Micronesia · Constitution
Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia
Effective 10 May 1979. Article IV contains a Bill of Rights closely modelled on the US Constitution, and Article XI vests judicial power in a Supreme Court with both trial and appellate divisions. Article V expressly protects traditional rights: nothing in the Constitution takes away a role or function of a traditional leader recognised by custom, and the states may confer legal status on traditional leaders. Article XII restricts land ownership to citizens — non-citizens cannot acquire freehold anywhere in the federation.
The constitutional text
Effective 10 May 1979. Article IV contains a Bill of Rights closely modelled on the US Constitution, and Article XI vests judicial power in a Supreme Court with both trial and appellate divisions. Article V expressly protects traditional rights: nothing in the Constitution takes away a role or function of a traditional leader recognised by custom, and the states may confer legal status on traditional leaders. Article XII restricts land ownership to citizens — non-citizens cannot acquire freehold anywhere in the federation.
Separation of powers
Genuine federalism. The national government holds foreign affairs, defence, immigration, currency and interstate commerce; everything else, including land tenure, is state or local. Each state has its own constitution and supreme court, and Yap's constitution creates Councils of Pilung and Tamol — traditional leaders' councils with power to disapprove state legislation affecting tradition and custom.
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