The politics of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) takes place in a framework of a federal assembly-independent representative democratic republic. The President of the Federated States of Micronesia is both head of state and head of government. Executive power is exercised by the president and his cabinet, while legislative power is vested in both the president and the Congress. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
The internal workings of the FSM are governed by the 1979 constitution, which guarantees fundamental human rights and establishes a separation of governmental powers. The Federation is in free association with the United States; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986.
This article needs to be updated.(May 2019) |
Office | Name | Party | Since |
---|---|---|---|
President | Wesley Simina | Independent | 11 May 2023 |
Vice President | Aren Palik | Independent | 13 September 2022 |
The president and the vice president are elected by Congress from among the four senators-at-large for four-year terms. The president is both the chief of state and head of government. Their congressional seats are then filled by special elections. The president and vice president are supported by an appointed cabinet.
The President and Vice President are supported in the administration by a Cabinet made up of 9 appointed officials. They are: the Secretaries of the Department of Environment, Climate Change & Emergency Management (DECEM), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Foreign Affairs (Foreign Affairs), the Department of Resource & Development (R&D), the Department of Health & Social Affairs (DHSA), the Department of Transportation, Communications, & Infrastructure (TC&I), and the Department of Education (DOE); the heads of the Office of the Public Defender, Office of National Archives, Culture, & Historic Preservations, and FSM Postal Services. Other Cabinet-level officials include the director of the National Oceanic Resource & Maritime Authority, Coconut Development Authority, FSM Banking Board, and National Fisheries Corporation. [2]
Department | Dept. Head's Title | Department Head |
---|---|---|
Department of Education | Secretary | The Honorable Gardenia Aisek |
Department of Finance and Administration | Secretary | The Honorable Rose Nakanaga |
Department of Foreign Affairs | Secretary | The Honorable Lorin Robert Deputy Secretary: Ricky Cantero |
Department of Health and Social Affairs | Secretary | The Honorable Marcus Samo |
Department of Justice | Secretary | The Honorable Joses R. Gallen |
Department of Resource & Development | Secretary | The Honorable Elina Akinaga |
Department of Transportation, Communication, and Infrastructure | Secretary | The Honorable Carlson Apis |
Department of Environment, Climate Change & Emergency Management | Secretary | The Honorable Andrew Yatilman |
Office of Public Defender | Chief Public Defender | Vacant |
FSM Postal Services | Postmaster General | Ginger Porter Mida |
National Archives, Culture and Historic Preservation Office | Director | Dr. Rufino Mauricio |
Cabinet-level officials | ||
Coconut Development Authority | General Manager | Peterson Sam |
FSM Banking Board | ||
National Fisheries Corporation | President & CEO | Patricia Jack-Jossien |
National Oceanic Resource and Maritime Authority (NORMA) | Executive Director | Eugene Pangelinan |
The Congress has fourteen non-partisan members, ten members elected for a two-year term in single-seat constituencies and four members elected for a four-year term, one from each state at large.
The judiciary is headed by the Supreme Court of the Federated States of Micronesia, which is divided into trial and appellate divisions. The president appoints judges with the advice and consent of the Congress. Andon Amaraich was Chief Justice of the Federated States of Micronesia until his death in January 2010. He was succeeded by Martin G. Yinug, who served until his death on August 31, 2014. [3] He was succeeded by Dennis K. Yamase, who continues to serve as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court since his investiture on October 2, 2015. [4]
A head of state (the President) and a legislature are elected on a national level. At the 2011 election, only non-partisans have been elected. The president is elected for a four-year term by Congress. There are no political parties in Micronesia, though they are not banned. Political allegiances depend mainly on family and island-related factors.
The government of Micronesia includes national agencies to serve the Micronesian people. The FSM Social Security Administration, FSM Telecommunications Corporation, Office of the Public Auditor, and FSM PetroCorp are independent agencies.
Agency | Dept. Head's Title | Department Head |
---|---|---|
College of Micronesia-FSM | President | Dr. Joseph Daisy |
FSM Development Bank | President & CEO | Anna Mendiola |
FSM Social Security Administration | Administrator | Alexander Narruhn |
FSM Telecommunications Corporation | General Manager | John Sohl |
National Election Commission | Director | Kimeuo Kimuo |
Office of the Public Auditor | Public Auditor | Haser Hainrick |
The FSM is divided in four states: Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. Each has its own constitution, elected legislature, governor, and lieutenant governor. The state governments maintain considerable power, particularly regarding the implementation of budgetary policies.
