The law of the Northern Mariana Islands includes:
* The Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America, which specifies which political issues require agreement between the United States and the CNMI, and which can unilaterally be decided by the federal government.
* The 1976
Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands The Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is the governing document of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana ...
, as amended.
* Laws passed by the territorial legislature, codified in the Commonwealth Code, abbreviated "CMC" in legal citations.
* Regulations in the Administrative Code Regulation proposals and adopted changes are published in the Commonwealth Register, abbreviated "Com. Reg." in legal citations.
* Local laws passed by the municipalities of
Saipan
Saipan ( ch, Sa’ipan, cal, Seipél, formerly in es, Saipán, and in ja, 彩帆島, Saipan-tō) is the largest island of the Northern Mariana Islands, a Commonwealth (U.S. insular area), commonwealth of the United States in the western Pa ...
,
Tinian
Tinian ( or ; old Japanese name: 天仁安島, ''Tenian-shima'') is one of the three principal islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Together with uninhabited neighboring Aguiguan, it forms Tinian Municipality, one of th ...
, and
Rota.
Legislative Branch
/ref> (Northern Islands Municipality
Northern Islands Municipality is one of the four main political divisions of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. It consists of a long string of the northernmost islands of the Northern Marianas, including (from north to south) Fara ...
is uninhabited.)
* Case law
Case law, also used interchangeably with common law, is law that is based on precedents, that is the judicial decisions from previous cases, rather than law based on constitutions, statutes, or regulations. Case law uses the detailed facts of a l ...
generated by the territorial courts, as a common law
In law, common law (also known as judicial precedent, judge-made law, or case law) is the body of law created by judges and similar quasi-judicial tribunals by virtue of being stated in written opinions."The common law is not a brooding omnipresen ...
jurisdiction
As a territory of the United States
A territory is an area of land, sea, or space, particularly belonging or connected to a country, person, or animal.
In international politics, a territory is usually either the total area from which a state may extract power resources or a ...
, United States federal law
The law of the United States comprises many levels of codified and uncodified forms of law, of which the most important is the nation's Constitution, which prescribes the foundation of the federal government of the United States, as well as va ...
applies to the CNMI, though many laws that apply to the 50 states do not cover the Commonwealth. Unlike states, the U.S. federal government has direct control over territories, limited only by the Covenant. As an unincorporated territory
Territories of the United States are sub-national administrative divisions overseen by the federal government of the United States. The various American territories differ from the U.S. states and tribal reservations as they are not sover ...
, not all of the provisions of the United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the Supremacy Clause, supreme law of the United States, United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, in 1789. Originally comprising seven ar ...
apply.
Cases under federal law are heard before the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands
The District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands (in case citations, D. N. Mar. I.) is a federal territorial court whose jurisdiction comprises the United States-affiliated Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). It was establi ...
. Unlike federal Article III courts in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, this is a United States territorial court
The United States territorial courts are tribunals established in territories of the United States by the United States Congress, pursuant to its power under Article Four of the United States Constitution, the Territorial Clause. Most United ...
established under Congress's territorial power under Article VI of the United States Constitution, so judges do not have lifetime appointments. Cases under territorial law are heard by the , with appeals heard by the .
See also
* Gun laws in the Northern Mariana Islands
Gun laws in the Northern Mariana Islands regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. As the Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth of the United States, many federal ...
* Northern Mariana Islands
The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI; ch, Sankattan Siha Na Islas Mariånas; cal, Commonwealth Téél Falúw kka Efáng llól Marianas), is an unincorporated territory and commonw ...
References
External links
*
{{NorthernMarianas-stub
Government of the Northern Mariana Islands Northern Mariana Islands
Northern Mariana
Northern Mariana Islands
The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI; ch, Sankattan Siha Na Islas Mariånas; cal, Commonwealth Téél Falúw kka ...