Appendix I

Northern Mariana Islands[494]

P.L. 94–241, Approved March 24, 1976 (90 Stat. 263)[495]

[48 U.S.C. 1681 note] 

JOINT RESOLUTION

To approve the “Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America”[496], and for other purposes.

Whereas the United States is the administering authority of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands under the terms of the trusteeship agreement for the former Japanese-mandated islands entered into by the United States with the Security Council of the United Nations on April 2, 1947, and approved by the United States on July 18, 1947[497]; and

Whereas the United States, in accordance with the trusteeship agreement and the Charter of the United Nations, has assumed the obligation to promote the development of the peoples of the trust territory toward self-government or independence as may be appropriate to the particular circumstances of the trust territory and its peoples and the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned; and

Whereas the United States, in response to the desires of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands clearly expressed over the past twenty years through public petition and referendum, and in response to its own obligations under the trusteeship agreement to promote self-determination, entered into political status negotiations with representatives of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands; and

Whereas, on February 15, 1975, a “Covenant to Establish A Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America” was signed by the Marianas Political Status Commission for the people of the Northern Mariana Islands and by the President’s Personal Representative, Ambassador F. Haydn Williams for the United States of America, following which the covenant was approved by the unanimous vote of the Mariana Islands District Legislature on February 20, 1975 and by 78.8 per centum of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands voting in a plebiscite held on June 17, 1975: Now be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America, the text of which is as follows, is hereby approved.

“COVENANT TO ESTABLISH A COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS IN POLITICAL UNION WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

“Whereas, the Charter of the United Nations and the Trusteeship Agreement between the Security Council of the United Nations and the United States of America guarantee to the people of the Northern Mariana Islands the right freely to express their wishes for self-government or independence; and

“Whereas, the United States supports the desire of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands to exercise their inalienable right of self-determination; and

“Whereas, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands and the people of the United States share the goals and values found in the American system of government based upon the principles of government by the consent of the governed, individual freedom and democracy; and

“Whereas, for over twenty years, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands, through public petition and referendum, have clearly expressed their desire for political union with the United States;

“Now, therefore, the Marianas Political Status Commission, being the duly appointed representative of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Personal Representative of the President of the United States have entered into this Covenant in order to establish a self-governing commonwealth for the Northern Mariana Islands within the American political system and to define the future relationship between the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States. This Covenant will be mutually binding when it is approved by the United States, by the Mariana Islands District Legislature and by the people of the Northern Mariana Islands in a plebiscite, constituting on their part a sovereign act of self-determination.”

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

“ARTICLE IV
“JUDICIAL AUTHORITY

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

Section 403. * * *

Section 403. * * * (b)  Those portions of Title 28 of the United States Code which apply to Guam or the District Court of Guam will be applicable to the Northern Mariana Islands or the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, respectively, except as otherwise provided in this Article.

“ARTICLE V
“APPLICABILITY OF LAWS
Section 501.

Section 501. 

(a)  To the extent that they are not applicable of their own force, the following provisions of the Constitution of the United States will be applicable within the Northern Mariana Islands as if the Northern Mariana Islands were one of the several States: Article I, Section 9, Clauses 2, 3, and 8; Article I, Section 10, Clauses 1 and 3; Article IV, Section 1 and Section 2, Clauses 1 and 2; Amendments 1 through 9, inclusive; Amendment 13; Amendment 14, Section 1; Amendment 15; Amendment 19; and Amendment 26; provided, however, that neither trial by jury nor indictment by grand jury shall be required in any civil action or criminal prosecution based on local law, except where required by local law. Other provisions of or amendments to the Constitution of the United States, which do not apply of their own force within the Northern Mariana Islands, will be applicable within the Northern Mariana Islands only with approval of the Government of the Northern Mariana Islands and of the Government of the United States.

(b)  The applicability of certain provisions of the Constitution of the United States to the Northern Mariana Islands will be without prejudice to the validity of and the power of the Congress of the United States to consent to Sections 203, 506 and 805 and the proviso in Subsection (a) of this Section.

Section 502.

Section 502. (a)   The following laws of the United States in existence on the effective date of this Section and subsequent amendments to such laws will apply to the Northern Mariana Islands, except as otherwise provided in this Covenant:

“(1) those laws which provide federal services and financial assistance programs and the federal banking laws as they apply to Guam; Section 228 of Title II and Title XVI of the Social Security Act as it applies to the several States; the Public Health Service Act as it applies to the Virgin Islands; and the Micronesian Claims Act as it applies to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands;

“(2) those laws not described in paragraph (1) which are applicable to Guam and which are of general application to the several States as they are applicable to the several States; and

“(3) those laws not described in paragraph (1) or (2) which are applicable to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but not their subsequent amendments unless specifically made applicable to the Northern Mariana Islands, as they apply to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands until termination of the Trusteeship Agreement, and will thereafter be inapplicable.

