conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands

Data code: CQ

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: Saipan

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

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 William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since
20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January
1993)
head of government: Governor Pedro P. TENORIO (since NA January 1998)
and Lieutenant Governor Jesus R. SABLAN (since NA January 1998)
cabinet: NA
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket
for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the
same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held in
NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2001)
election results: Pedro P. TENORIO elected governor in a three-way
race; percent of vote - Pedro P. TENORIO (Republican Party) 47%

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 NA November 1997 (next to be held NA
November 1999); House of Representatives - last held NA November 1997
(next to be held NA November 1999)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Republican Party 8, Democratic Party 1; House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Repu