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Section 13. Veto by the High Commissioner. Every bill passed by the Congress shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the High Commissioner. If the High Commissioner approves the bill, he shall sign it. If the High Commissioner disapproves the bill, he shall, except as hereinafter provided, return it, with his objections, to the Congress within ten consecutive calendar days after it shall have been presented to him. If the High Commissioner does not return the bill within such period, it shall be a law in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by adjournment prevents its return, in which case it shall be a law if signed by the High Commissioner within thirty days after it shall have been presented to him; otherwise it shall not be a law.

When a bill is returned by the High Commissioner to the Congress with his objections, each House may proceed to reconsider it. If the bill is repassed by both Houses of the Congress by a two-third's majority of the entire membership of each House, it shall again be presented to the High Commissioner. If he does not approve it within 20 days, he shall send it together with his comment thereon to the Secretary of the Interior. Within 90 days after its receipt by him, the Secretary of the Interior shall either approve or disapprove the bill. If he approves it, it shall become a law; otherwise it shall not. The foregoing provision shall not preclude the reconsideration by the Congress during either of the 1969 regular Sessions of any bill returned by the High Commissioner during the 1968 Session.

If any bill presented to the High Commissioner shall contain several items of appropriation of money, he may object to one or more of such items, or any part or parts thereof, while approving the other items or parts of the bill. In such case he shall append to the bill, at the time of signing it, a statement of the item or items, part or parts thereof, to which he objects, and the item or items, part or parts thereof, so objected to shall have the effect of being vetoed.

Section 14. Adjournment. Neither House may adjourn for more than two consecutive days nor may either House adjourn sine die without the concurrence of the other House.

Section 15. Publication of Laws. The High Commissioner shall cause the resolutions and laws to be published within 30 days after they become law, and shall make provision for their distribution to public officials and sale to the public.

Section 16. Procedure.

(a) Quorum. A majority of the members of each House shall constitute a quorum of such House for the transaction of business. A smaller number may adjourn from day to day and may compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as each House may provide.

(b) Reading of Bills-Passage. A bill in order to become a law shall pass two readings in each House, on separate days, the final passage of which in each House shall be by a majority vote of all the members of such House, which vote shall be entered upon the journal.

(c) Title. Every legislative act shall embrace but one subject and matters properly connected therewith, which subject shall be expressed in the title; but if any subject shall be embraced in an act which shall not be expressed in the title, such an act shall be void only as to so much thereof as shall not be embraced in the title.

(d) Certification of Bills from One House to the Other. Every bill when passed by the House in which it originated, or in which amendments thereto shall have originated, shall immediately be certified by the presiding officer and sent to the other House for consideration.

(e) Amendment and Revisions by Reference. No law shall be amended or revised by reference to its title only; but in such case the act, as revised, or section or subsection as amended, shall be re-enacted and published at full length. (f) Language. All legislative proceedings shall be conducted in the English language: Provided, That knowledge of the English language shall not be a qualification for membership in the Congress. Nothing herein shall limit the right of a member to use his native language if he lacks fluency in English, and the Congress shall provide for interpretation into English in such cases.

(g) Journal. Each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and publish the same in English.

(h) Public Sessions. The business of the Congress, and of the Committee of the Whole, shall be transacted openly and not in secret session.

(i) Procedural Authority. The Congress shall be the sole judge of the elections and qualifications of its members, shall have and exercise all the authority and attributes inherent in legislative assemblies, and shall have the power to institute and conduct investigations, issue subpoenas to witnesses and other parties concerned, and administer oaths.

Section 17. Immunity. No member of the Congress of Micronesia shall be held to answer before any tribunal other than the Congress for any speech or debate in the Congress, and the members shall in all cases, except treason, felony, or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the sessions of the Congress and in going to and from the same.