(b)  The laws of the United States regarding coastal shipments and the conditions of employment, including the wages and hours of employees, will apply to the activities of the United States Government and its contractors in the Northern Mariana Islands.

Section 503.

Section 503.  The following laws of the United States, presently inapplicable to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, will not apply to the Northern Mariana Islands except in the manner and to the extent made applicable to them by the Congress by law after termination of the Trusteeship Agreement:

“(a) except as otherwise provided in Section 506, the immigration and naturalization laws of the United States;

“(b) except as otherwise provided in Subsection (b) of Section 502, the coastwise laws of the United States and any prohibition in the laws of the United States against foreign vessels landing fish or unfinished fish products in the United States; and

“(c)[498] the minimum wage provisions of Section 6, Act of June 25, 1938, 52 Stat. 1062, as amended. *  *  *

Section 606.

Section 606.  (a)  Not later than at the time this Covenant is approved, that portion of the Trust Territory Social Security Retirement Fund attributable to the Northern Mariana Islands will be transferred to the Treasury of the United States, to be held in trust as a separate fund to be known as the “Northern Mariana Islands Social Security Retirement Fund.” This fund will be administered by the United States in accordance with the social security laws of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in effect at the time of such transfer, which may be modified by the Government of the Northern Mariana Islands only in a manner which does not create any additional differences between the social security laws of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and the laws described in Subsection (b). The United States will supplement such fund if necessary to assure that persons receive benefits therefrom comparable to those they would have received from the Trust Territory Social Security Retirement Fund under the laws applicable thereto on the day preceding the establishment of the Northern Mariana Islands Social Security Retirement Fund, so long as the rate of contributions thereto also remains comparable.

(b)  Those laws of the United States which impose excise and self-employment taxes to support or which provide benefits from the United States Social Security System will on January 1 of the first calendar year following the termination of the Trusteeship Agreement or upon such earlier date as may be agreed to by the Government of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Government of the United States become applicable to the Northern Mariana Islands as they apply to Guam.

(c)  At such time as the laws described in Subsection (b) become applicable to the Northern Mariana Islands:

“(1) the Northern Mariana Islands Social Security Retirement Fund will be transferred into the appropriate Federal Social Security Trust Funds;

“(2) prior contributions by or on behalf of persons domiciled in the Northern Mariana Islands to the Trust Territory Social Security Retirement Fund or the Northern Mariana Islands Social Security Retirement Fund will be considered to have been made to the appropriate Federal Social Security Trust Funds for the purpose of determining eligibility of those persons in the Northern Mariana Islands for benefits under those laws; and

“(3) persons domiciled in the Northern Mariana Islands who are eligible for or entitled to social security benefits under the laws of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands or of the Northern Mariana Islands will not lose their entitlement and will be eligible for or entitled to benefits under the laws described in Subsection (b).*  *  *

“ARTICLE X
“APPROVAL, EFFECTIVE DATES, AND DEFINITIONS[499]
Section 1001.

Section 1001. (a)  This Covenant will be submitted to the Mariana Islands District Legislature for its approval. After its approval by the Mariana Islands District Legislature, this Covenant will be submitted to the people of the Northern Mariana Islands for approval in a plebiscite to be called by the United States. Only persons who are domiciled exclusively in the Northern Mariana Islands and who meet such other qualifications, including timely registration, as are promulgated by the United States as administering authority will be eligible to vote in the plebiscite. Approval must be by a majority of at least 55% of the valid votes cast in the plebiscite. The results of the plebiscite will be certified to the President of the United States.

(b)  This Covenant will be approved by the United States in accordance with its constitutional processes and will thereupon become law.

Section 1002.

Section 1002.  The President of the United States will issue a proclamation announcing the termination of the Trusteeship Agreement, or the date on which the Trusteeship Agreement will terminate, and the establishment of the Commonwealth in accordance with this Covenant. Any determination by the President that the Trusteeship Agreement has been terminated or will be terminated on a day certain will be final and will not be subject to review by any authority, judicial or otherwise, of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands or the United States.[500]

Section 1003.

Section 1003.  The provisions of this Covenant will become effective as follows, unless otherwise specifically provided:

“(a)  Sections 105, 201-203, 503, 504, 606, 801, 903 and Article X will become effective on approval of this Covenant;

“(b)  Sections 102, 103, 204, 304, Article IV, Sections 501, 502, 505, 601-605, 607, Article VII, Sections 802-805, 901 and 902 will become effective on a date to be determined and proclaimed by the President of the United States which will be not more than 180 days after this Covenant and the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands have both been approved; and

“(c)  The remainder of this Covenant will become effective upon the termination of the Trusteeship Agreement and the establishment of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Section 1004.

