. Visitors numbered about
900,000 in 1992. The slowdown in Japanese economic growth has been