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 Consitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice
president; 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 November
2009)
election results: Benigno R. FITIAL elected governor in a four-way
race; percent of vote - Benigno R. FITIAL (Covenant Party) 28.07%,
Heinz HOFSCHNEIDER (Independent) 27.34%, Juan BABAUTA (Republican)
26.6%, Froilan TENORIO (Democrat) 17.99%

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 5 November 2005 (next to be held
November 2009); House of Representatives - last held 5 November 2005
(next to be held November 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - Covenant Party 3, Republican Party 3, Democratic Party 2,
independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - Covenant Party 7, Republican Party 7,
Democratic Party 2, independent 2
note: the Northern Mariana Islands does not have a nonvoting
delegate in the US Congress; instead, it has an elected official or
"resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party
- Republican Party 1