1985 Northern Mariana Islands constitutional referendum

A 44-part constitutional referendum was held in the Northern Mariana Islands on 3 November 1985.

Background

In 1983 a referendum on electing a Constitutional Convention was held and approved by voters. The subsequent Convention proposed 44 amendments to the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Constitution, which were to be voted on individually. In order to pass, an amendment was required to be supported by both a majority of voters overall and at least two-thirds of voters in two of the three Senate constituencies.

Results

Question	For		Against		Invalid/ blank	Total	Registered voters	Turnout	Senate seats		Outcome
	Votes	%	Votes	%					For	Against
Chapter I, article 9: Clean and Healthful Environment							7,610				Accepted
Chapter I, article 11: Victims of Crime											Accepted
Chapter 1, article 12: Abortion											Accepted
Chapter II, articles 2d, 3d: Election candidates											Accepted
Chapter II, article 5d: Legislation on nonaliens											Accepted
Chapter II, article 7: Governor's veto											Accepted
Chapter II, articles 11, 14a: Legislature members											Accepted
Chapter II, article 13: Legislature sessions											Accepted
Chapter II, article 166: Budget ceiling											Accepted
Chapter II, article 17: Legislative Bureau											Accepted
Chapter II, article 2: Qualifications of the Governor											Accepted
Chapter III, article 4: Election of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor											Accepted
Chapter III, article 7: Succession of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor											Accepted
Chapter III, article 9: Executive functions											Accepted
Chapter III, article 10: Emergency powers											Accepted
Chapter III, article 11: Attorney General											Accepted
Chapter III, article 12: Public Auditor											Accepted
Chapter III, article 18g: Salary of the Executive Assistant for Carolinian Affairs											Accepted
Chapter III, article 20: Retirement system											Accepted
Chapter III, article 21: Boards and Commissions											Accepted
Chapter III, article 22: Special Assistant for Women's Affairs											Accepted
Chapter III, article 23: Resident Executive For Indigenous Affairs											Accepted
Chapter IV, articles 2–4: Courts and judges											Accepted
Chapter V: Resident Representative to the United States											Accepted
Chapter VI: Local government											Accepted
Chapter VIII, article 1: General election dates											Accepted
Chapter VIII, article 5: Resignation from public office											Accepted
Chapter X, article 1: Public purpose											Accepted
Chapter X, article 5: Real property taxes											Accepted
Chapter X, articles 6–7											Accepted
CHapter X, articles 8–9											Accepted
Chapter XI, articles 4–5: Marianas Public Land Corporation											Accepted
Chapter XI, article 6											Accepted
Chapter XII, article 2: Acquisition											Accepted
Chapter XII, article 3: Interests in Real Property											Accepted
Chapter XII, articles 5–6											Accepted
Chapter XIII, article 2: Uninhabited Islands											Accepted
Chapter XIV											Accepted
CHapter XVIII, sections 2a, 5a											Accepted
Chapter XIX, article 1: Code of ethics											Accepted
Chapter XXX, article 1: Civil service											Accepted
Chapter XXI, article 1: Gambling											Accepted
Chapter XXII: State symbols											Accepted
Transitional provision 8: Nationality											Quashed by court ruling
Source: Direct Democracy