Nördliche Marianen, 7. November 2009 : Zwang zu ausgeglichenem Voranschlag

Obligatorisches Verfassungsreferendum nach Kap. XVIII, Art. 2 und 5 der Verfassung: 75%-Mehrheit in beiden Kammern und Mehrheit der gültigen Stimmen.

Es gibt sehr viele leeren Stimmen, weil sich die Fragen auf der Rückseite des Wahl- und Stimmzettels befinden, die viele Stimmende nicht beachten.

House Legislative Initiative 16-11

Vom Abgeordnetenhaus am 10. Juli 2008 und vom Senat am 31. Juli 2008 gebilligt.

Kap. III Abs. 9(a):
...
If a balanced budget is not approved before the first day of the fiscal year, appropriations for government operations and obligations shall be at the level for the previous fiscal year no money shall be drawn from the General Fund, provided that certain government services and employees shall remain available as provided by law in order to deliver services essential to the health, safety, and welfare of the people of the Commonwealth and to protect against damage to and destruction of property; provided further, that if the governor does not submit a detailed and balanced budget to the legislature by April 1st, the governor’s salary shall be suspended until such time that a detailed and balanced budget is submitted to the legislature, and if the legislature does not pass a balanced budget by October 1st, the legislators’ salaries shall be suspended until such time that a balanced budget is passed by the legislature.

Abstimmungsfrage:
"Do you approve of House Legislative Initiative 16-11 to amend Article III, Section 9(a) of the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands to prohibit the withdrawal of any funds from the General Fund except by appropriations made by law Article XV, Section 2(a) of the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands?
Yes or No"