Under the agreement, the U.S. is committed to promote selfgovernment and to allow the local people to choose their own status arrangement such as territorial status, independence, or an arrangement like free association. U.S. policy objectives in the administration of Micronesia are quite similar to those for the U.S. territories, especially -for social and economic development. Micronesian residents face many of the same development constraints as their flag territory ; me neighbors. Fon example, as discussed in chapter 5 the financial dependency on the United States and indigenous and federal con- straints to development in Guam, American Samoa, and the NMI are also present in Micronesia. In recent years, the federal government has directed its efforts at strengthening the local economies and correcting deficiencies in financial management, health-care, and educational systems. Advances in political development lead to status negotiations Like the U.S. territories, the Micronesian states have made important advances in political development. In 1965, the Congress of Micronesia was created as the legislative authority for the Trust Territory. © Executive responsibilities remained with the U.S. High Commissioner, who was appointed by the President. However,in 1979, the Department of the Interior delegated execu- tive, legislative, and judicial responsibility, within specified limits, to.the governments of the FSM, Palau, and the Marshall Islands. This was done in recognition of Micronesian desire to Manage their own affairs. The FSM, the Marshall Islands, and Palau adopted their own constitutions in 1978, 1979, and 1980, respectively. The Secretary of Interior will represent U.S. interests in the Trust Territory until the trusteeship is termi- nated. STATUS NEGOTIATIONS CULMINATE IN COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION In 1969, the Congress of Micronesia formed the Future Political Status Commission, which began to consider the Micronesian Status issue and eventually recommended “a self-governing Micronesia in free association with the United States." Negotiations have been long and difficult and so far have culminated in two different status arrangements. The NMI, which had long expressed its desire for closer ties with the United States, began separate negotiations in 1972 for commonwealth status, which culminated in the covenant agreement approved by the Congress in 1976. The FSM, Marshall Islands, and Palau con- tinued negotiations for free association 17 2000224 throughout the 1970s.