According to Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr., Gov. Benigno R. Fitial “respects our Constitution and he has sworn to uphold it as the foundation of our democracy, along with our Covenant agreement, as one of the highest sources of law and legal protection of rights in the CNMI.”
But, Reyes added, “the governor…is willing to support reasonable constitutional amendments through our democratic, constitutional process.”
The CNMI Constitution was drafted by 39 elected delegates meeting in a constitutional convention on Saipan 32 years ago.
The Constitution was signed by the delegates on Dec. 5, 1976, ratified by voters on March 6, 1977, and became effective Jan. 9, 1978.
As of May 2005, CNMI voters had ratified 52 proposed amendments to their Constitution.
