Congress of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands


The Congress of Micronesia was a bicameral legislature in Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands from 1964 to 1979.

History

The Congress was established on 28 September 1964, when the US Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall issued order no. 2882. It replaced the previous Council of Micronesia, which had been based outside the Trust Territory in Guam. The first elections were held in January 1965.
The Congress was initially composed of a House of Delegates and General Assembly, which were later renamed the Senate and House of Representatives. The Congress building was burnt down in an arson attack on 20 February 1970.

Composition

The Senate had 12 members, two from each of the six districts. The House of Representatives had 21 members, with seats apportioned to each district based on their population – five from Truk, four from the Marshall Islands and Ponape, three from the Mariana Islands and Palau and two from Yap.
Elections were held every two years. Senators served four-year terms, with one Senator elected from each district at each election. All members of the House of Representatives were elected at each election.

Presidents of the upper chamber

The upper chamber of Congress of Micronesia was called House of Delegates, and later Senate.
NameTook officeLeft officeDistrictNotes
John O. NgirakedJuly 1965July 1965Palau
Tosiwo NakayamaJuly 19651967Truk
John O. Ngiraked19671969Palau
Amata Kabua1969Jan 1973Marshall Islands
Tosiwo NakayamaJan 1973May 1979Truk

Speakers of the lower chamber

The lower chamber of Congress of Micronesia was called House of Representatives.
NameTook officeLeft officeDistrictNotes
Dwight HeineJuly 19651966Marshall Islands
Bethwel Henry1966May 1979Ponape

Elections