: eatae : “a : oe ge .. ’ . . oe tps « & y i. US a) * Foal . ‘ soe “ * 5 : ‘iad Re ot we Leaky tee i ae et cons Eke litestee Maks. The Trust Territory Administration is seeking to promote and establish effective legislative, executive, and judicial institutions of territorial and local government, to encourage a con- cept of a unified Micronesia, to de- velop Micronesian participation in government policy-making and planning, and to broaden information and political education programs. The development of political competence and understanding has progressed at an accelerating pace through the deliberation and legislative actions of the 3-year-old Congress of Micronesia. Chapter 1 GENERAL POLITICAL STRUCTURE Judicial authority is independent of the other two branches of Government and is vested in the High Court of the Territory and such other courts as may be established by law. The Chief Justice and two Associate Justices of the High Court are appointed by the Secretary of the Interior. The authority and responsibilities of territorial, district, and municipal governments are delineated by Public Law 1-6, enacted by the Congress of Micronesia in 1965. Recognition of Indigenous Institutions and Customs Local customs are recognized if they are not in conflict with the laws of the Territory, with the principles of the Trusteeship Agreement, or with applicable laws of the United States, including executive orders of the President and the Secretary of the Interior. Executive and administrative authority of the Government of the Territory and responsibility for carrying out the international obligations undertaken by the United States with respect to the Territory are vested in a High Commissioner, formerly appointed by the Secretary of the Interior but in the future to be appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. diene Chapter 2 Legislative authority rests with the bicameral Congress of Micronesia as specified by the Secretary of the Interior’s Order 2882, as amended. rial Government has prime responsibility for problems of a Territory-wide TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT Under Public Law [-6, the Territo- nature: Fiscal Year 1968 17 me ae re ee 27