1974 Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands on 5 November 1974.[1] Carmen Bigler became the first female member of Congress after being elected to House of Representatives from the Fifth District of the Marshall Islands.[1]
Electoral system[edit]
The bicameral Congress consisted of a 12-member Senate with two members from each of the six districts and a 21-member House of Representatives 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.[2]
Elections were held every two years in November of even-numbered years, with all members of the House of Representatives and half the Senate (one member from each district) renewed at each election.
Results[edit]
Twelve incumbent members of Congress were defeated, including Marianas Senator Edward Pangelinan, Truk Senator Andon Amaraich, Marianas representative Felipe Atalig and Marshallese representative John Heine, who was unseated by Bigler.[3]
Senate[edit]
| District | Elected Member | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marianas | Pedro Agulto Tenorio | |
| Marshalls | Amata Kabua | Re-elected |
| Palau | Roman Tmetuchl | Re-elected |
| Ponape | Ambilos Iehsi | Re-elected |
| Truk | Nick Bossy | |
| Yap | Petrus Tun | Re-elected |
| Source: Highlights, Highlights | ||
House of Representatives[edit]
| District | Constituency | Elected Member | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marianas | 1st District | Jose Mafnas | |
| 2nd District | Herman Guerrero | ||
| 3rd District | Oscar Rasa | ||
| Marshalls | 4th District | Charles Domnick | Re-elected |
| 5th District | Carmen Bigler | ||
| 6th District | Ekpap Silk | Re-elected | |
| 7th District | Ataji Balos | Re-elected | |
| Palau | 8th District | Kuniwo Nakamura | |
| 9th District | Polycarp Basilius | Re-elected | |
| 10th District | Isidoro Rudimch | ||
| Ponape | 11th District | Joab Sigrah | Re-elected |
| 12th District | Bethwel Henry | Re-elected | |
| 13th District | Resio Moses | Re-elected | |
| 14th District | Edgar Edwards | ||
| Truk | 15th District | Raymond Setik | Re-elected |
| 16th District | Sasauo Haruo | Re-elected | |
| 17th District | Chiro Albert | ||
| 18th District | Lambert Aafin | ||
| 19th District | Kalisto Refonopei | ||
| Yap | 20th District | Luke M. Tman | Re-elected |
| 21st District | John Haglelgam | ||
| Source: Highlights, Highlights | |||
Aftermath[edit]
Following the elections, Tosiwo Nakayama was re-elected President of the Senate, whilst Bethwel Henry was re-elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.[4]
The election of three members – Lambert Aafin, Chiro Albert and Edgar Edwards – was challenged, with claims of irregularities. The Credential Committee recommended overturning the election of Aafin, ordering a by-election and launching a criminal investigation into the officials involved in the case. However, in a secret ballot, members of Congress voted to allow Aafin to take his seat by a vote of 9–8.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ a b First Woman Wins Seat in Election Highlights, 15 November 1974, p1
- ^ Report to the United Nations on the Administration of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Transmitted by the United States of America United States Department of State, pp173–174
- ^ New faces in Micronesian Congress Pacific Islands Monthly, December 1974, p9
- ^ First Session of the Sixth Congress Convenes on Saipan Highlights, 15 January 1975
- ^ War claims grumble Pacific Islands Monthly, March 1975, p81
 Elections and referendums in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands | |
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| Parliamentary elections | |
| Constitutional Convention elections | |
| Referendums | |
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