111-701: Northern Islands Municipality is one of the four main political divisions of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands . It consists of a long string of the northernmost islands of the Northern Marianas, including (from north to south) Farallon de Pajaros , the Maug Islands , Asuncion , Agrihan , Pagan , Alamagan , Guguan , Zealandia Bank , Sarigan , Anatahan , and Farallon de Medinilla . The total land area of
222-529: A 1969 referendum . In the 1975 Northern Mariana Islands status referendum nearly 80% voted to become a commonwealth of the United States, and in 1977 over 93% approved the constitution of the CNMI. The people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided in the 1970s not to seek independence, but instead to forge closer links with the United States. Negotiations for commonwealth status began in 1972, and
333-464: A tropical rainforest climate ( Köppen : Af) moderated by seasonal northeast trade winds , with little seasonal temperature variation. The dry season runs from December to June; the rainy season runs from July to November and can include typhoons . The Guinness Book of World Records has said Saipan has the most equable climate in the world. The Northern Mariana Islands have a multiparty presidential representative democratic system. They are
444-451: A "phased restart of some 2020 census field operations in select geographic areas" and said they had "ordered personal protective equipment (PPE) for all field staff, including those that work in a field office. These materials will be secured and provided to staff prior to restarting operations." Publicly published procurement data shows that an award was signed on April 28, 2020, for non-medical, reusable face masks for area census offices in
555-596: A $ 5,001,393.60 contract awarded to Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc. Around that time, two contracts for hand sanitizer were awarded to Travis Association for the Blind , one signed on May 9, 2020, in a $ 57,390.00 contract and the other signed on May 13, 2020, in a $ 557,251.20 contract, with both contracts listing the place of principal performance as Jeffersonville, Indiana. The agency decided that face shields were necessary to protect employees from COVID-19 exposure, but provided them only to personnel at
666-583: A July 15 list of media vendors showed only plans through the end of July. On August 3, 2020, the Census Bureau announced that field collection would end on September 30, rather than October 31 as planned in April. In a leaked internal document, Census Bureau career officials determined that starting Nonresponse Followup Operations in this Replan would put the health and safety of employees at risk, stating, "These ACOs will have to deploy staff regardless of
777-492: A June 5, 2020, press release, the U.S. Census Bureau announced additional area census offices (ACOs) would "restart" on June 8, saying that with "these additions, field activities have restarted in 247 of 248 area census offices stateside, all ACOs in Puerto Rico and the island areas, and 98.9% of the nation's update leave workload will have resumed." The June 5 press release was reissued on June 9, 2020, which included
888-410: A benefit structure that had been increased without raises in funding. In August 2012, cries for impeachment arose, as the sitting governor Benigno Fitial was being held responsible for withholding payments from the pension fund, not paying the local utility (Commonwealth Utilities or "CUC") for government offices, cutting off funding to the only hospital in the Northern Marianas, interfering with
999-530: A commonwealth of the United States. Federal funds to the commonwealth are administered by the Office of Insular Affairs of the U.S. Department of the Interior . Replicating the separation of powers elsewhere in the United States, the executive branch is headed by the governor of the Northern Mariana Islands ; legislative power is vested in the bicameral Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature and
1110-423: A covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the United States was approved in a 1975 referendum . A new government and constitution came into effect in part on January 9, 1978, after being approved in a 1977 referendum . The United Nations approved this arrangement pursuant to Security Council Resolution 683 . The Northern Mariana Islands came under U.S. sovereignty on November 4, 1986, and
1221-548: A day in his schedule to give a deposition to the court related to the addition of the census question prior to the planned start of the trial in November. The Trump administration filed a writ of mandamus to the United States Supreme Court , requesting that they postpone the trial, and also to defer any involvement with Ross until the start of the trial. The Supreme Court issued an order that allowed
