USC Subchapter III

in effect

48 U.S.C. § 1751 Delegate to House of Representatives from Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall be represented in the United States Congress by the Resident Representative to the United States authorized by section 901 of the Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union With the United States of America (approved by Public Law 94–241 (48 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.)). The Resident Representative shall be a nonvoting Delegate to the House of Representatives, elected as provided in this subchapter.

48 U.S.C. § 1752 Election of Delegate

(a) Electors and time of electionThe Delegate shall be elected—(1) by the people qualified to vote for the popularly elected officials of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and (2) at the Federal general election of 2008 and at such Federal general election every 2d year thereafter. (b) Manner of election(1) In generalThe Delegate shall be elected at large and by a plurality of the votes cast for the office of Delegate. (2) Effect of establishment of primary electionsNotwithstanding paragraph (1), if the Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, acting pursuant to legislation enacted in accordance with the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, provides for primary elections for the election of the Delegate, the Delegate shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast in any general election for the office of Delegate for which such primary elections were held. (c) VacancyIn case of a permanent vacancy in the office of Delegate, the office of Delegate shall remain vacant until a successor is elected and qualified. (d) Commencement of termThe term of the Delegate shall commence on the 3d day of January following the date of the election.

48 U.S.C. § 1753 Qualifications for office of Delegate

To be eligible for the office of Delegate a candidate shall— (1) be at least 25 years of age on the date of the election; (2) have been a citizen of the United States for at least 7 years prior to the date of the election; (3) be a resident and domiciliary of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for at least 7 years prior to the date of the election; (4) be qualified to vote in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on the date of the election; and (5) not be, on the date of the election, a candidate for any other office.

48 U.S.C. § 1754 Determination of election procedure

Acting pursuant to legislation enacted in accordance with the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands may determine the order of names on the ballot for election of Delegate, the method by which a special election to fill a permanent vacancy in the office of Delegate shall be conducted, the method by which ties between candidates for the office of Delegate shall be resolved, and all other matters of local application pertaining to the election and the office of Delegate not otherwise expressly provided for in this subchapter.

48 U.S.C. § 1755 Compensation, privileges, and immunities

Until the Rules of the House of Representatives are amended to provide otherwise, the Delegate from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall receive the same compensation, allowances, and benefits as a Member of the House of Representatives, and shall be entitled to whatever privileges and immunities are, or hereinafter may be, granted to any other nonvoting Delegate to the House of Representatives.

48 U.S.C. § 1756 Lack of effect on covenant

No provision of this subchapter shall be construed to alter, amend, or abrogate any provision of the covenant referred to in section 1751 of this title except section 901 of the covenant.

48 U.S.C. § 1757 Definition

For purposes of this subchapter, the term “Delegate” means the Resident Representative referred to in section 1751 of this title.