Short facts about the government of Micronesia

Country name:

conventional long form:  Federated States of Micronesia conventional short form:  none former:  Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands) abbreviation:  FSM

Government type:

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986

Capital:

Palikir

Administrative divisions:

4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae, Pohnpei, Yap

Independence:

3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)

Constitution:

10 May 1979

Legal system:

based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state:  President Leo A. FALCAM (since 21 July 1999); Vice President Redley KILLION (since 21 July 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government:  President Leo A. FALCAM (since 21 July 1999); Vice President Redley KILLION (since 21 July 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet:  Cabinet elections:  president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators-at-large for four-year terms; election last held NA May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2003) election results:  Leo A. FALCAM elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA%; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Congress (14 seats; members elected by popular vote; four - one elected from each of state - to serve four-year terms and 10 - elected from single-member districts delineated by population - to serve two-year terms) elections:  elections for four-year term seats last held 2 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003); elections for two-year term seats last held 6 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2003) election results:  percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

no formal parties

International organization participation:

ACP, AsDB, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission:  Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU chancery:  1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone:  [1] (202) 223-4383 FAX:  [1] (202) 223-4391 consulate(s) general:  Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission:  Ambassador Diane E. WATSON embassy:  address NA, Kolonia mailing address:  P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941 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

Source: World Factbook