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#17327830278631332-413: A dispute over whether this classification should be considered a white ethnicity or a separate race. According to the Census Bureau, 60.0% of all U.S. households had submitted their census questionnaire by May 22, 2020—either online, by mail or by phone. Most U.S. households were mailed an invitation letter between March 12–20 to self-respond. They account for more than 95% of all U.S. households. Prior to
1443-556: A large, black cloud to drift south over Saipan and Tinian. The islands lie in the Marianas tropical dry forests terrestrial ecoregion. The ocean area to the east of the islands and parts of the islands themselves are part of the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument . This area includes three northernmost islands, the "Arc of Fire" refuge, which includes 21 underwater volcanic sites, and
1554-552: A matter related to a trial before evidence has been presented. Judge Furman ruled in January 2019 that the addition of the citizenship question to the census was unlawful, saying "the decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census – even if it did not violate the Constitution itself – was unlawful for a multitude of independent reasons and must be set aside." The Justice Department filed
1665-584: A period when the indigenous Chamorro majority was being subjugated with land alienation, forced relocations, and internment. Carolinians in the Marianas continue to be fluent in the Carolinian language and have maintained many of the cultural distinctions and traditions of their ethnicity's land of ancestral origin. Following its loss during the Spanish–American War of 1898, Spain ceded Guam to
1776-533: A petition for writ of certiorari before judgment to have the case directly heard by the Supreme Court and bypass the normal appeal which would have been heard by the Second Circuit , given the pending deadline of June 2019 to publish the census forms. The Supreme Court accepted the petition related to Furman's ruling on February 15, 2019, a separate matter from the question of Ross's deposition, and
1887-634: A royal palace, the Plaza de España , in Guam for the governor of the islands. The palace was largely destroyed during World War II, but portions of it remain. Guam operated as an important stopover between the Philippines and Mexico for the Manila galleon , which carried trading between Spanish colonies. In 1668, Father Diego Luis de San Vitores renamed the islands Las Marianas in honor of his patroness,
1998-580: A smaller number of seats shifting than was forecast by independent analysts. State and local officials use censuses to redraw boundaries for districts such as congressional districts ( redistricting ), state legislative districts, and school districts. Dozens of federal programs use census data to help direct funding to state and local areas. Census results help determine how more than $ 675 billion in federal funding are allocated to states and communities each year for roads, schools, hospitals (health clinics), emergency services, and more. The 2020 census
2109-435: Is nepotism carried out within the trappings of democracy. In April 2012, anticipating a loss of funding by 2014, the commonwealth's public pension fund declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy . The retirement fund is a defined benefit -type pension plan and was only partially funded by the government, with only $ 268.4 million in assets and $ 911 million in liabilities . The plan experienced low investment returns and
2220-483: Is Palua, home to Chamorro people. To the south and east is Micronesia, which is home to the Carolinian people, many of which also settled on the CNMI centuries ago. Saipan has some additional semi-attached islets, including Bird Island, a nature reserve for birds. It is connected to Saipan only at low tide. Forbidden Island is similar, but larger on the southeast side of Saipan. The Northern Mariana Islands have
2331-540: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Northern Mariana Islands The Northern Mariana Islands , officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands ( CNMI ), is an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the United States consisting of 14 islands in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The CNMI includes the 14 northernmost islands in the Mariana Archipelago ;
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#17327830278632442-558: Is more accurate and far less expensive. However, Wilbur Ross , secretary of the United States Department of Commerce which oversees the Census Bureau, decided the administrative approach alone would not be sufficient. The Census Bureau announced in March 2018 its plan to add a question related to citizenship for the 2020 census: "Is this person a citizen of the United States?". For the 2020 census, Ross told Congress
