 Third FSM Constitutional Convention, Day 10POHNPEI, Palikir (FSM Information Service): November 21, 2001 - The 3rd FSM Constitutional Convention, in its first Resolution introduced today, expresses gratitude and appreciation to the President of the FSM, H.E. Leo A. Falcam, the Vice President, T.H. Redley Killion, the Speaker of the Congress T.H. Jack Fritz and the other Members of the Twelfth Congress, for making some of their staff, offices, and equipment available for use by the Convention. The resolution, Delegate Resolution (D.R.) No. 01-01 was introduced by Chuuk Delegate Wesley Simina, the Chairman of the Committee on Style and Arrangements. Nine proposals were introduced today, and assigned to the various Committees for action. D.P. No. 01-34, to amend Article III, Section 3, to allow dual citizenship for FSM citizens; D.P. No. 01-35 to amend Article IX, Section 20, of the Constitution regarding passage of bills in the Congress to require simple majority of members present for First Reading, and 2/3 of all members present for Second and Final Reading; D.P. No. 01-36, to amend Article III, Section 6, of the Constitution, to enable States to create their own residency requirements and to take effect retroactively; D.P. No. 01-37, to amend Section 3 of Article IX of the Constitution to place conditions on Congressional appropriations to finance programs and projects in the FSM States; D.P. No. 01-38, to amend Article XII, Section 1(b) relating to foreign financial assistance; D.P. No. 01-39, to amend Section 9 of Article IV of the Constitution regarding prohibition of capital punishment; D.P. No. 01-40, to add a new section to Article XIII of the Constitution regarding former Presidents, Vice Presidents and Supreme Court Justices; D.P. No. 01-41, to amend Section 3 of Article IX of the Constitution by resetting the language to be read as, "A citizen of the FSM by birth and a resident of the FSM for not less than fifteen years is eligible to become President and shall be elected by popular votes of the citizens of the four FSM states."; and D.P. No. 01-42, to amend Section 1 of Article X, by deleting in its entirety the second sentence, and inserting the following: "The President and the Vice President shall be elected by popular vote of the People of the Federated States of Micronesia." He may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms. National Election Day shall be observed as a legal holiday throughout the nation. D.P. No. 01-37 to D.P. No. 40 were introduced by the Chuuk State Delegation, while the others were introduced by the Pohnpei State Delegation. As for public hearings, the Committee on Civil Liberties and Traditions met today with officials of the FSM Departments of Justice and Foreign Affairs and other interested citizens, and discussed D.P. No. 01-7 regarding dual citizenship. The Committee on Government Structure and Functions is scheduled to hold public hearings on Tuesday, November 27, 2001, at 3:00 p.m. in the Central Facilities Building. The hearings will be on D.P. No. 01-4, to provide direct election of the President and Vice President; D.P. No. 01-9, to provide for the direct election of the President and Vice President, on the same ticket; and D.P. No. 01-15, to change from a unicameral to a bicameral Congress. The President, or his designee, Speaker or his designee and Members of the Congress, Governors of the States, Mayors or Chief Magistrates of the municipalities and all interested members of the public are invited to comment. Written comments should be submitted no later than the time and date of the hearings, addressed to the Committee on Government Structure and Functions, The 3rd FSM Constitutional Convention, P.O. Box. PS 140, Palikir, Pohnpei FM 96941, Fax No. (691)320-5529. The session recessed at 11:20 this morning and will reconvene tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. |