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Third FSM Constitutional Convention, Day 9

POHNPEI, Palikir (FSM Information Service): November 20, 2001 - Today, November 20, 2001, the ninth day of the Convention, six proposals were introduced and assigned to different Committees for action. D.P. No. 01-28, to amend Section I of Article VI of the Constitution to provide that a citizen 18 years of age may vote in national elections, irrespective of where he may be residing at the time of election; D.P. No. 01-29, to establish the Office of Independent Prosecutor; D.P. No. 01-30, to amend Section 2(b), Article VII of the Constitution to provide that every public project appropriation by the Congress for the States and entities thereof shall be based on official development priorities; D.P. No. 01-31, to amend Section 20, Article IX of the Constitution to provide that a simple majority vote of all Members is required for a bill to pass First Reading and a two-thirds vote of all Members for Final Reading; D.P. No. 01-32, to change Article X. Section I of the Constitution to allow direct election of the President and Vice President, on one ticket, by the voters of the FSM, on an average highest percentage basis from each State, with the President and Vice President coming from different States, and rotating the Presidency each term so that each State is, in turn, represented in the Presidency; and D.P. 01-33, to change the language of Article XIII, Section 4 of the Constitution, to read, "Acquisition of title to State land or waters in Micronesia by a non-citizen, or a corporation not wholly owned by citizens, shall be in the discretion of each individual State." The first four proposals were introduced by the Chuuk State Delegation, while the last two were introduced by the Kosrae State Delegation.

Under "Announcements", Convention President John Haglelgam announced the scheduling of a National Leadership Conference at the Central Facilities Building, November 26-27, indicating that delegates are encouraged to attend, and for Committees to consider the Leadership Conference in their scheduling of hearings, and to take advantage of the time that the leaders will be here in Pohnpei for information and comments on the proposals. The Convention was called to recess at 11:36 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.