1974 Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands on 5 November 1974.[1] Carmen Bigler became the first female member of Congress after being elected to House of Representatives from the Fifth District of the Marshall Islands.[1]

Electoral system

The bicameral Congress consisted of a 12-member Senate with two members from each of the six districts and a 21-member House of Representatives with seats apportioned to each district based on their population – five from Truk, four from the Marshall Islands and Ponape, three from the Mariana Islands and Palau and two from Yap.[2]

Elections were held every two years in November of even-numbered years, with all members of the House of Representatives and half the Senate (one member from each district) renewed at each election.

Results

Twelve incumbent members of Congress were defeated, including Marianas Senator Edward Pangelinan, Truk Senator Andon Amaraich, Marianas representative Felipe Atalig and Marshallese representative John Heine, who was unseated by Bigler.[3]

Senate
District Elected Member Notes
MarianasPedro Agulto Tenorio
MarshallsAmata KabuaRe-elected
PalauRoman TmetuchlRe-elected
PonapeAmbilos IehsiRe-elected
TrukNick Bossy
YapPetrus TunRe-elected
Source: Highlights, Highlights

House of Representatives
District Constituency Elected Member Notes
Marianas1st DistrictJose Mafnas
2nd DistrictHerman Guerrero
3rd DistrictOscar Rasa
Marshalls4th DistrictCharles DomnickRe-elected
5th DistrictCarmen Bigler
6th DistrictEkpap SilkRe-elected
7th DistrictAtaji BalosRe-elected
Palau8th DistrictKuniwo Nakamura
9th DistrictPolycarp BasiliusRe-elected
10th DistrictIsidoro Rudimch
Ponape11th DistrictJoab SigrahRe-elected
12th DistrictBethwel HenryRe-elected
13th DistrictResio MosesRe-elected
14th DistrictEdgar Edwards
Truk15th DistrictRaymond SetikRe-elected
16th DistrictSasauo HaruoRe-elected
17th DistrictChiro Albert
18th DistrictLambert Aafin
19th DistrictKalisto Refonopei
Yap20th DistrictLuke M. TmanRe-elected
21st DistrictJohn Haglelgam
Source: Highlights, Highlights

Aftermath

Following the elections, Tosiwo Nakayama was re-elected President of the Senate, whilst Bethwel Henry was re-elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.[4]

The election of three members – Lambert Aafin, Chiro Albert and Edgar Edwards – was challenged, with claims of irregularities. The Credential Committee recommended overturning the election of Aafin, ordering a by-election and launching a criminal investigation into the officials involved in the case. However, in a secret ballot, members of Congress voted to allow Aafin to take his seat by a vote of 9–8.[5]

References
  1. First Woman Wins Seat in Election Highlights, 15 November 1974, p1
  2. Report to the United Nations on the Administration of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Transmitted by the United States of America United States Department of State, pp173–174
  3. New faces in Micronesian Congress Pacific Islands Monthly, December 1974, p9
  4. First Session of the Sixth Congress Convenes on Saipan Highlights, 15 January 1975
  5. War claims grumble Pacific Islands Monthly, March 1975, p81
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