Section 18. Compensation and Expenses. Each member of the Congress shall be entitled to receive an annual salary of $3,500, and the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each be entitled to receive an additional $500, all of which amounts shall be payable from funds appropriated by the Congress of the United States, when such funds are appropriated pursuant to estimates submitted by the Secretary of the Interior. Each member shall also be entitled to receive, from funds available to and appropriated by the Congress of Micronesia, travel expenses, an expense allowance, and per diem at the standard Trust Territory Government rates for each day the member is in a travel status to and from sessions of the Congress, while in session, or while on other official legislative business. Per diem shall not be payable to members of the Congress for a regular or a special session when such session is held on the island of their residence. The term "official legislative business" shall mean only legislative business authorized by the Chairman of the pertinent Committee of the Congress of Micronesia and performed by one or more members of that Committee, as designated by the Chairman. Travel shall be performed by the most expeditious and direct means: Provided, That compensation, travel, expense allowances, and per diem shall not be allowed in excess of such amounts as may be budgeted therefor.

Section 19. Compensation and Expenses, Interim Provision. Effective for the period beginning January 1, 1969, and ending June 30, 1969, members and officers of the Congress of Micronesia shall be entitled to compensation, travel expenses, an expense allowance, and per diem at the rates prescribed in Section 18 of this order, but all such compensation, travel, expense allowances, and per diem shall be paid from funds available to and appropriated by the Congress of Micronesia.

Section 20. Appointment to new Offices. No member of the Congress shall, during the term for which he was elected or during the year following the expiration of the term for which he was elected, be appointed to any office which was created by the Congress during such term.

Section 21. Vacancies. Whenever, prior to six months before the date of the next general election, a vacancy occurs, the High Commissioner shall call a special election to fill such vacancy. In case of a vacancy occurring within six months of the next general election, no special election shall be held and the District Administrator of the District wherein such vacancy arises may fill such vacancy by appointment.

Section 22. Conversion into a Unicameral Body. At its July 1969 regular session, the Congress shall convene in joint session to consider whether the bicameral legislature should be continued, or whether the legislature should be converted into a unicameral body. The final recommendation to the High Commissioner shall be adopted by a majority vote, and the recommendation shall be submitted to the High Commissioner and by him to the Secretary of the Interior.

Section 23. Legislative Counsel. The Congress of Micronesia may by joint resolution nominate a legislative counsel of its own choosing. The salary and other benefits available to such legislative counsel shall be established and paid by the Congress of Micronesia. The Congress of Micronesia may make budgetary provision for such supporting staff for the legislative counsel and the legislature as it may deem necessary.

Section 24. Amendment. This Part may be amended only by further order of the Secretary of the Interior. The Congress may, during any regular session, by a two-thirds majority vote of the membership of each House recommend to the High Commissioner the amendment of any Section of this Part. The High Commissioner shall transmit such recommendation, together with his own recommendations thereon, to the Secretary of the Interior.

Part IV. Judicial Authority.

The judicial authority of the Government of the Trust Territory shall be vested in a High Court for the Trust Territory and such other courts as may be established pursuant to law. The Secretary shall appoint the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the High Court, may make temporary appointments when a vacancy exists, and in addition may appoint temporary judges to serve on the High Court. The judicial authority shall be independent of the executive and legislative powers. Budgetary requests for the territorial judiciary, with supporting justification, shall be drawn up by the Chief Justice of the Trust Territory and submitted for the approval of the Department of the Interior by the High Commissioner of the Trust Territory as a separate item in the annual budget for the Trust Territory. The High Commissioner should call the attention of the Secretary to any question which he may have regarding the budget for the judiciary.

Part V. General.

Prior Orders. Department of the Interior Order No. 2876 of January 30, 1964, as amended, and Department of the Interior Order No. 2882 of September 28, 1964, as amended, are hereby superseded. Except for Order No. 2902 dated November 15, 1967, as amended, provisions of other prior orders of the Department of the Interior, insofar as they are inconsistent with the provisions of this order, are hereby superseded. Existing laws, regulations, orders, appointments, or other acts in effect immediately prior to the effective date of this order shall remain in effect until they are superseded pursuant to the provisions of this order.

