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1974 Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands parliamentary election

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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

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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

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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

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District Elected Member Notes
Marianas Pedro Agulto Tenorio
Marshalls Amata Kabua Re-elected
Palau Roman Tmetuchl Re-elected
Ponape Ambilos Iehsi Re-elected
Truk Nick Bossy
Yap Petrus Tun Re-elected
Source: Highlights, Highlights

House of Representatives

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District Constituency Elected Member Notes
Marianas 1st District Jose Mafnas
2nd District Herman Guerrero
3rd District Oscar Rasa
Marshalls 4th District Charles Domnick Re-elected
5th District Carmen Bigler
6th District Ekpap Silk Re-elected
7th District Ataji Balos Re-elected
Palau 8th District Kuniwo Nakamura
9th District Polycarp Basilius Re-elected
10th District Isidoro Rudimch
Ponape 11th District Joab Sigrah Re-elected
12th District Bethwel Henry Re-elected
13th District Resio Moses Re-elected
14th District Edgar Edwards
Truk 15th District Raymond Setik Re-elected
16th District Sasauo Haruo Re-elected
17th District Chiro Albert
18th District Lambert Aafin
19th District Kalisto Refonopei
Yap 20th District Luke M. Tman Re-elected
21st District John Haglelgam
Source: Highlights, Highlights

Aftermath

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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

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  1. ^ a b 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