2553-499: Is private and the Census Bureau itself will never release it. However, the National Archives and Records Administration could release the original census returns in 2092, if the 72-year rule is not changed before then. On census reference day, April 1, 2020, the resident United States population (50 states and Washington, D.C., excluding overseas territories and military members and civilian U.S. citizens living abroad)
2664-505: Is prohibited by Title 13 United States code. It has been challenged, but the Supreme Court has always prevailed in reference to Title 13 to protect the confidentiality and privacy of information provided. Based on those questions and a subsequent executive order, the 2020 census asked: The United States Census Bureau proposed but then withdrew plans to add a new category to classify Middle Eastern and North African peoples, over
2775-550: Is seeking statutory relief from Congress of 120 additional calendar days to deliver final apportionment counts. Under this plan, the Census Bureau would extend the window for field data collection and self-response to October 31, 2020, which will allow for apportionment counts to be delivered to the President by April 30, 2021, and redistricting data to be delivered to the states no later than September 30, 2021. On April 24, 2020, Dillingham and other Census Bureau officials briefed
2886-568: Is to the south of the CNMI and Rota. To the east is Wake Island, then further east is the island of Midway, and eventually, the start of the Hawaiian island chain. American Samoa is located to the east and south and lies below the Equator. To the north and east, lies Alaska, which is a string of islands known as the Aleutians . To the west of the CNMI is the Philippines, and to the south and west
2997-406: Is used to determine federal funds, grants, and support to states. The Census Bureau had included a citizenship question until 1950 when it was removed, though it continued to include a question asking about place of birth. In a January 2018 memo, an initial evaluation by Census Bureau officials advised against such a question, saying that compiling citizenship data from existing administrative records
3108-523: The 2000 census , this was the first U.S. census to offer options to respond online or by phone, in addition to the paper response form used for previous censuses. The census was taken during the COVID-19 pandemic , which affected its administration. The census recorded a resident population of 331,449,281 in the 50 states and the national capital of Washington, D.C. , reflecting an increase of 7.4 percent, or 22,703,743, over that of 2010. The growth rate
3219-556: The Administrative Procedures Act (APA). They also agreed that the answers Commerce had provided at the time appeared to be "contrived" and pretextual, leaving open the possibility that Commerce could offer a better rationale. The case was remanded back to the District Court, to allow Commerce to provide a better explanation for the rationale of the question to the District Court, who would deem if that
3330-575: The Chamorros , a Spanish word similar to Chamori , the name of the Indigenous caste system's higher division. The ancient people of the Marianas raised colonnades of megalithic-capped pillars called latte stones upon which they built their homes. The Spanish reported that by their arrival, the largest of these was already in ruins and that the Chamorros believed the ancestors who had erected
3441-707: The House Committee on Oversight and Reform on the agency's response to the COVID-19 emergency. This briefing came after many requests from the committee since March 12, 2020, including a last-minute cancellation on April 20, 2020. In the briefing, Albert E. Fontenot Jr. , the associate director for decennial census programs, explained that the bureau was planning a "phased start to many of our census operations" rather than beginning field operations nationwide on June 1, 2020, as previously announced and said operations would resume at different times in different areas of
Northern Islands Municipality, Northern Mariana Islands - Misplaced Pages Continue
3552-539: The Refaluwasch . The indigenous Chamorro word for the same group of people is gu'palao . They are usually referred to simply as "Carolinians", though, unlike the other two monikers, this can also mean those who live in the Carolines and may have no affiliation with the Marianas. The conquering Spanish did not focus attempts at cultural suppression against Carolinian immigrants, whose immigration they allowed during
3663-694: The South Seas Mandate . During the Japanese period, sugar cane became the primary industry of the islands. Garapan on Saipan was developed as a regional capital, and numerous Japanese (including ethnic Koreans and Okinawan and Taiwanese ) migrated to the islands. In the December 1939 census, the total population of the South Seas Mandate was 129,104, of whom 77,257 were Japanese (including ethnic Taiwanese and Koreans). On Saipan,
