Administrative divisions: none
Independence: none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
National holiday: Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
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
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 of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) head of government: Governor Froilan C. TENORIO (since NA January 1994) and Lieutenant Governor Jesus C. BORJA (since NA January 1994) cabinet: NA elections : governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held in NA November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1997) election results: Froilan C. TENORIO elected governor of Northern Mariana Islands; percent of vote - Froilan C. TENORIO (Democrat) 56%
Legislative branch: bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year 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 1993 (next to be held NA November 1997); House of Representatives - last held NA November 1995 (next to be held NA November 1997) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA (Republicans retained a majority of the seats); House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA (Republicans retained a majority of the seats) note : the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party - Republican 1 (Juan N. BABAUTA)
Judicial branch: Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal
District Court
Political parties and leaders: Republican Party, Benigno R. FITIAL, leader; Democratic Party, Benigno SABLAN, chairman