State | Governor | Lt. Governor |
---|---|---|
Chuuk State | Alexander Narruhn | Mekeioshy William |
Kosrae State | Tulensa Palik | Arthy G. Nena |
Pohnpei State | Stevenson A Joseph | Francisco Ioanis |
Yap State | Charles Chieng | Francis Itimai |
Micronesia is a member of the following international organizations:
The Federated States of Micronesia, or simply Micronesia, is an island country in Micronesia, a subregion of Oceania. The federation consists of four states—from west to east, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae—that are spread across the western Pacific. Together, the states comprise around 607 islands that cover a longitudinal distance of almost 2,700 km (1,700 mi) just north of the equator. They lie northeast of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, south of Guam and the Marianas, west of Nauru and the Marshall Islands, east of Palau and the Philippines, about 2,900 km (1,800 mi) north of eastern Australia, 3,400 km (2,100 mi) southeast of Japan, and some 4,000 km (2,485 mi) southwest of the main islands of the Hawaiian Islands.
Joseph John "Joe" Urusemal is a Micronesian political figure who served as the sixth President of the Federated States of Micronesia from 2003 until 2007.
The president of the Federated States of Micronesia is the head of state and government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The FSM president, by virtue of his or her office, is the head of the FSM Cabinet and is in charge of the administration and operations of the National Government. The president is assisted by the vice-president, both of whom are elected by the FSM Congress from among the at-large members to serve for four-year terms. The current and tenth president of the FSM is Wesley Simina, who replaced David Panuelo on 11 May 2023.
The State of Yap is one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia, located in the westernmost portion of the country. The state borders Palau to the southwest, Guam to the north, and Chuuk State to the east. According to the state's population census carried out in 2020, the total population is 11,577 residing across a total area of 119.54 sq km, though a large majority of the area is water. The only town area in the state, Colonia, serves as the state capital.
The Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia has 14 non-partisan members: ten members elected for a two-year term in ten single-seat constituencies and four members elected for a four-year term, one from each state at-large.
Indirect presidential elections were held in the Federated States of Micronesia on May 11, 2007.
Emanuel "Manny" Mori is a Micronesian politician who served as President of the Federated States of Micronesia from 11 May 2007 to 11 May 2015.
The vice president of Federated States of Micronesia is the second highest position in Federated States of Micronesia. The vice president is elected by the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia from among the at-large members for a four-year term. The vice president is also a part of the legislature. The annual salary of the vice president is set to US$70,000.
Alik L. Alik is a diplomat and politician from the Federated States of Micronesia who was the Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia from May 11, 2007 to May 11, 2015.
Masao Nakayama was a politician and diplomat of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).
The Chief Justice of the Federated States of Micronesia is the seniormost judge of the Supreme Court of the Federated States of Micronesia. The position is established in article XI, section 2 of the federal Constitution.
Gerald M. Zackios is a Marshallese politician and diplomat. He was a member of the Legislature of the Marshall Islands (Nitijeļā) from 2000 until 2012. During this period he was Minister in Assistance to the President of Marshall Islands from 2000 until 2001 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2001 until 2007. He serves as the Ambassador of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the United States since June 2016.
Australia–Federated States of Micronesia relations are the bilateral relations between Australia and Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Australia was the first country to start diplomatic relations with FSM in 1987 and is one of the four countries that have resident ambassadors to Micronesia. The two countries are members of the Pacific Islands Forum.
Peter Martin Christian Souissa is a Micronesian politician who served as the 8th President of the Federated States of Micronesia, from 11 May 2015 to 11 May 2019.
Yosiwo Palikkun George was a Micronesian politician, Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia in the 19th (2015–2019) and 20th (2019–2022) terms of congress, under the presidencies of Peter M. Christian and David W. Panuelo.
Beauleen Carl-Worswick is a Micronesian judge. She has been an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Federated States of Micronesia since September 2010. She is the first woman judge of the Supreme Court.
The Department of Justice of Micronesia provides legal advice to the President, Executive Branch, and national government. It represents the national government in court, administrative hearings, and legal negotiations.
David W. Panuelo is a Micronesian politician who served as the president of the Federated States of Micronesia from 2019 to 2023.
Aren B. Palik is a Micronesian politician. He has been Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia from September 2022.
Department of Finance and Administration of the Federated States of Micronesia is a government department in the Micronesia responsible for effective management of public financial assets, strengthening tax collection, maximizng investments and maintaining border control of Micronesia.
Government