3774-678: The Talofofo area until 1972. Japanese nationals were eventually repatriated to the Japanese home islands . After World War II, the people of Marianas were able to return to the Northern Marianas under the protection of the United Nations Trusteeship administered by the United States. During this time, a series of referendums took place. After Japan's defeat in World War II, the Northern Marianas were administered by
3885-408: The U.S. Government Publishing Office said the agency failed to check the company's financial status and improperly allowed the company to lower its bid after other bids were unsealed. The coronavirus pandemic caused delays to census field operations and counts of the homeless and people living in group quarters. As of April 1, 2020 , Census Day, the Census Bureau still planned to complete
3996-491: The judicial power is vested in the CNMI Supreme Court and the trial courts inferior to it. Some critics, including the author of the political website Saipan Sucks , say that politics in the Northern Mariana Islands is often "more a function of family relationships and personal loyalties" where the size of one's extended family is more important than a candidate's personal qualifications. They charge that this
4107-529: The 2020 census due to COVID-19 health and safety concerns. In the statement, it was explained that "steps [were] being taken to reactivate field offices beginning June 1, 2020", "in-person activities, including all interaction with the public, enumeration, office work and processing activities, [would] incorporate the most current guidance to promote the health and safety of staff and the public" including " personal protective equipment (PPE) and social distancing practices". This release stated "in order to ensure
4218-467: The 30,000 Japanese troops defending Saipan, fewer than 1,000 remained alive at the battle's end. Many civilians were also killed, by disease, starvation, enemy fire, or suicide; about 1,000 civilians killed themselves by jumping off cliffs. U.S. forces then recaptured Guam on July 21, and invaded Tinian on July 24. A year later, Tinian was the takeoff point for the Enola Gay , the plane that dropped
4329-630: The Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc. and the other was a contract for $ 2,107,000.00 awarded to NewView Oklahoma for blue nitrile gloves, both with a place of principal performance listed as Jeffersonville, Indiana. A press release on May 22, 2020, announced May 25 "restart" dates for ten more states. An OSHA complaint was made from Concord, California , on April 3, 2020, that there were at least two confirmed cases of COVID-19 unrecorded on OSHA 300 logs and that employees were working in close quarters with no disinfection of shared equipment such as headsets, laptops, and tablets. The published restart date for
4440-513: The COVID-19 emergency by March 20, 2020. The inspector general's memo asked how the Bureau would address staff and enumerator safety. Dillingham's April 15 letter: The Census Bureau is closely coordinating the acquisition of needed PPE materials for field and office staff through the Department of Commerce's Coronavirus Taskforce. Federal partners include the Department of Homeland Security and
4551-415: The COVID-19 risk in those areas to open on these dates." On September 8, 2020, Mark H. Zabarsky, Principal Assistant Inspector General for Audit and Evaluation published an alert on behalf of the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General, which stated that the number of COVID-19 related safety issues raised by hotline complaints tripled between July 1 and August 21. The U.S. decennial census
Northern Islands Municipality, Northern Mariana Islands - Misplaced Pages Continue
4662-504: The Census Bureau stated 99.98% of addresses had been accounted for, with all but one state over a 99.9% rate. Paper responses postmarked on or before October 15 would be processed, as long as they arrived at the processing center by October 22. As in previous censuses, the 2020 census relied on a network of trusted voices nationwide to help raise awareness, answer questions, and encourage community members to participate. Hundreds of local "complete count committees" are dedicating resources to
4773-533: The Census Bureau's address list and interview households for the 2020 census, claiming "all census takers have been trained on social distancing protocols, and will be issued personal protective equipment (PPE) and will follow local guidelines for their use." The June 12 press release also shared that the communications campaign had been adapted due to the pandemic and would continue through October, "the end of 2020 census data collection operations", with additional paid media planned for July, August and September, though
