Mikronesischer Staatenbund, 27. August 2002 : Direkte Wahl von Präsident und Vizepräsident

To amend Article X, sections 1, 4, 5 and 6 of the Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia,
to provide for direct election of the President and Vice President.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION:

Section 1.  Section 1 of Article X of the Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia
shall hereby be amended to read as follows:
"Section 1. The executive power of the National Government is vested in the President of
the Federated States of Micronesia.
            (a)   The President and Vice President shall be elected in a direct election by the voters,
as provided by statute. Candidates for President and Vice President shall run for their
respective offices and be elected on one ticket.
            (b)   A ticket shall receive not less than a plurality of forty percent (40%) of all the votes
cast in the election.  If no ticket receives the required plurality, there shall be a run-off election
between the two (2) tickets receiving the highest number of votes cast.  The ticket which
receives the highest number of votes cast in the run-off election shall be elected President
and Vice President.
            (c)   The term of the President and Vice President is four (4) years, unless earlier
terminated.  No person shall serve more than one term in succession as President.
            (d)   The Office of the President shall be rotated among the states until a President
has served a term from each of the states.  Thereafter, candidates from all states will be
eligible as the rotation begins anew.
            (e)   For purposes of this Article, 'term' means a period of service in Office of not
less than two (2) years. A person who becomes President and serves for less than two (2)
years shall be deemed not to have served a full term."

Section 2.  Section 4 of Article X of the Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia
shall hereby be amended to read as follows:
"Section 4. To become President or Vice President, a person shall be thirty (30) years
of age or older on the day of the election, a citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia
by birth, a resident of the Federated States of Micronesia for fifteen (15) years or more,
and shall not have been convicted of a felony."

Section 3.  Section 5 of Article X of the Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia
shall hereby be amended to read as follows:
"Section 5. The President and Vice President may not be legal residents of the same state."

Section 4.  Section 6 of Article X of the Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia
shall hereby be amended to read as follows:
"Section 6. 
            (a)   If the Office of the President becomes vacant before the President has served
two (2) years in Office, there shall be a special election to fill the vacancy, and the provisions
of section 1 of this Article shall apply.
            (b)   If the Office of the President becomes vacant after the President has served
two (2) or more years in Office, the Vice-President becomes President.
            (c)   If the Office of Vice President becomes vacant, the President shall nominate
a candidate who shall be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all members of the Congress.
            (d)   The Congress shall provide by statute for the succession in the event both offices
are vacant, or both officers are unable to discharge their duties.  Such succession shall
extend only until a President or Vice President chosen pursuant to this section takes office."

ADOPTED: December 22, 2001