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HR 5135 108th Congress House

Northern Mariana Islands Delegate Act

Official title: To provide for a nonvoting delegate to the House of Representatives to represent the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for other purposes.

Introduced: September 23, 2004 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics CongressCongressional delegationsCongressional electionsCongressional privileges and immunities
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Federal-territorial relationsHouse of RepresentativesMembers of CongressNorthern Mariana IslandsPolitical representationPrimaries
This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 7, 2004
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 473.
Oct 7, 2004
Reported by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 108-761.
Sep 29, 2004
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Sep 23, 2004
Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
Sep 23, 2004
Introduced in House
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 Latest action October 7, 2004

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 473.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Northern Mariana Islands Delegate Act - (Sec. 2) Declares that the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall be represented in Congress by the Resident Representative to the United States (a nonvoting Delegate to the House of Representatives) authorized under the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America.

(Sec. 3) Requires the Delegate to be elected: (1) by the people qualified to vote for the popularly elected officials of the Commonwealth; (2) at the Federal general election of 2006 and at such election every second year thereafter; and (3) at large and by a plurality of the votes cast for the office.

States that, if the Government of the Commonwealth provides for primary elections, the Delegate shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast in any general election for the office for which such primary elections were held.

Provides that, in the case of a permanent vacancy in the office, it shall remain vacant until a successor is elected and qualified.

Declares that the term of the Delegate shall commence on the third day of January following the date of the election.

(Sec. 4) Specifies the qualifications of the office.

(Sec. 5) Authorizes the Government to determine: (1) the order of names on the ballot; (2) the method of conducting a special election to fill a permanent vacancy in the office; (3) the method for resolving ties between candidates; and (4) all other matters of local application pertaining to the election and the office not otherwise expressly provided for in this Act.

(Sec. 6) Provides that, until the Rules of the House are amended to provide otherwise, the Delegate shall: (1) receive the same compensation, allowances, and benefits as a Member of the House; and (2) be entitled to whatever privileges and immunities are, or hereinafter may be, granted to any other nonvoting Delegate.

 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5135: Northern Mariana Islands Delegate Act. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-5135/
MLA
"H.R. 5135: Northern Mariana Islands Delegate Act." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-5135/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5135, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-5135/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5135: Northern Mariana Islands Delegate Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-5135/)
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