Section 1. A citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia who is a domiciliary of the State, has attained the age of eighteen, and is registered to vote in the State is entitled to vote in secret in all State Government elections, subject only to a residence requirement and disqualification for mental incompetence and conviction of a crime which shall be prescribed by law.
ARTICLE IV
The Legislature
Section 1. The legislative power of the State is vested in the Legislature and extends to all rightful subjects of legislation not inconsistent with this Constitution.
Section 2. The Legislature is composed of fourteen Senators who are elected by the qualified voters of the electoral districts of Lelu, Malem, Tafunsak, and Utwe.
Section 3. Until reapportionment, Senators are apportioned as follows: Lelu elects five Senators; Malem elects three Senators; Tafunsak elects four Senators; and Utwe elects two Senators.
Reapportionment of the Legislature shall be made on the basis of population every ten years.
Section 4. Senators are elected at a general election. The term of office is four years, beginning at noon on the second Tuesday of January following the general election, and ending at noon on the second Tuesday of January following the next general election, except that a Senator may not hold the same office for more than three consecutive terms and is ineligible to hold the same office until at least four years have passed since his last day in office.
(Amended by 1995 Con. Con.)
Section 5. Any vacancy in the Legislature is filled for the unexpired term by special election, except that an unexpired term of less than one year is filled by appointment by the Governor of a resident of the electoral district in which the vacancy exists.
Section 6. No person is eligible to serve as a Senator unless he has been, at the time of election or appointment, a citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia for not less than ten years, a resident of the State for not less than five consecutive years immediately preceding the election, and a resident of his electoral district for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding the election or appointment, and is able to read and write, and is not less than twenty-five years of age on the day of election. A person convicted of a felony is not eligible to serve as a Senator unless the person so convicted has received a pardon restoring his civil rights at least five years prior to election or appointment.
(Amended by 1995 Con. Con. Effective upon the first general election after ratification.)