4884-513: The Centers for Disease Control. We have generated and submitted estimates for equipment needs. On April 15, 2020, the Agency's internal task force met and discussed our estimates for needed equipment, potential delivery dates, and budget implications. We continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments as necessary. To ensure the completeness and accuracy of the 2020 census, the Census Bureau
4995-652: The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and its residents are US citizens. In 2009, they elected a non-voting delegate to the US Congress. The Mariana Islands were the first islands settled by humans in Remote Oceania . Incidentally, their settlement was the first and longest of the ocean-crossing voyages of the Austronesian peoples , separate from the later Polynesian settlement of
5106-528: The Concord, California, Area Census Office was May 25, 2020. Offices were reopened in the areas of " American Samoa , the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands in preparation for resuming operations for the 2020 Island Areas Censuses" on May 22, 2020. On May 29, 2020, a press release was published announcing "restart" of operations in seven additional states and
5217-669: The DOJ letter which justified the policy by claiming it was needed to enforce the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Following this discovery, the United States House Committee on Oversight and Reform issued subpoenas for the Department of Justice to provide materials related to the census question and to question both Commerce secretary Wilbur Ross and United States Attorney General William Barr , seeking action to judge if they are in contempt. The Trump administration on June 12, 2019, asserted executive privilege over portions of
5328-510: The House floor. In the United States, a non-voting delegate is not a new concept, but rather goes back to before 1800. Territorial delegates represent their region's interest in Congress, and their powers have been established over time, beginning in 1795. A major power of the territorial delegates (which have also been called Resident Commissioners), besides serving on committees, is speaking on
5439-899: The Japanese Mandate under the League of Nations, starting in 1918. The islands were liberated from the Japanese in the Battle of Saipan in 1944, and after the war, became part of the UN Trust Territory called the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI). Over the decades, integration with Guam was rejected, and eventually, the islands left the TTPI and became a part of the US in 1986. The Northern Marianas then became
5550-508: The Marianas region. The Chamorro-Carolinian Language Policy Commission was created in 1982 to carry out policies in support of the Chamorro and Carolinian languages and cultures. In December 1986, 20 percent of the homes on Saipan were destroyed by Typhoon Kim , trees were stripped of foliage, thousands of coconut trees were knocked down, roads were blocked, and there was no electricity or public water supply for weeks. In April 1990,
5661-421: The Marianas. During the 17th century, Spanish colonists forcibly moved the Chamorros to Guam, to encourage assimilation and conversion to Roman Catholicism . By the time they were allowed to return to the Northern Marianas, many Carolinians from present-day eastern Yap State and western Chuuk State had settled in the Marianas. Both languages, as well as English, are now official in the commonwealth. In 1720
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#17327830278635772-504: The Northern Marianas are sparsely inhabited; the most notable among these is Pagan , which was left largely uninhabited since a 1981 volcanic eruption. The administrative center is Capitol Hill , a village in northwestern Saipan. The current governor of the CNMI is Arnold Palacios , who entered office in January 2023. The legislative branch has a 9-member Senate and a 20-member House of Representatives. The islands were settled around 1500 BC when various peoples migrated there. Eventually,
5883-559: The Spanish flag, arrived in 1521. He and his crew were the first Europeans to arrive in the Mariana Islands. He landed on Guam, the southernmost island of the Marianas, and claimed the archipelago for Spain. The Spanish ships were met offshore by the native Chamorros, who delivered refreshments and then helped themselves to a small boat belonging to Magellan's fleet. This led to a cultural clash: in Chamorro tradition, little property
5994-459: The Spanish moved the remaining islanders, whose population had been decimated by diseases, from the Marianas to Guam. By 1741, there was about 5000 remaining Chamorros. The Northern Marianas experienced an influx of immigration from the Carolines (Micronesia region) during the 19th century. Both this Carolinian sub-ethnicity and Carolinians in the Carolines archipelago refer to themselves as
