Country Details
Micronesia
Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
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Government
Detailed information and insights
Country name
Conventional long form
Federated States of Micronesia
Conventional short form
none
Local long form
Federated States of Micronesia
Local short form
none
Former
New Philippines; Caroline Islands; Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts
Abbreviation
FSM
Etymology
the name is a 19th-century construct of two Greek words, mikros (small) and nesoi (islands), and refers to its thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean
Government type
federal republic in free association with the US
Capital
Name
Palikir
Geographic coordinates
6 55 N, 158 09 E
Time difference
UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Time zone note
Micronesia has two time zones
Administrative divisions
4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap
Legal system
mixed system of common and customary law
Constitution
History
drafted June 1975, ratified 1 October 1978, entered into force 10 May 1979
Amendment process
proposed by Congress, by a constitutional convention, or by public petition; passage requires approval by at least three-fourths majority vote in at least three fourths of the states
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth
no
Citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of FSM
Dual citizenship recognized
no
Residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
Chief of state
President Wesley W. SIMINA (since 12 May 2023)
Head of government
President Wesley W. SIMINA (since 12 May 2023)
Cabinet
Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the 8 executive departments
Election/appointment process
president and vice president indirectly elected by Congress from among the 4 'at large' senators for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term)
Most recent election date
12 May 2023
Expected date of next election
2027
Legislative branch
Legislature name
Congress
Legislative structure
unicameral
Number of seats
14 (all directly elected)
Electoral system
plurality/majority
Scope of elections
partial renewal
Term in office
2 years
Most recent election date
3/4/2025
Percentage of women in chamber
21.4%
Expected date of next election
March 2027
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)
Federated States of Micronesia Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and not more than 5 associate justices and organized into appellate and criminal divisions)
Judge selection and term of office
justices appointed by the FSM president with the approval of two-thirds of Congress; justices appointed for life
Subordinate courts
the highest state-level courts are: Chuuk Supreme Court; Korsae State Court; Pohnpei State Court; Yap State Court
Political parties
no formal parties
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission
Ambassador Jackson T. SORAM (since 27 February 2024)
Chancery
1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Telephone
[1] (202) 223-4383
FAX
[1] (202) 223-4391
Email address and website
dcmission@fsmembassy.fm
https://fsmembassy.fm/
Consulate(s) general
Honolulu, Portland (OR), Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission
Ambassador Jennifer L. JOHNSON (since 13 September 2023)
Embassy
1286 US Embassy Place, Kolonia, Pohnpei, FM 96941
Mailing address
4120 Kolonia Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-4120
Telephone
[691] 320-2187
FAX
[691] 320-2186
Email address and website
koloniaacs@state.gov
https://fm.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Independence
3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday
Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)
Flag
description: light blue with four five-pointed white stars centered and arranged in a diamond pattern
meaning: blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, and the stars for the four island groups of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap
meaning: blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, and the stars for the four island groups of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap
National symbol(s)
four five-pointed white stars on a light blue field, hibiscus flower
National color(s)
light blue, white
National anthem(s)
Title
"Patriots of Micronesia"
Lyrics/music
unknown
History
adopted 1991
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales
Nan Madol: Ceremonial Center of Eastern Micronesia