Section 1004. (a)  The application of any provision of the Constitution or laws of the United States which would otherwise apply to the Northern Mariana Islands may be suspended until termination of the Trusteeship Agreement if the President finds and declares that the application of such provision prior to termination would be inconsistent with the Trusteeship Agreement.

(b)  The Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands will become effective in accordance with its terms on the same day that the provisions of this Covenant specified in Subsection 1003(b) become effective, provided that if the President finds and declares that the effectiveness of any provision of the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands prior to termination of the Trusteeship Agreement would be inconsistent with the Trusteeship Agreement such provision will be ineffective until termination of the Trusteeship Agreement. Upon the establishment of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands the Constitution will become effective in its entirety in accordance with its terms as the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

“Section 1005.

“Section 1005.  As used in this Covenant:

“(a)  “Trusteeship Agreement” means the Trusteeship Agreement for the former Japanese Mandated Islands concluded between the Security Council of the United Nations and the United States of America, which entered into force on July 18, 1947;

“(b)  “Northern Mariana Islands” means the area now known as the Mariana Islands District of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, which lies within the area north of 14 north latitude, south of 21 north latitude, west of 150 east longitude and east of 144 east longitude;

“(c)  “Government of the Northern Mariana Islands” includes, as appropriate, the Government of the Mariana Islands District of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands at the time this Covenant is signed, its agencies and instrumentalities, and its successors, including the Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;

“(d)  “Territory or possession” with respect to the United States includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa;

“(e)  “Domicile” means that place where a person maintains a residence with the intention of continuing such residence for an unlimited or indefinite period, and to which such person has the intention of returning whenever he is absent, even for an extended period.

“Signed at Saipan, Mariana Islands on the fifteenth day of February, 1975.”

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

Sec. 2.

Sec. 2.  It is the sense of the Congress that pursuant to section 902 of the foregoing Covenant, and in any case within ten years from the date of the enactment of this resolution, the President of the United States should request, on behalf of the United States, the designation of special representatives to meet and to consider in good faith such issues affecting the relationship between the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States as may be designated by either Government and to make a report and recommendations with respect thereto.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

[Internal References.—S.S. Act titles I, IV, X, XIV, XVI (State), XVI and §228 catchlines have footnotes referring to P.L. 94-241.]


P.L. 95–134, Approved October 15, 1977 (91 Stat. 1159)

Authorization for Appropriations—Insular Areas[501]

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

Sec. 403 [48 U.S.C. 1681 note]  Effective on the date when section 502 of the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union With the United States of America, approved by joint resolution approved on March 24, 1976 (90 Stat. 263) goes into force those laws which are referred to in section 502(a)(1) of said Covenant, except for any laws administered by the Social Security Administration, except for medicaid which is now administered by the Health Care Financing Administration, and except the Micronesian Claims Act of 1971 (85 Stat. 96) shall be applicable to the territories of Guam and the Virgin Islands on the same terms and conditions as such laws are applied to the Northern Mariana Islands.[502]

TITLE V

Sec. 501 [48 U.S.C. 1469a]  In order to minimize the burden caused by existing application and reporting procedures for certain grant-in-aid programs available to the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and the Government of the Northern Mariana Islands (hereafter referred to as “Insular Areas”) it is hereby declared to be the policy of the Congress, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, that:

(a)  Any department or agency of the Government of the United States which administers any Act of Congress which specifically provides for making grants to any Insular Area under which payments received may be used by such Insular Area only for certain specified purposes (other than direct payments to classes of individuals) may, acting through appropriate administrative authorities of such department or agency, consolidate any or all grants made to such area for any fiscal year or years.

(b)  Any consolidated grant for any insular area shall not be less than the sum of all grants which such area would otherwise be entitled to receive for such year.

(c)  The funds received under a consolidated grant shall be expended in furtherance of the programs and purposes authorized for any of the grants which are being consolidated, which are authorized under any of the Acts administered by the department or agency making the grant, and which would be applicable to grants for such programs and purposes in the absence of the consolidation, but the Insular Areas shall determine the proportion of the funds granted which shall be allocated to such programs and purposes.

