Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

Third FSM Constitutional Convention, Day 10

POHNPEI, Palikir (FSM Information Service): November 21, 2001 –
The 3rd FSM Constitutional Convention, in its first
Resolution introduced today, expresses gratitude and appreciation to the
President of the FSM, H.E. Leo A. Falcam, the Vice President, T.H. Redley
Killion, the Speaker of the Congress T.H. Jack Fritz and the other Members
of the Twelfth Congress, for making some of their staff, offices, and
equipment available for use by the Convention. The resolution, Delegate
Resolution (D.R.) No. 01-01 was introduced by Chuuk Delegate Wesley Simina,
the Chairman of the Committee on Style and Arrangements.

Nine proposals were introduced today, and assigned to the various Committees
for action. D.P. No. 01-34, to amend Article III, Section 3, to allow dual
citizenship for FSM citizens; D.P. No. 01-35 to amend Article IX, Section
20, of the Constitution regarding passage of bills in the Congress to
require simple majority of members present for First Reading, and 2/3 of all
members present for Second and Final Reading; D.P. No. 01-36, to amend
Article III, Section 6, of the Constitution, to enable States to create
their own residency requirements and to take effect retroactively; D.P. No.
01-37, to amend Section 3 of Article IX of the Constitution to place
conditions on Congressional appropriations to finance programs and projects
in the FSM States; D.P. No. 01-38, to amend Article XII, Section 1(b)
relating to foreign financial assistance; D.P. No. 01-39, to amend Section 9
of Article IV of the Constitution regarding prohibition of capital
punishment; D.P. No. 01-40, to add a new section to Article XIII of the
Constitution regarding former Presidents, Vice Presidents and Supreme Court
Justices; D.P. No. 01-41, to amend Section 3 of Article IX of the
Constitution by resetting the language to be read as, “A citizen of the FSM
by birth and a resident of the FSM for not less than fifteen years is
eligible to become President and shall be elected by popular votes of the
citizens of the four FSM states.”; and D.P. No. 01-42, to amend Section 1 of
Article X, by deleting in its entirety the second sentence, and inserting
the following: “The President and the Vice President shall be elected by
popular vote of the People of the Federated States of Micronesia.” He may
not serve more than 2 consecutive terms. National Election Day shall be
observed as a legal holiday throughout the nation. D.P. No. 01-37 to D.P.
No. 40 were introduced by the Chuuk State Delegation, while the others were
introduced by the Pohnpei State Delegation.

As for public hearings, the Committee on Civil Liberties and Traditions met
today with officials of the FSM Departments of Justice and Foreign Affairs
and other interested citizens, and discussed D.P. No. 01-7 regarding dual
citizenship.

The Committee on Government Structure and Functions is scheduled to hold
public hearings on Tuesday, November 27, 2001, at 3:00 p.m. in the Central
Facilities Building. The hearings will be on D.P. No. 01-4, to provide
direct election of the President and Vice President; D.P. No. 01-9, to
provide for the direct election of the President and Vice President, on the
same ticket; and D.P. No. 01-15, to change from a unicameral to a bicameral
Congress. The President, or his designee, Speaker or his designee and
Members of the Congress, Governors of the States, Mayors or Chief
Magistrates of the municipalities and all interested members of the public
are invited to comment. Written comments should be submitted no later than
the time and date of the hearings, addressed to the Committee on Government
Structure and Functions, The 3rd FSM Constitutional Convention, P.O. Box.
PS 140, Palikir, Pohnpei FM 96941, Fax No. (691)320-5529.

The session recessed at 11:20 this morning and will reconvene tomorrow at
10:00 a.m.