<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Northern Mariana Islands<nl>Government</hdr><body>
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<item><hi format=bold>Names:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional long form:</hi> Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional short form:</hi> Northern Mariana Islands
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<item><hi format=bold>Digraph:</hi> CQ
<item><hi format=bold>Type:</hi> 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
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on US system except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Governor Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO (since 9 January 1990); Lieutenant Governor Benjamin T. MANGLONA (since 9 January 1990); election last held in NA November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1993); results—Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO, Republican Party, was elected governor
<item><hi format=bold>Senate:</hi> elections 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
<item><hi format=bold>House of Representatives:</hi> elections 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
<item><hi format=bold>US House of Representatives:</hi> 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)
<item><hi format=bold>Judicial branch:</hi> Commonwealth Supreme Court, Superior Court, Federal District Court
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Republican Party, Governor Lorenzo GUERRERO; Democratic Party, Carlos SHODA, chairman
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> blue with a white five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center