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 6 - 10 of 38Public Lands Act of 2006 (P.L. No. 15-2).
This Act creates the Department of Public Lands within the Executive Branch and provides for some other matters relating to land.The Department shall be responsible for the administration, use, leasing, development and disposition of all lands defined as public lands by art. XI of the Northern Marianas Constitution.
Amends: An Act to make amendments to the Board of Public Lands Act of 2000, 1 CMCG 101 (a), Section 102,s 104 (h) and 8 106 (d); and for other purposes (P.L. 12-71). (2001-11-13)
An Act to amend the "Public Purpose Land Exchange Authorization Act of 1987,2 CMC $4142 (Findings and Purpose) and 2 CMC S4143 (e) (Definitions), to emphasize the need for land exchanges and to expand the definition of "public purpose" to indicate more...
This Act amends the Public Purpose Land Exchange Authorization Act of 1987 with respect of compensation of private landowners in land exchanges called "short exchange". In this kind of exchange of public land for private land the full area of public land agreed upon was not conveyed to the landowner or to his or her heirs or successors in interest. "Public purpose" now also includes this kind of exchange.
Northern Islands Village and Agricultural Homesteading Act of 2008 (P.L. 16-50).
This Act provides for the establishment of Village and Agricultural Homesteading Program in the Northern Islands. It amends Title 2, Division 4 of the Commonwealth Code so as to insert a new article 9, which designates an Agricultural Homestead Area and provides rules for the use, transfer, etc. of property in the area. Areas shall be allotted to qualified persons for the purpose of establishing and developing village lots or agricultural lots with the right to acquire title upon the fulfilment of the conditions prescribed in this Act.
Commonwealth Environmental Amendments Act of 1999 (P.L. 11-103).
This Act amends environmental legislation of 2 CMC relating to legal proceedings, assessment and collection of penalties or fines, inspection of records, the Division of Environmental Quality Special Fund, emergency permits for disposal of waste in areas affected by typhoons or other destructive natural events.This Act allows for civil action under 2 CMC after all administrative appeal procedures are exhausted.
Land 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.