Congress of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

The Congress of Micronesia was a bicameral legislature in Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands from 1964 to 1979.

History

The Congress was established on 28 September 1964, when the US Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall issued order no. 2882. It replaced the previous Council of Micronesia, which had been based outside the Trust Territory in Guam.Meeting Will Discuss Plans for US Trust Territory Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1962, p143 The first elections were held in January 1965.

The Congress was initially composed of a House of Delegates and General Assembly, which were later renamed the Senate and House of Representatives. The Congress building was burnt down in an arson attack on 20 February 1970.Some Micronesian unity goes up in smoke Pacific Islands Monthly, March 1971, p21

Composition The Senate had 12 members, two from each of the six districts. The House of Representatives had 21 members, with seats apportioned to each district based on their population – five from Truk, four from the Marshall Islands and Ponape, three from the Mariana Islands and Palau and two from Yap.Micronesia To Go To Polls Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1964, p13

Elections were held every two years. Senators served four-year terms, with one Senator elected from each district at each election. All members of the House of Representatives were elected at each election.

Presidents of the upper chamber The upper chamber of Congress of Micronesia was called House of Delegates, and later Senate.

Name Took office Left office District NotesJohn O. NgirakedJuly 1965July 1965PalauTosiwo NakayamaJuly 1965July 1967TrukJohn O. NgirakedJuly 19671969PalauAmata Kabua1969Jan 1973Marshall IslandsTosiwo NakayamaJan 1973May 1979Truk

Speakers of the lower chamber The lower chamber of Congress of Micronesia was called House of Representatives.

Name Took office Left office District NotesDwight HeineJuly 19651966Marshall IslandsBethwel Henry1966May 1979Ponape

Elections 1965 Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands parliamentary election 1966 Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands parliamentary election 1968 Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands parliamentary election 1970 Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands parliamentary election 1972 Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands parliamentary election 1974 Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands parliamentary election 1976 Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands parliamentary election

See also Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia Legislature of the Marshall Islands Palau National Congress List of legislatures by country

References