(d)  Each department or agency making grants-in-aid shall, by regulations published in the Federal Register, provide the method by which any Insular Area may submit (i) a single application for a consolidated grant for any fiscal year period, but not more than one such application for a consolidated grant shall be required by any department or agency unless notice of such requirement is transmitted to the appropriate committees of the United States Congress together with a complete explanation of the necessity for requiring such additional applications and (ii) a single report to such department or agency with respect to each such consolidated grant: Provided, That nothing in this paragraph shall preclude such department or agency from providing adequate procedures for accounting, auditing, evaluating, and reviewing any programs or activities receiving benefits from any consolidated grant. The administering authority of any department or agency, in its discretion, shall (i) waive any requirement for matching funds otherwise required by law to be provided by the Insular Area involved and (ii) waive the requirement that any Insular Area submit an application or report in writing with respect to any consolidated grant. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the case of American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands any department or agency shall waive any requirement for local matching funds under $200,000 (including in-kind contributions) required by law to be provided by American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

ASSISTANCE TO TERRITORIES[503]

 [42 U.S.C. 1469b]  For expenses necessary for assistance to territories under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior, $78,613,000, of which: (1) $70,137,000 shall remain available until expended for technical assistance, including maintenance assistance, disaster assistance, insular management controls, coral reef initiative activities, and brown tree snake control and research; grants to the judiciary in American Samoa for compensation and expenses, as authorized by law (48 U.S.C. 1661(c)); grants to the Government of American Samoa, in addition to current local revenues, for construction and support of governmental functions; grants to the Government of the Virgin Islands as authorized by law; grants to the Government of Guam, as authorized by law; and grants to the Government of the Northern Mariana Islands as authorized by law (Public Law 94-241; 90 Stat. 272); and (2) $8,476,000 shall be available until September 30, 2009 for salaries and expenses of the Office of Insular Affairs: Provided, That all financial transactions of the territorial and local governments herein provided for, including such transactions of all agencies or instrumentalities established or used by such governments, may be audited by the Government Accountability Office, at its discretion, in accordance with chapter 35 of title 31, United States Code: Provided further, That Northern Mariana Islands Covenant grant funding shall be provided according to those terms of the Agreement of the Special Representatives on Future United States Financial Assistance for the Northern Mariana Islands approved by Public Law 104-134: Provided further, That of the amounts provided for technical assistance, sufficient funds shall be made available for a grant to the Pacific Basin Development Council: Provided further, That of the amounts provided for technical assistance, sufficient funding shall be made available for a grant to the Close Up Foundation: Provided further, That the funds for the program of operations and maintenance improvement are appropriated to institutionalize routine operations and maintenance improvement of capital infrastructure with territorial participation and cost sharing to be determined by the Secretary based on the grantee’s commitment to timely maintenance of its capital assets: Provided further, That any appropriation for disaster assistance under this heading in this Act or previous appropriations Acts may be used as non-Federal matching funds for the purpose of hazard mitigation grants provided pursuant to section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c).

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

[Internal References.—P.L. 94-241, catchline has a footnote referring to P.L. 95-134.]


P.L. 95–348, Approved August 18, 1978 (92 Stat. 487)

Northern Mariana Islands

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

Sec. 3 

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

(b) [None assigned]  (1) The government of the Northern Marianas in carrying out the purposes of this Act, Public Law 95-134[504], or Public Law 94-241[505], may utilize, to the extent practicable, the available services and facilities of agencies and instrumentalities of the Federal Government on a reimbursable basis. Such amounts may be credited to the appropriation or fund which provided the services and facilities. Agencies and instrumentalities of the Federal Government may, when practicable, make available to the government of the Northern Marianas, upon request of the Secretary, such services and facilities as they are equipped to render or furnish, and they may do so without reimbursement if otherwise authorized by law.

(2)  Any funds made available to the Northern Mariana Islands under grant-in-aid programs by section 502 of the Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union With the United States of America (Public Law 94-241), or pursuant to any other Act of Congress enacted after March 24, 1976, are hereby authorized to remain available until expended.

(3)  Any amount authorized by the Covenant described in paragraph (2) or by any other Act of Congress enacted after March 24, 1976, which authorizes appropriations for the Northern Mariana Islands, but not appropriated for a fiscal year is authorized to be available for appropriation in succeeding fiscal years.

(c) [48 U.S.C. 1681 note]  Notwithstanding the provisions of the Food Stamp Act of 1977[506], the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, upon the request of the Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, acting pursuant to legislation enacted in accordance with sections 5 and 7 of article II of the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for the period during which such legislation is effective, (1) to implement a food stamp program in part or all of the Northern Mariana Islands with such income and household standards of eligibility, deductions, and allotment values as the Secretary determines, after consultation with the Governor, to be suited to the economic and social circumstances of such islands: Provided , That in no event shall such income standards of eligibility exceed those in the forty-eight contiguous States, and (2) to distribute or permit a distribution of federally donated foods in any part of the Northern Mariana Islands for which the Governor has not requested that the food stamp program be implemented. This authority shall remain in effect through September 30, 1981, and shall not apply to section 403 of Public Law 95-135.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

AUTHORIZATIONS TO REMAIN AVAILABLE

Sec. 8. [None assigned]  Any amount authorized by this Act or by the Act entitled “An Act to authorize certain appropriations for the territories of the United States, to amend certain Acts relating thereto, and for other purposes” (Public Law 95-134; 91 Stat. 1159) but not appropriated for a fiscal year is authorized to be available for appropriation in succeeding fiscal years.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