DECEMBER 27, 1968.

Prepared for publication in the Federal Register.

STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary of the Interior.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY,
Washington, D.C., August 13, 1970.

Order No. 2918, Amendment No. 1

Subject: Government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

Whereas, on December 27, 1968 the Secretary of the Interior promulgated Secretarial Order No. 2918 relating to the Government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; and

Whereas, the said Order No. 2918 in Section 4 of Part III limited the appropriation of funds by the Congress of Micronesia to those amounts available from revenues raised pursuant to the tax laws and other revenue laws in the Trust Territory; and

Whereas, Section 11 of Part III provided that regular sessions of the Congress of Micronesia were to be held in July of each year and January of alternate years; and

Whereas, Section 13 of Part III establishes the procedure for approval and disapproval of laws passed by the Congress of Micronesia; and

Whereas, Section 16 (e) of Part III relates to amendment and revision of legislation by reference; and

Whereas. Section 18 of Part III provides for the salary and expenses of members of the Congress of Micronesia; and

Whereas, certain revisions in Sections 1 and 3 of Part III are also desirable to clarify the organization of the Congress of Micronesia and the submission of legislation to the Congress of Micronesia by the High Commissioner prior to a legislative session, now therefore, Secretarial Order No. 2918 is amended in the following particulars, the amendments to be effective as of the date of this Amendment except as otherwise provided:

1. The second paragraph of Section 1 of Part III of the said Order No. 2918 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"When a Congress convenes, each House shall organize by the election of one of its number as presiding officer and such presiding officer shall be desig

nated by the title of 'President of the Senate' or 'Speaker of the House of Representatives,' as the case may be. When the Congress meets in joint session, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall preside.

2. Section 3 of Part III of the said Order No. 2918 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Section 3. Powers of the High Commissioner. The High Commissioner may submit to the Congress prior to and during any legislative session legislation for its consideration."

3. Section 4 of Part III of the said Order No. 2918 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Section 4. Budget. Money bills enacted by the Congress of Micronesia shall not provide for the appropriation of funds in excess of such amounts as are available or estimated to be available from revenues raised pursuant to the tax laws and other revenue laws of the Trust Territory: Provided, that the Secretary of the Interior shall, from time to time, define the term 'revenue' as used herein, so as generally to exclude therefrom all sums attributable to user charge or service related reimbursements to the Government of the Trust Territory."

"Prior to his final submission to the Secretary of the Interior of requests for Federal funds necessary for the support of governmental functions in the Trust Territory, the High Commissioner shall prepare a preliminary budget plan. He shall submit such plan to the Congress of Micronesia or the appropriate authorized committee or committees thereof for its review and recommendations with respect to such portions as relate to expenditures of funds proposed to be appropriated by the Congress of the United States. With respect to such portions of the preliminary budget plan, the High Commissioner shall adopt such recommendations of the Congress or the appropriate authorized committee or committees thereof as he shall deem appropriate, but he shall transmit to the Secretary of the Interior all recommendations he has not adopted."

"For Fiscal Years 1971 and 1972, the Congress of Micronesia is authorized $125,000 from Federal grants appropriated to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands by the Congress of the United States, for operation and expenses of the Congress of Micronesia. For succeeding fiscal years, the Congress of Micronesia may request continuing or additional funds for its operations and expenses. Such requests shall be incorporated in the High Commissioner's preliminary budget plan for processing as set forth in this section."

4. The first paragraph of Section 11 of Part III of the said Order No. 2918 is hereby amended to read as follows, such amendment to become effective January 1, 1971:

"Section 11. Sessions. There shall be a regular session of the Congress held in each year beginning on the second Monday in January and continuing for not to exceed 50 consecutive calendar days."

