!!!Northern Mariana Islands: Government
||Country name|''conventional long form'': Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands \\ ''conventional short form'': Northern Mariana Islands \\ ''abbreviation'': CNMI \\ ''former'': Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands District \\ ''etymology'': formally claimed and named by Spain in 1667 in honor of the Spanish Queen, MARIANA of Austria \\ 
||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|presidential democracy; a commonwealth in political union with the US
||Capital|Saipan[{GoogleMap location='Saipan' zoom='6'}] \\ ''geographic coordinates'': 15 12 N, 145 45 E \\ ''time difference'': UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) \\ 
||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 4 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|partially effective 9 January 1978 (Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); fully effective 4 November 1986 (Covenant Agreement); amended several times, last in 2012 (2016)
||Legal system|US system applies, except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation
||Citizenship|see United States
||Suffrage|18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
||Executive branch|''chief of state'': President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009) \\ ''head of government'': Governor Eloy S. INOS (since 20 February 2013); Lieutenant Governor Ralph TORRES (since 20 February 2013) \\ ''cabinet'': Cabinet appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate \\ ''elections/appointments'': president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of the Northern Mariana Islands do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; election last held on 4 November 2014 with a runoff on 21 November 2014 (next to be held in 2018) \\ ''election results'': Eloy S. INOS reelected governor; percent of vote in runoff - Eloy S. INOS (Republican) 57%, Heinz HOFSCHNEIDER (Republican) 43%; Ralph TORRES reelected lieutenant governor \\  \\ ''__note__'': Benigno R. FITIAL was impeached by House of Representatives on 11-12 February 2013 and resigned on 20 February 2013; Eloy INOS (Republican) sworn in as governor the same day \\ 
||Legislative branch|''description'': bicameral Northern Mariana Commonwealth Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) and the House of Representatives (20 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 2-year terms) \\ ''elections'': Senate - last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held on November 2020); House of Representatives - last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held on November 2018) \\ ''election results'': Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Covenant Party 3, Republican Party 3, Democratic Party 1, independent 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 14, independents 6 \\  \\ ''__note__'': the Northern Mariana Islands directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term as a delegate to the US House of Representatives; the delegate can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a "full floor" House vote; election of delegate last held on 4 November 2014 (next to be held on 8 November 2016) \\ 
||Judicial branch|''highest court(s)'': Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or CNMI (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices); US Federal District Court (consists of 1 judge); note - US Federal District Court jurisdiction limited to US federal laws; appeals beyond the Northern Mariana Islands Supreme Court are referred to the US Supreme Court \\ ''judge selection and term of office'': judges of the Supreme Court of the CNMI appointed by the governor and confirmed by the CNMI Senate; judges appointed for 8-year terms and can serve another term if approved through voter election; US Federal District Court judges appointed by the US president and confirmed by the US Senate; judges appointed for renewable 10-year terms \\ ''subordinate courts'': Superior Court \\ 
||Political parties and leaders|Covenant Party (Benigno R. FITIAL) \\ Democratic Party (Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO) \\ Republican Party (Juan S. REYES)
||Political pressure groups and leaders|NA
||International organization participation|PIF (observer), SPC, UPU
||Flag description|blue with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on a gray latte stone (the traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath; blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the star represents the Commonwealth; the latte stone and the floral head wreath display elements of the native Chamorro culture
||National symbol(s)|latte stone; national colors: blue, white
||National anthem|''name'': "Gi Talo Gi Halom Tasi" (In the Middle of the Sea) \\ ''lyrics/music'': Jose S. PANGELINAN (Chamoru), David PETER (Carolinian)/Wilhelm GANZHORN \\  \\ ''__note__'': adopted 1996; the Carolinian version of the song is known as "Satil Matawal Pacifico;" as a commonwealth of the US, in addition to the local anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States) \\