[Internal References.—P.L. 94-241 and P.L. 95-134 have footnotes referring to P.L. 95-348. ]


P.L. 98–213, Approved December 8, 1983 (97 Stat. 1459)

Insular Affairs

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

Sec. 17. [48 U.S.C. 1681 note]  No provision of law prohibiting the payment of compensation to, or employment of, any person not a citizen of the United States of America by the United States of America shall bar the United States of America from paying compensation to or employing any citizen of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Sec. 18. [48 U.S.C. 1681 note]  No requirement of United States citizenship in any Federal law which provides Federal services or financial assistance and which is applicable to the Northern Mariana Islands by operation of section 502(a)(1) of the Covenant or, if enacted subsequent to March 24, 1976, by its own terms shall bar a citizen of the Northern Mariana Islands from receiving services or assistance pursuant to such law.

Sec. 19. [48 U.S.C. 1681 note] 

(a)  The President may, subject to the provisions of section 20 of this Act, by proclamation provide that the requirement of United States citizenship or nationality provided for in any of the statutes listed on pages 63-74 of the Interim Report of the Northern Mariana Islands Commission on Federal Laws to the Congress of the United States, dated January 1982 and submitted pursuant to section 504 of the Covenant, shall not be applicable to the citizens of the Northern Mariana Islands. The President is authorized to correct clerical errors in the list, and to add to it provisions, where it appears from the context that they were inadvertently omitted from the list.

(b)  A statute which denies a benefit or imposes a burden or a disability on an alien, his dependents, or his survivors shall, for the purposes of this Act, be considered to impose a requirement of United States citizenship or nationality.

Sec. 20. [48 U.S.C. 1681 note] 

(a)  The President may issue one or more proclamations under the authority of this Act.

(b)  When issuing such proclamation or proclamations the President—

(1)  shall take into account:

(i)  the hardship suffered by the citizens of the Northern Mariana Islands resulting from the fact that, while they are subject to most of the laws of the United States, they are denied the benefit of those laws which contain a requirement of United States citizenship or nationality;

(ii)  the responsibilities, obligations, and limitations imposed upon the United States by international law;

(2)  may make the requirement of United States citizenship or nationality inapplicable only to those citizens of the Northern Mariana Islands who declare in writing that they do not intend to exercise their option under section 302 of the Covenant to become a national but not a citizen of the United States;

(3)  may make the requirement of a United States citizenship or nationality inapplicable only in the Northern Mariana Islands;

(4)  may retain the requirement of United States citizenship or nationality with respect to parts of a statute or portion thereof.

Sec. 21. [48 U.S.C. 1681 note]  If the President does not issue any proclamation authorized by section 19 of this Act within a period of six months following the effective date of the Act, the requirement of United States citizenship or nationality as a prerequisite of any benefit, right, privilege, or immunity in any statute made applicable to the Northern Mariana Islands by the terms of that statute or by operation of the Covenant shall not be applicable to citizens of the Northern Mariana Islands: Provided, That the provisions of this section shall not be applicable to any requirements of United States citizenship or nationality contained in statutes relating to the political rights of citizenship, and to the diplomatic protection of, and services to, citizens or nationals of the United States in foreign countries: Provided further , That with respect to the statutes relating to the uniformed services, the requirement of United States citizenship or nationality shall remain in effect, except with respect to those citizens of the Northern Mariana Islands who declare in writing that they do not intend to exercise their option under section 302 of the Covenant to become a national but not a citizen of the United States.

Sec. 22. [48 U.S.C. 1681 note]  Nothing in this Act shall be construed as extending to the Northern Mariana Islands any statutory provision or regulation not otherwise applicable to or within the Northern Mariana Islands, in particular the statutes relating to immigration and nationality and the regulations issued under them.

Sec. 23. [48 U.S.C. 1681 note]  The authority of the President to issue proclamations under section 19 of this Act shall terminate upon the establishment of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands pursuant to section 1002 of the Covenant. Section 21 of this Act shall not become effective if the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is established within the period of six months following the effective date of this Act.

Sec. 24. [48 U.S.C. 1681 note]  As used in this Act:

(a)  “Covenant” means the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union With the United States of America, approved by the Joint Resolution of March 24, 1976 (90 Stat. 263, 48 U.S.C. 1681, note).

(b)  “Citizen of the Northern Mariana Islands” means a citizen of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and his or her children under the age of eighteen years, who does not owe allegiance to any foreign state, and who—

(1)  was born in the Northern Mariana Islands and is physically present in the Northern Mariana Islands or in the United States or any territory or possession thereof; or

(2)  has been lawfully and continuously domiciled in the Northern Mariana Islands since January 1, 1974, and, who, unless then under age, was registered to vote in an election for the Mariana Islands legislature or for any municipal election in the Northern Mariana Islands prior to January 1, 1975.

