--
L O R E N Z O I. DELEON G U E R R E R O
Governor
BENJAMIN T. MANGLONA
Lieutenant Governor
1 7 SEP 1991
The Honorable Pedro R. Guerrero
Speaker of the House
Seventh Northern Marianas
Commonwealth Legislature
96950
Saipan, M.P.
and
The Honorable Joseph s. Inos
Senate President
Seventh Northern Marianas
Commonwealth Legislature
Saipan, M.P. 96950
Dear Mr. Speaker and Mr. President,
This is to inform you that I have signed into law House Bill 7-24 9,
S.D. 1, the "Reapportionment Act of lggl", which was passed by the
Seventh Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature. Article 11,
Section 4 of the Commonwealth Constitution requires the Legislature
reapportion or
redistrict the
seats
in the House
of
Representatives, in order to ensure that each member of the House
represents approximately the same number of residents of the
Commonwealth. According to the Committee Report to this Act,
unless reapportionment is done at this time, ,the constitutional
principle of "one man - one vote" will be violated. I support a
plan to ensure equal representation in the Commonwealth.
However, the Executive Branch is concerned about the growing costs
of Commonwealth government.
We believe the people of the
Commonwealth want more efficient government, and not just more
government. Article 11, Section 4 of the Commonwealth Constitution
will require further reapportionment or redistricting after the
census data has been officially published. At that time, I would
strongly encourage the Legislature to consider redistricting the
existing seats in the House of Representatives so as to ensure
equal representation for all the people of the Commonwealth while
minimizing the growth of government.
Even though I have expressed concerns about the increase in the
size of the House of Representatives, I wish to avoid any confusion
that may result should I not approve this bill.
Because of my
support for concept of the "one man - one vote" rule, I feel
compelled to sign this bill.
Capitol Hill
0
Saipan, MP 96950
Tel: ( 6 7 0 ) 322-50911213
Fax: (670) 322-5096
Hon. Guerrero and Hon. I n o s
September 1 7 , 1991
Page 2
b i l l becomes P u b l i c Law Number 7-37,
s i g n a t u r e a r e forwarded f o r y o u r r e f e r e n c e .
This
Copies b e a r i n g
14
S'n erely,
B JAMIN
A c i n g Governor
cc:
S p e c i a l A s s i s h T t ! % o r Programs and L e g i s l a t i v e Review
rry
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEVENTH NORTHERN MARIANAS COMMONWEALTH LEGISLATURE
THIRD REGULAR SESSION, 1991
PUBLIC
LAW
HOUSE
BILL
NO.
7-37
NO.
7-249, S . Q L
AN ACT
TO PROVIDE FOR THE REAPPORTIONMENT OF THE SEATS IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF
ARTICLE 11, SECTION 4 (A) OF THE CNMI CONSTITUTION, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Date:
Auqust 2 8 , 1991
HOUSE ACTION
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
First and Final Reading:
&
Governmental Operation
September 03, 1991
SENATE ACTION
Second and Final Reading:
September 17, 1991
*-2?L~oa'nQ.&&
P. @ai$atp
Actlng House-Clerk
PUBLIC LAW NO. 7-3'
SEVENTH NORTHERN MARIANAS COMMONWEALTH LEGISLATURE
HOUSE BILL
NO. 7-249, S.D.1
THIRD REGULAR SESSION, 1991
AN ACT
To provide for the reapportionment of the seats in the
House of Representatives pursuant to the requirements of
Article 11, section 4 (a) of the CNMI Constitution, and
for other purposes.
IT ENACTED BY THE NORTHERN MARIANAS COMMONWEALTH LEGISLATURE:
Section 1.
Re~ealerand Reenactment. Title 1, Division
1, Chapter 5 of the Commonwealth Code is hereby repealed in
its entirety and reenacted as follows:
CHAPTER 5
REAPPORTIONMENT ACT OF 1991
Section 1501.
Short Title.
This chapter, may be
cited and shall be known as the Reapportionment Act of
1991.
Section 1502.
Findinqs and Purpose.
(a) In accordance with the mandate of Article
11, section 4 (a) of the CNMI Constitution,
the
Legislature finds that based upon the increase in
the population of the Commonwealth as reported by
the Bureau of the Census,
reapportion
the
seats
it is necessary to
in
the
House
Representatives in the Municipality of Saipan.
(b)
reapportion
It
is the
the
purpose
seats
in
of
the
this
act
House
of
f:
to
of
Representatives in the Municipality of Saipan in
accordance with the best information available to
the Legislature at the time of enacting this
PUBLIC LAW NO. 7-37
House Bill No.7-249, S.D.1
legislation.
In
light
of
the
substantial
population increase in the Commonwealth (158.3%),
and
especially
in
the
Municipality
of
Saipan
(167.3%), the Legislature deems it necessary to
reapportion now in order to comply with the "one
man
-
one votel1 rule.
The "one man
-
one vote1'
rule requires that each representative in the House
of Representatives represent approximately an equal
number of residents in the Commonwealth.
Section
1503.
Increase
in
Pursuant to Article 11, section 3
House
Membership.
(a) and
(b), and
*
Article 11, section 4 (a) of the CNMI Constitution, the
membership of the House of Representatives is increased
from fifteen (15) to eighteen (l8), by increasing the
number of representatives from
Saipan .and the islands
north of Saipan from thirteen (13) to sixteen (16).
Section 1504. Saipan Election District. For the
purpose of electing sixteen (16) members of the House of
Representatives from Saipan and the islands north of
Saipan, Saipan shall be divided into the following four
election districts:
Page 2
PUBLIC LAW NO. 7-37
House Bill No.7-249, S.D.l
First District:
Municipal Districts Six and
Ten electing six representatives.
Second District:
Two,
Three,
Four
Municipal Districts One,
and
Five,
electing
two
representatives.
Third District: Municipal Districts Seven and
Eleven, plus the islands north of Saipan, minus
that portion of Census Enumeration District (CED)
Eleven or its functional equivalent which overlaps
into Municipal Districts Seven and Eleven, electing
six representatives.
Fourth ~istri'ct: Municipal Districts Eight
and Nine, plus that portion of Census Enumeration
District (CED) Eleven or its functional equivalent
which overlaps into Municipal Districts Seven and
Eleven, electing two representatives.
Section 2. Extension of Time. Notwithstanding any other
provision
of
law, for the
1991
general
election
only,
candidates for the additional House of Representatives seats
created by this Act in the First and Third Saipan Election
Districts shall have ten (10) days after the effective date of
this Act to submit all required documents to the Board of
Elections for certification of their candidacy.
Page 3
P.
PUBLIC LAW NO. 7-37
House Bill No.7-249, S.D.l
Section 3.
should
be
Severabilitv.
declared
invalid
If any section of this Act
by
a
court
of
competent
jurisdiction, the remainder of this Act shall not be affected
thereby.
Section 4.
Effective Date.
This Act shall take effect
upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law
without such approval.
CERTIFIED BY:
ATTESTED BY:
PEDRO~R.DELEON GUERRERO
Speaker of the House
.
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