Micronesia (Federated States of)

Flag Description

Light blue with four white five-pointed stars centred; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern.

Election type: Parliamentary

Election date: 8 March 2005 (two-year term seats: last held 4 March 2003)

Number of registered voters: Not known, but population is approximately 108 155 (as at July 2004)

Compulsory voting: No

Government

Type: Constitutional Government in free association with the US. The Compact of Free Association entered into force on 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force May 2004.

Chief of State and Head of Government: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003)

Party in Government: not applicable

Branches: Executive—President (chief of state and head of government) and Cabinet.

Legislative—a unicameral congress with 14 seats. Four members are elected from the four states for four-year terms, and ten are elected from single-member constituencies for two-year terms. Next elections for the four-year term seats will be held in March 2007. Members are elected by popular vote.

Judicial—Supreme Court

Major political parties: No formal parties (they are not banned but rely mostly on family ties). All candidates are independents.

Suffrage: universal at 18

The Federated States of Micronesia are made up of the following islands and groups of islands: Pohnpei, Chuuk Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae.

Full election results can be seen at this FSM Government press release of 25 March 2005, entitled Office certifies results of National Elections as well as National Election Director Bernell Edward’s decision not to certify the results from Chuuk because of voting discrepancies between the number of signatures on the voter list and the number of ballots in the ballot box.

A FSM Government press release dated 9 May 2005 entitled The New leadership for the State of Chuuk discusses its state leadership and representatives to the 14th National Congress as well as the names of the presiding officers elected to the House of Representatives and the Senate.

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Last reviewed 22 September, 2005 by the Parliamentary Library Web Manager
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