(c)  “Domicile” means that place where a person maintains a residence with the intention of continuing such residence for an unlimited or indefinite period, and to which such person has the intention of returning whenever he is absent, even for an extended period.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *


Proclamation 4534October 24, 1977

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation[507]

On February 15, 1975, the Marianas Political Status Commission, the duly appointed representative of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Personal Representative of the President of the United States signed a Covenant, the purpose of which is to provide for the eventual establishment of a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in political union with the United States of America. This Covenant was subsequently approved by the Mariana Islands District Legislature and by the people of the Northern Mariana Islands voting in a plebiscite. The Covenant was approved by the Congress of the United States by joint resolution approved March 24, 1976 (Public Law 94-241; 90 Stat. 263).

In accordance with the provisions of Article II of the Covenant, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands have formulated and approved a Constitution which was submitted to me on behalf of the Government of the United States on April 21, 1977, for approval on the basis of its consistency with the Covenant and those provisions of the Constitution, treaties and laws of the United States to be applicable to the Northern Mariana Islands. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 202 of the Covenant, the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands will be deemed to have been approved by the Government of the United States six months after the date of submission to the President unless sooner approved or disapproved.

The six-month period of Section 202 of the Covenant having expired on October 22, 1977, I am pleased to announce that the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands is hereby deemed approved.

I am satisfied that the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands complies with the requirements of Article II of the Covenant. I have also received advice from the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Subcommittee on National Parks and Insular Affairs of the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs that the Constitution complies with those requirements.

Sections 1003(b) and 1004(b) of the Covenant provide that the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands and the provisions specified in Section 1003(b) of the Covenant shall become effective on a date proclaimed by the President which will be not more than 180 days after the Covenant and the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands have both been approved.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIMMY CARTER, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim as follows:

SECTION 1. The Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands shall come into full force and effect at eleven o'clock on the morning of January 9, 1978, Northern Mariana Islands local time.

Sec. 2 Sections 102, 103, 204, 304, Article IV, Sections 501, 502, 505, 601-605, 607, Article VII, Sections 802-805, 901 and 902 of the Covenant shall come into full force and effect on the date and at the time specified in Section 1 of this Proclamation.

Sec. 3 The authority of the President under Section 1004 of the Covenant to suspend the application of any provision of law to or in the Northern Mariana Islands until the termination of the Trusteeship Agreement is hereby reserved.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

[Internal References.—P.L. 94-241, §1 (§1001 catchline) and P.L. 95-134, §403, have footnotes referring to Proclamation 4534.]


By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

The United States and the Northern Mariana Islands have entered into a Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America (Public Law 94-241; 90 Stat. 263; 48 U.S.C. 1681, note[508]) pursuant to which many provisions of the laws of the United States became applicable to the Northern Mariana Islands as of January 9, 1978 (Proclamation No. 4534, Section 2).

Sections 19 and 20 of Public Law 98-213 (97 Stat. 1464)[509] authorize the President, subject to certain limitations, to provide by proclamation that requirements “of United States citizenship or nationality provided for in any of the statutes listed on pages 63-74 of the Interim Report of the Northern Mariana Islands Commission on Federal Laws to the Congress of the United States, dated January 1982 and submitted pursuant to section 504 of the Covenant, shall not be applicable to the citizens of the Northern Mariana Islands.”

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by sections 19 and 20 of Public Law 98-213, do hereby proclaim as follows:

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

3. Statutes relating to protection and services in foreign countries.

No requirement of United States citizenship or nationality in any of the Federal laws listed below shall be applicable to citizens of the Northern Mariana Islands.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

(f) Section 1113 of the Act of August 14, 1935, c.531, as added by section 302 of Public Law 87-64, 75 Stat. 142, and as amended (42 U.S.C. 1313).

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

6. Statutes relating to Federal programs and benefits.

No requirement of United States citizenship or nationality in any of the Federal laws listed below shall be applicable to citizens of the Northern Mariana Islands.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

(i) Subsection (b)(3) of section 2 and section 4 of the Act of August 14, 1935, c.531, 49 Stat. 620, 622, as amended (42 U.S.C. 302(b)(3) and 304);

(j) Subsection (t) of section 202 of the Act of August 14, 1935, c.531, as added by subsection (a) of section 118 of the Act of August 1, 1956, c.836, 70 Stat. 835, and as amended (42 U.S.C. 402(t));

(k) Subsection (a)(4) of section 103 of Public Law 89-97, 79 Stat. 333, as amended (42 U.S.C. 426a(a)(4));

(l) Subsection (a)(3) of section 228 of the Act of August 14, 1935, c.531, as added by subsection (a) of section 302 of Public Law 89-368, 80 Stat. 67, as amended (42 U.S.C. 428(a)(3));

(m) Subsection (b)(2) of section 1002 and section 1004 of the Act of August 14, 1935, c.531, 49 Stat. 646, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1202(b)(2) and 1204);

(n) Subsection (b)(2) of section 1402 and section 1404 of the Act of August 14, 1935, c.531, as added by section 351 of the Act of August 28, 1950, c.809, 64 Stat. 555 (42 U.S.C. 1352(b)(2) and 1354);

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

7. As used in this Proclamation:

(a) “Covenant” means the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union With the United States of America, approved by the Joint Resolution of March 24, 1976 (90 Stat. 263, 48 U.S.C. 1681, note).

