raditional beliefs and taboos
may still be found)
Languages:
English, Chamorro, Carolinian
note:
86% of population speaks a language other than English at home
Literacy:
age NA and over can read and write (1980)
total population:
97%
male:
97%
female:
96%
Labor force:
7,476 total indigenous labor force, 2,699 unemployed; 21,188 foreign workers
(1990)
by occupation:
NA

*Northern Mariana Islands, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form:
Northern Mariana Islands
Digraph:
CQ
Type:
commonwealth in political union with the US; self-governing with locally
elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature; federal funds to the
Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of
Territorial and International Affairs
Capital:
Saipan
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
Constitution:
Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986 and the constitution of the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Legal system:
based on US system except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation
National holiday:
Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Political parties and leaders:
Republican Party, Governor Lorenzo GUERRERO; Democratic Party, Carlos SHODA,
chairman
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do
not vote in US presidential elections
Elections:
Governor:
last held in NA November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1993); results -
Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO, Republican Party, was elected governor
Senate:
last held NA November 1991 (next to be held NA November 1993); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total) Republicans 6, Democrats 3
House of Representatives:
last held NA November 1991 (next to be held NA November 1993); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (18 total) Republicans 10, Democrats 6,
Independent 2
US House of Representatives:
the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in Congress; instead, it
has an elected official "resident representative" located in Washington, DC;
seats - (1 total) Republican (Juan N. BABAUTA)
Executive branch:
US president; governor, lieutenant governor
Legislative branch:
bicameral Legislature consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower ho