Country name:
conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia
conventional short form:
none
local long form:
Federated States of Micronesia
local short form:
none
former:
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts
abbreviation:
FSM
Government type:
constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force on 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004
Capital:
name:
Palikir
geographic coordinates:
6 55 N, 158 09 E
time difference:
UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap
Independence:
3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)
Constitution:
drafted June 1975, ratified 1 October 1978, entered into force 10 May 1979; amended 1990 (2012)
Legal system:
mixed legal system of common and customary law
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
[see also: Suffrage country ranks ]
:
chief of state:
President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Emanuel MORI (since 11 May 2007); Vice President Alik L. ALIK (since 11 May 2007)
cabinet:
Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the eight executive departments
elections:
president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators at large for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 May 2011 (next to be held in May 2015)
election results:
Emanuel MORI re-elected president by Congress unopposed; Alik L. ALIK reelected vice president
Legislative branch:
unicameral Congress (14 seats; 4 - one elected from each state to serve four-year terms and 10 - elected from single-member districts delineated by population to serve two-year terms; members elected by popular vote)
elections:
last held on 5 March 2013 (next to be held in March 2015)
election results:
percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 14
Judicial branch:
highest court(s):
Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and not more than 5 associate justices and organized into appellate and criminal divisions)
judge selection and term of office:
justices appointed by the president of the Federated States of Micronesia with the approval of two-thirds of Congress; justices appointed for life
subordinate courts:
the highest state-level courts are: Chuuk Supreme Court; Korsae State Court; Pohnpei State Court; Yap State Court
Political parties and leaders:
no formal parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Asterio R. TAKESY (since 13 January 2012)
chancery:
1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
[1] (202) 223-4383
FAX:
[1] (202) 223-4391
consulate(s) general:
Honolulu, Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Dorothea-Maria (Doria) ROSEN (since 9 August 2012)
embassy:
101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia
mailing address:
P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, 96941; U.S. Embassy in Micronesia, 4120 Kolonia Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-4120
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; blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the stars represent the four island groups of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap
National anthem:
name:
"Patriots of Micronesia"
lyrics/music: unknown
note: adopted 1991; the anthem is also known as "Across All Micronesia;" the music is based on the 1820 German patriotic song "Ich hab mich ergeben," which was the West German national anthem from 1949-1950; variants of this tune are used in Johannes Brahms' "Festival Overture" and Gustav Mahler's "Third Symphony"