(b) “Citizen of the Northern Mariana Islands” means a citizen of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and his or her children under the age of eighteen years, who does not owe allegiance to any foreign state, and who—

(1) was born in the Northern Mariana Islands and is physically present in the Northern Mariana Islands or in the United States or any territory or possession thereof; or

(2) has been lawfully and continuously domiciled in the Northern Mariana Islands since January 1, 1974, and, who, unless then under age, was registered to vote in an election for the Mariana Islands legislature or for any municipal election in the Northern Mariana Islands prior to January 1, 1975.

(c) “Domicile” means that place where a person maintains a residence with the intention of continuing such residence for an unlimited or indefinite period, and to which such person has the intention of returning whenever he is absent, even for an extended period.

(d) “Statute which imposes a requirement of United States citizenship or nationality” includes any statute which denies a benefit or imposes a burden or a disability on an alien, his dependents, or his survivors.

8. Upon the establishment of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands pursuant to section 1002 of the Covenant, the benefits acquired under this Proclamation shall merge without interruption into those to which the recipient is entitled by virtue of his acquisition of United States citizenship, unless the recipient exercises his privilege under section 302 of the Covenant to become a national but not a citizen of the United States.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and eighth.

Ronald Reagan

Published at 49 FR 24365, June 13, 1984 and 48 U.S.C. 1681 note.


The President

Placing Into Full Force and Effect the Covenant With the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Compacts of Free Association with the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation[510]

Since July 18, 1947, the United States has administered the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (“Trust Territory”), which includes the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau.

On February 15, 1975, after extensive status negotiations, the United States and the Marianas Political Status Commission concluded a Covenant to establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States (“Covenant”). Sections 101, 1002, and 1003(c) of the Covenant provide that the Northern Mariana Islands will become a self-governing Commonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the United States. This Covenant was approved by the Congress by Public Law 94-241 of March 24, 1976, 90 Stat. 263.[511] Although many sections of the Covenant became effective in 1976 and 1978, certain sections have not previously entered into force.

On October 1, 1982, the Government of the United States and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia concluded a Compact of Free Association, establishing a relationship of Free Association between the two Governments. On June 25, 1983, the Government of the United States and the Government of the Marshall Islands concluded a Compact of Free Association, establishing a relationship of Free Association between the two Governments. Pursuant to Sections 111 and 121 of the Compacts, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands become self-governing and have the right to conduct foreign affairs in their own name and right upon the effective date of their respective Compacts. Each Compact comes into effect upon (1) mutual agreement between the Government of the United States, acting in fulfillment of its responsibilities as Administering Authority of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and the other Government; (2) the approval of the Compact by the two Governments, in accordance with their constitutional processes; and (3) the conduct of a plebiscite in that jurisdiction. In the Federated States of Micronesia, the Compact has been approved by the Government in accordance with its constitutional processes, and in a United Nations-observed plebiscite on June 21, 1983, a sovereign act of self-determination. In the Marshall Islands, the Compact has been approved by the Government in accordance with its constitutional processes, and in a United Nations-observed plebiscite on September 7, 1983, a sovereign act of self-determination. In the United States the Compacts have been approved by Public Law 99-239 of January 14, 1986, 99 Stat. 1770.

On January 10, 1986, the Government of the United States and the Government of the Republic of Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association, establishing a similar relationship of Free Association between the two Governments. On October 16, 1986, the Congress of the United States approved the Compact of Free Association with the Republic of Palau. In the Republic of Palau, the Compact approval process has not yet been completed. Until the future political status of Palau is resolved, the United States will continue to discharge its responsibilities in Palau as Administering Authority under the Trusteeship Agreement.

On May 28, 1986, the Trusteeship Council of the United Nations concluded that the Government of the United States had satisfactorily discharged its obligations as the Administering Authority under the terms of the Trusteeship Agreement and that the people of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands had freely exercised their right to self-determination, and considered that it was appropriate for that Agreement to be terminated. The Council asked the United States to consult with the governments concerned to agree on a date for entry into force of their respective new status agreements.

