Under US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided in the 1970s not to seek independence but instead to forge closer links with the US. Negotiations for territorial status began in 1972. A covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the US was approved in 1975, and came into force on 24 March 1976. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978.
The Northern Mariana Islands are a presidential democracy and are part of the commonwealth in political union with the US.
Source: CIA World Factbook
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Displaying 11 - 15 of 38Land Compensation Act of 2002 (P.L. No. 13-17).
This Act establishes a Land Compensation Fund and provides for the payment of compensation of claims against the Commonwealth arising from land acquired by the Commonwealth by eminent domain or other legal processes.The Commissioner of the Marianas Public Lands Authority shall have expenditure authority over the Fund, subject to approval of claims by the Board of the Authority. The Authority shall compensate acquisition of lands according to priority established by this Act. Claims for compensation shall be submitted to the Marianas Public Land Corporation.
Public Purpose Land Exchange Authorization Act of 1937 (P.L. 5-33).
This Act authorizes the Marianas Public Land Corporation to enter into agreements by which the Government obtains freehold interest in private land in exchange for a freehold interest in private land to be assigned to a private landowner.Exchange of land shall be authorized for a public purpose as defined by this Act. The Act sets out the conditions at which an agreement may be made and defines some terms of the agreement. The Corporation may exchange land at its own initiative but “protected resources” and adjacent areas shall be excluded from public lands that may be exchanged.
Act to eliminate fees for the maintenance of small parcels of public land (P.L. No. 17-48).
This Act stipulates that the Department of Public Lands shall not assess rental fees in respect to small parcels of public land, not in excess of 300 square meters, adjacent to land used for residential purposes where the residential land owner maintains the public land by removing undesirable vegetation and habitat for pests.
Land Compensation Act Amendment (P.L. No. 15-92).
This Act amends the Land Compensation Act of 2002 so as to restore the priority given to certain claims in relation with infrastructural improvements (i.e. the acquisition of private lands for rights of way purposes and road construction). Compensation of such claims shall be carried out to the full by the Department of Public Lands and only then claims relating to wetlands and ponding basins will be accepted.
Amends: Land Compensation Act of 2002 (P.L. No. 13-17). (2002-07-23)
Public Law No. 15-92.
This Act amends the Land Compensation Act of 2002 so as to grant priority to claims of compensation in relation to acquisition of private lands for right of way purposes. The Act also classifies priority for claims relating to acquisition of private lands for the construction of public pond basins and in relation to wetlands.
Amends: Land Compensation Act of 2002 (P.L. No. 13-17). (2002-07-23)