Federated States of Micronesia: Government#
Country name | conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia conventional short form: none local long form: Federated States of Micronesia local short form: none former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts abbreviation: FSM etymology: the term "Micronesia" is a 19th-century construct of two Greek words, "micro" (small) and "nesoi" (islands), and refers to thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean |
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Government type | federal republic in free association with the US |
Capital | Palikir
Palikir
geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 09 E time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) |
Administrative divisions | 4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap |
Independence | 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship) |
National holiday | Constitution Day, 10 May (1979); Independence Day, 3 November (1986) |
Constitution | drafted June 1975, ratified 1 October 1978, entered into force 10 May 1979; amended 1990; note - in 2001, all 26 amendments proposed by the FSM constitutional convention were defeated in a national referendum (2016) |
Legal system | mixed legal system of common and customary law |
International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt |
Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of FSM dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years |
Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal |
Executive branch | chief of state: President Peter M. CHRISTIAN (since 12 May 2015); Vice President Yosiwo P. GEORGE (since 12 May 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Peter M. CHRISTIAN (since 12 May 2015); Vice President Yosiwo P. GEORGE (since 12 May 2015) cabinet: Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the 8 executive departments elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by Congress from among the 4 'at large' senators for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 May 2011 (next to be held in May 2015) election results: Peter M. CHRISTIAN elected president by Congress; Yosiwo P. GEORGE elected vice president |
Legislative branch | description: unicameral Congress (14 seats; 10 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 2-year terms and 4 directly elected from each of the 4 states by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 5 March 2013 (next to be held in March 2015) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 14 |
Judicial branch | highest court(s): Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and not more than 5 associate justices and organized into appellate and criminal divisions) judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president of the Federated States of Micronesia with the approval of two-thirds of Congress; justices appointed for life subordinate courts: the highest state-level courts are: Chuuk Supreme Court; Korsae State Court; Pohnpei State Court; Yap State Court |
Political parties and leaders | no formal parties |
Political pressure groups and leaders | NA |
International organization participation | ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO |
Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ad interim James A. NAICH chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (1) (202) 223-4383 FAX: (1) (202) 223-4391 consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Tamuning (Guam) |
Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Dorothea-Maria (Doria) ROSEN (since 9 August 2012) embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, 96941; U.S. Embassy in Micronesia, 4120 Kolonia Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-4120 telephone: (691) 320-2187 FAX: (691) 320-2186 |
Flag description | light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern; blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the stars represent the four island groups of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap |
National symbol(s) | four, five-pointed, white stars on a light blue field; national colors: light blue, white |
National anthem | name: "Patriots of Micronesia" lyrics/music: unknown note: adopted 1991; also known as "Across All Micronesia"; the music is based on the 1820 German patriotic song "Ich hab mich ergeben", which was the West German national anthem from 1949-1950; variants of this tune are used in Johannes Brahms' "Festival Overture" and Gustav Mahler's "Third Symphony" |