A constitutional referendum was held in the Northern Mariana Islands on 2 November 2010, alongside the election for the islands' representative to the United States House of Representatives. Voters were asked whether they approved of three proposed amendments to the constitution. All three were rejected.
Background One of the three proposals was for the government to issue bonds to pay for the country's pension scheme.Northern Mariana Islands, 2 November 2010: Issue of bonds for pension payments Direct Democracy It would involve adding a new section to chapter X of the constitution:
The second amendment was to set in law the financing of compensation paid to residents for land expropriation.Northern Mariana Islands, 2 November 2010: Guaranteed financing of compensation for expropriation Direct Democracy This would involve amending subsection g of section 5 (Chapter XI) of the constitution:
Original textProposed textThe corporation shall receive all moneys from the public lands except those from lands in which freehold interest has been transferred to another agency of government pursuant to section 5(b), and shall transfer these moneys after the end of the fiscal year to the Marianas Public Land Trust except that the corporation shall retain the amount necessary to meet reasonable expenses of administration and management, land surveying, homestead development, and any other expenses reasonably necessary for the accomplishment of its functions. The annual budget of the corporation shall be submitted to the legislature for information purposes only.The corporation shall receive all moneys from the public lands except those from lands in which freehold interest has been transferred to another agency of government pursuant to section 5(b), and shall transfer these moneys after the end of the fiscal year to the Marianas Public Land Trust except that the corporation shall retain the amount necessary to meet reasonable expenses of administration and management, land surveying, homestead development, and any other expenses reasonably necessary for the accomplishment of its functions; provided further that the corporation shall be authorized to expend up to twenty percent of its revenue to pay and satisfy land compensation claims as provided by law. The annual budget of the corporation shall be submitted to the legislature for information purposes only.
The third amendment concerned limiting a rise in pension payments to the level of secured financing.Northern Mariana Islands, 2 November 2010: Pension increase only with secured financing Direct Democracy It proposed adding a new subsection c to Chapter III, section of the constitution:
Results
ChoiceVotes%For3,37643.42Against4,40056.58Invalid/blank votes –Total7,776100Registered voters/turnout16,477Source: Direct Democracy
ChoiceVotes%For3,22843.22Against4,47256.78Invalid/blank votes –Total7,700100Registered voters/turnout16,477Source: Direct Democracy
ChoiceVotes%For3,71648.43Against3,95751.57Invalid/blank votes –Total7,673100Registered voters/turnout16,477Source: Direct Democracy
References