5. Section 13 of Part III of the said Order No. 2918 is hereby amended to read as follows, such amendment to become effective January 1, 1971:

"Section 13. Approval or Disapproval by the High Commissioner. Every bill passed by the Congress shall be certified by the presiding officers and clerks of both Houses and shall thereupon be presented to the High Commissioner. If he approves, he shall sign the bill and it shall become law. If the High Commissioner disapproves, he shall so indicate and return it with his objections to the Congress within ten consecutive calendar days after it shall have been presented to him. If the High Commissioner takes no action and does not return the bill within such period, it shall be a law in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by adjournment prevents its return.

The High Commissioner shall have thirty days to consider bills presented to him less than ten days before adjournment or presented after adjournment. If he approves, he shall sign the bill and it shall become law. If the High Commissioner disapproves, he shall so indicate and return it with his objections to the Congress within thirty consecutive calendar days after it shall have been presented to him. If the High Commissioner takes no action and does not return the bill within such period, it shall be a law in like manner as if he had signed it.

When a bill is disapproved and returned by the High Commissioner to the Congress with his objections, each House may proceed to reconsider it. If such a bill is repassed by both Houses of the Congress by a two-thirds majority of

the entire membership of each House (one reading being required in each House for such passage), it shall be presented again to the High Commissioner. If he does not approve it within twenty days after presentation, he shall send it together with his comments thereon to the Secretary of the Interior. Within sixty days after its receipt by him, the Secretary of the Interior shall either approve or disapprove the bill. If he approves it, it shall become a law; otherwise, it shall not.

If any bill presented to the High Commissioner shall contain several items of appropriation of money, he may object to one or more such items, or any part or parts thereof, while approving the other items or parts of the bill. In such case he shall append to the bill, at the time of signing, a statement of the item or items, part or parts thereof, so objected to, and the item or items, part or parts thereof so objected to shall have the effect of being vetoes."

6. Section 16 of Part III of the said Order No. 2918 is hereby amended to read as follows, such amendment to become effective January 1, 1971:

"Section 16 (e) Amendment and Revision by Reference Prohibited. No law or section of the law shall be amended or revised by reference to its title only but in every instance such amendment or revision of the law or section thereof shall be published at full length and in its entirety as amended or revised and shall be re-enacted."

7. Section 18 of Part III of the said Order No. 2918 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Section 18. Compensation and Expenses. The members of the Congress of Micronesia shall receive compensation for their services expenses as may be prescribed by law. Such compensation and expenses shall be from funds available to and appropriated by the Congress of Micronesia. The Congress may at no time increase the salaries of the incumbents during the current Congress. If the Congress of Micronesia should provide for an increase in the annual compensation paid to members for their services, such increase will apply to succeeding Congresses only. Per diem, if paid to the members of Congress, shall be in compliance with the standard Trust Territory rates. Compensation, expenses, per diem, etc., shall not be allowed in excess of such amounts as may be budgeted therefor."

8. Section 21 of Part III of the said Order No. 2918 is hereby amended to read as follows, said amendment to become effective January 1, 1971:

"Section 21. Vacancies.

(a). Whenever a vacancy in the membership of the House of Representatives occurs, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall notify the High Commissioner and the High Commissioner shall then call a special election to fill such vacancy: Provided, that no special election shall be held if such vacancy occurs less than ninety days prior to the next succeeding general election.

(b). Whenever a vacancy in the membership of the Senate occurs, the President of the Senate shall notify the High Commissioner. If a vacancy occurs sixty days or more prior to the next succeeding general election, the High Commissioner shall make temporary appointment to fill such vacancy. The Appointee shall be from the same administrative district as the person whom he succeeds and shall serve until the next succeeding general election at which time he shall be replaced by a regularly elected Senator who, unless the term of the person he succeeds shall have expired at the time of such election, shall serve only for the unexpired term of such person. In the event the election is for an unexpired term only, the High Commissioner shall issue a proclamation designating the election for the filling of such unexpired term."

9. Sections 19, 22, and 23 of Part III of the said Order No. 2918 are hereby repealed in their entirety.

WALTER J. HICKEL, Secretary of the Interior.

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