On October 15, 1986, the Government of the United States and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands agreed, pursuant to Section 411 of the Compact of Free Association, that as between the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the effective date of the Compact shall be October 21, 1986.

On October 24, 1986, the Government of the United States and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia agreed, pursuant to Section 411 of the Compact of Free Association, that as between the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia, the effective date of the Compact shall be November 3, 1986.

On October 24, 1986, the United States advised the Secretary General of the United Nations that, as a consequence of consultations held between the United States Government and the Government of the Marshall Islands, agreement had been reached that the Compact of Free Association with the Marshall Islands entered fully into force on October 21, 1986. The United States further advised the Secretary General that, as a result of consultations with their governments, agreement had been reached that the Compact of Free Association with the Federated States of Micronesia and the Covenant with the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands would enter into force on November 3, 1986.

As of this day, November 3, 1986, the United States has fulfilled its obligations under the Trusteeship Agreement with respect to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia, and they are self-governing and no longer subject to the Trusteeship. In taking these actions, the United States is implementing the freely expressed wishes of the peoples of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, by the Authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, including Section 1002 of the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America, and Sections 101 and 102 of the Joint Resolution to approve the “Compact of Free Association”, and for other purposes, approved on January 14, 1986 (Public Law 99-239), do hereby find, declare, and proclaim as follows:

Section 1. I determine that the Trusteeship Agreement for the Pacific Islands is no longer in effect as of October 21, 1986, with respect to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as of November 3, 1986, with respect to the Federated States of Micronesia, and as of November 3, 1986, with respect to the Northern Mariana Islands. This constitutes the determination referred to in Section 1002 of the Covenant.

Sec. 2. (a) Sections 101, 104, 301, 302, 303, 506, 806, and 904 of the Covenant are effective as of 12:01 a.m., November 4, 1986, Northern Mariana Islands local time.

(b) The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in political union with and under the sovereignty of the United States of America is fully established on the date and at the time specified in Section 2(a) of this Proclamation.

(c) The domiciliaries of the Northern Mariana Islands are citizens of the United States to the extent provided for in Sections 301 through 303 of the Covenant on the date and at the time specified in this Proclamation.

(d) I welcome the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands into the American family and congratulate our new fellow citizens.

Sec. 3. (a) The Compact of Free Association with the Republic of the Marshall Islands is in full force and effect as of October 21, 1986, and the Compact of Free Association with the Federated States of Micronesia is in full force and effect as of November 3, 1986.

(b) I am gratified that the people of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, after nearly forty years of Trusteeship, have freely chosen to establish a relationship of Free Association with the United States.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and eleventh.

Ronald Reagan



[494]  Background: The Northern Mariana Islands consist of 21 small islands, six of which are inhabited and 14 of which are large enough to be identified by name. Together with Guam, a U.S. territory, they form a western Pacific entity known as the Mariana Islands. The Marianas archipelago is one of three making up the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, a United Nations trusteeship under United States administration; the other two are the Carolines and the Marshall Islands. Saipan, Tinian and Rota, in that order, are the three largest islands of the Northern Marianas and most of the archipelago’s 14,500 population lives on one or the other.

[495]  See P.L. 95-134, §§403 and 501, in this Appendix. See P.L. 95-348, §3(b) and (c) in this Appendix.

[496]  Presidential Proclamation 5564 dated November 3, 1986 published in the Federal Register on November 7, 1986 (51 FR 40399) placed this Covenant into full force and effect. (in this Appendix)

[497]  61 Stat. 3301.

[498]  P.L. 110-2, §8103(a), provides that §6 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206) and (c) shall apply to American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. See P.L. 110-28, §8103(a) and (b) (this Volume), with respect to applicability of minumum wage to American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

[499]  See Presidential Proclamation 4534, dated October 24, 1977, published in the Federal Register on October 27, 1977 (43 FR 56593), in this Appendix.

[500]  See Presidential Proclamation 5564 dated November 3, 1986, published in the Federal Register on November 7, 1986 (51 FR 40399), in this Appendix.

[501]  See P.L. 95-348, §8, in this Appendix.

[502]  Covenant §502 became effective 11 A.M. of January 9, 1978, Northern Mariana Islands local time. See Presidential Proclamation 4534, signed October 24, 1977, in this Appendix.

[503]  P.L. 110–161, 121 Stat. 2114, added 48 U.S.C. 1469b, effective December 26, 2007.

[504]  See P.L. 95-134, this Appendix.

[505]  See P.L. 94-241, this Appendix.

[506]  P.L. 88-525.

[507]  Published at 42 FR 56593, October 27, 1977 and 48 U.S.C. 1681 note.

[508]  See this Appendix.

[509]  See this Appendix.

[510]  51 FR 40399, November 7, 1986 and 48 U.S.C. 1681 note.

[511]  See P.L. 94-241, this Appendix.