Qsble marese:
Oob. AjlUl &alpan
Q
o The Honorable Benign0 R. Fitial
c3 Speaker, House of Representatives
third Northern Marianas Comnwealth
Legislature
F S a i p a n , CM 96950
0
and
The Honorable Olympio T. Borja
President of the Senate
Third Northern Marianas Comnwealth
Legislature
Saipan, CM 96950
Dear Mr. Speaker and JXr. President:
This is to inform you that I have today signed H.B. No. 315, H.D.1,
S.D. 2, entitled, "To repeal Section 11 of the Schedule on Transitional
Matters, and to redistrict and reapportion the membership of the House
of Representatives pursuant to Article 11, Section 4(a) of the Comnwealth
Constitution, and the U.S. constitutional requirements W e applicable
to the Comnwealth through Covenant Section 501(a)",which was passed
by the Third Northern Marianas Comnwealth Legislature. This masure
becomes P.L. 3-78.
I would like to compliment the Legislature for its prompt action in
responding to the new population data contained in the decennial census.
Although the additional seat will result in som additional expense to
the Legislature, the ratio of voters to representatives is greater than
it was when the Constitution was adopted. Further, enlargmnt of the
membership of the House of Representatives was envisioned by the frartlers
of the Constitution as a response to one of the problems presented when
a population becoms m r e mobile. Therefore, the action taken by the
Legislature is, in my opinion, consistent with the Constitution.
Copies of this Public Law bearing my signature are forwarded herewith
for your reference.
Sincerely,
7
A
Cove or
CC:
/---'
Special Assistant for Programs and Legislative Review
m
7 NO.
H.B.
NO.
3-78
315, H.D.1,
S.D.2
THIRD NORTHERN MARIANAS COMMONWEALTH LEGISLATURE
FOURTH REGULAR SESSION, 1983
AN ACT
To repeal Section 11 o f t h e Schedule on T r a n s i t i o n a l Matters,
and t o r e d i s t r i c t and reapportion the membership o f the House
o f Representatives pursuant t o A r t i c l e 11, Section 4(a) o f
the Commonwealth Constitution, and the U.S. c o n s t i t u t i o n a l
requirements made applicable t o the Commonwealth through
Covenant Section 501(a).
Offered by Representative
Date:
Benigno R. F i t i a l
August 9, 1983
House Action
Referred to:
J u d i c i a r y and Governmental Operations
Standing Committee Report No. 3-158
F i r s t and Second Reading:
Final Reading :
September 1, 1983
September 21, 1983
Senate Action
Referred to:
Committee on Judiciary, Government and Law
Standing Committee Report 3-252
Second and Final Reading:
September 21, 1983
Herbert S. Del Rosario
Chief Clerk
House o f Representatives
PUBLIC LAW NO. 3-78
THIRD PiORTHERN MARIANAS COMMOFI'IIEALTH LEGISLATUKE
HOUSE BILL NO. 315,
H.D.1, S.D.2
FOURTH REGULAR SESSION, 1983
AN ACT
To repeal Section 11 of the Schedule on Transitional iklatters,
and t o r e d i s t r i c t and reapportion the nembvship of the House
of Representatives pursuant to Article 11, Section 4 ( a ) of
the Commonwealth Constitution, and the U.S. constitutional
requirements made applicable to the Commonwealth through
Covenant Section 501(a).
BE IT ENACTED BY THE NORTHERN MARIANAS COMMONWEALTH LEGISLATURE:
Section 1.
T i t l e and Purposes:
( a ) This Act may be cited as the Redistricting and
Reapportioning Act of 1983.
(b)
Pursuant t o Article 11, Section 4 ( a ) of the
Commonwealth Constitution, and the U.S. consti tutional
requi resents made appl icabl e t o the Commonweal t h , the
Legislature deems i t necessary t o r e d i s t r i c t and to
reapportion the membership of the House of Representatives.
Section 2.
Repealer.
Section 11 of the Schedule on Transitional
Platters of the Commonwealth Constitution i s r ~ p e a l e d .
Section 3.
Increase in House Membership.
Pursuant to Article 11,
Section 3 ( a ) of the Commonwealth Constitution, the membership of the
House of Representatives i s increased from 14 t o 15, by increasing the
number of members from Saipan from 1 2 to 13.
Section 4.
Saipan Election D i s t r i c t s .
For the purpose of electing
13 members of the House of Representatives from Saipan under Article 11,
Section 3, of the Comnonweal t h Constitution, Saipan shall be divided
into the following four election d i s t r i c t s :
First District:
municipal d i s t r i c t s six and ten,
el e c t i ng three representatives.
PUBLIC LAW NO. 3-78
H.6.
Second District:
No. 315, H.D.1,
S.D.2
municipal d i s t r i c t s one, two, three,
four and f i v e , electing three representatives.
Third District:
municipal d i s t r i c t s seven and eleven
plus the islands north of Saipan minus census enumeration
d i s t r i c t eleven, electing five representatives.
Fourth District:
municipal d i s t r i c t s eight and nine plus
census enumeration d i s t r i c t eleven, electing two representatives.
Section 5.
Special Certification of Nomination.
Notwithstanding
the 45 day time 1 imi t provisions of Pub1 i c Lap1 5-19, Subsection 10(a),
l l ( c ) , or 13(a) or other law, candidates for the House of Representatives
in the 1983 general election from the new election d i s t r i c t s defined
in Section 4 of t h i s Act nay be nominated by c e r t i f i c a t i o n of a
political party or by f i l i n g of an independent nominating petition and
the candidates acceptance in accordance with the provisions of Section
13 a t any time prior to the 6th day of October, 1983.
Section 6.
Effective Date.
This
e f f e c t upon i t s
approval by the Governor, or upon i t s
such approjllal.
d'
R. Fi t i a l
ATTEST :
/ ~ e n d t eLegislative Secretary
Chief Clerk
Pedro P. TenoriH'
Governor /
Co~monwealthof the Northern Mariana Islands
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