Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior.
Capital city:
Hagatna (Hagåtña), formerly Agana
Population:
175,877 (July 2008 est.)
Independence :
Not Independent. Guam is a territory of the US.
Year of current Constitution:
Organic Act of Guam, 1 August 1950
Parliament:
Guam is governed by a popularly elected Governor and a unicameral 15 member Legislature elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms.
President:
W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001)
Vice President:
Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
Electoral System:
Governor and Lieutenant Governor are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term (can serve two consecutive terms, and then must wait a full term before running again).
Under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Guam, do not vote in elections for US President and Vice President.
Guam elects one non-voting delegate to the US House of Representatives.During U.S. Presidential elections, citizens in Guam vote in a straw poll for their choice of president--which doesn't count toward the general election results.
The Cabinet comprises Heads of Executive Departments, appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Guam Legislature.
Most recent election:
Last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)
Previous elections:
2004
Political Parties:
Democratic Party [leader Michael Phillips];
Republican Party (controls the legislature) [leader Philip J. Flores]
Judicial System:
Federal District Court (judge is appointed by the president);
Territorial Superior Court (judges appointed for eight-year terms by the governor).
The legal system is modeled on US; US federal laws apply.
Arizona: We're corrupt, but we don't get caught Tucson Citizen, AZ - 2 hours ago By that measure, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Guam were most corrupt, even though none are states. Sparsely populated North Dakota was ...
Obama, America face tough test Pacific Daily News, GU - 7 hours ago A. Gaffar Peang-Meth, Ph.D., is retired from the University of Guam, where he taught political science for 13 years. Write him at peangmeth@yahoo.com.
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