6105-608: The Spanish regent Mariana of Austria (1634–1696), widow of Felipe IV (reigned 1621–1665). Most of the islands' native population (90–95%) died from European diseases carried by the Spaniards or married non-Chamorro settlers under Spanish rule. New settlers from the Philippines and the Caroline Islands were brought to repopulate the islands. The Chamorro population gradually recovered, and Chamorro, Filipino , and Refaluwasch languages and other ethnic groups remain in
6216-443: The U.S. Census Bureau continued to pay 2020 census employees even though field operations were supposed to be suspended. On March 28, 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau issued another press release announcing 2020 census field operations would be suspended for an additional two weeks, through April 15, 2020. Census Bureau officials communicated to the media that on March 27, 2020, they learned an employee had tested positive for COVID-19 at
6327-583: The United States and sold the remainder of the Marianas (i.e., the Northern Marianas), along with the Caroline Islands, to Germany under the German–Spanish Treaty of 1899 . The United States could have taken the entire Marianas, but beyond that, Guam saw no need for the group. Germany administered the islands as part of its colony of German New Guinea and did little in terms of development. Germany built an office on Saipan to administer
6438-404: The United States as a territory in 1986, with their population gaining United States citizenship. The United States Department of the Interior cites a landmass of 183.5 square miles (475.26 km ). According to the 2020 United States Census , 47,329 people were living in the CNMI at the time. The vast majority of the population resides on Saipan , Tinian , and Rota . The other islands of
6549-569: The United States pursuant to Security Council Resolution 21 as part of the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands , which assigned responsibility for defense and foreign affairs to the United States as trustee. Four referendums offering integration with Guam or changes to the islands' status were held in 1958 , 1961 , 1963 and 1969 . On each occasion, a majority voted in favor of integration with Guam, but this did not happen: Guam rejected integration in
6660-526: The Washington, D.C., area starting from the week of June 1. An OSHA complaint was made from Austin, Texas , on May 27, 2020, complaining that CDC guidelines were not being followed, that employees were unable to practice social distancing, and that employees experiencing flu-like symptoms and positive COVID-19 test results continued to come to work, showing the office was open prior to the Census Bureau's published office restart date of June 1, 2020. In
6771-629: The addition of a June 11 "restart" at the Window Rock, Arizona, Area Census Office. Days later, the Navajo Nation began reinstating lockdown restrictions and curfews due to a surge in new cases. A June 12, 2020, press release shared that the update leave (UL) operation had resumed, as well as fingerprinting of selected applicants. The agency announced that the update enumerate (UE) operation would restart on June 14 "in remote parts of northern Maine and southeast Alaska" where employees update
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#17327830278636882-731: The administration had been insisting for months the question needed to be settled by July 1. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has taken steps to introduce the Hofeller evidence into the New York case but it will not be heard until late 2019 after the census forms are to be published. The second suit over the census question came in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California under Judge Richard Seeborg , raised by
6993-619: The agency's National Processing Center in Jeffersonville, Indiana, which the agency kept open during the suspension, claiming they would "transition to the minimum number of on-site staff necessary to continue operations". The agency announced on April 10, 2020, that it took steps to make "more employees available to respond to requests" at the call centers. In a joint statement on April 13, 2020, U.S. Department of Commerce secretary Wilbur Ross and U.S. Census Bureau director Steven Dillingham announced further operational adjustments to
7104-475: The atomic bomb on Hiroshima . Rota was left untouched (and isolated) until the Japanese surrender in August 1945, owing to its military insignificance and U.S. forces' strategy of "island hopping" in which they did not invade islands that they did not need. The story of the holdouts on Anatahan was told in 1953 by Josef von Sternberg in his film The Saga of Anatahan . The war did not end for everyone with
7215-610: The bureau found significant undercounts in several minority populations and in several states. As required by the United States Constitution , the U.S. census has been conducted every 10 years since 1790. The 2010 United States census was the previous census completed. All people in the U.S. 18 and older are legally obligated to answer census questions, and to do so truthfully ( Title 13 of the United States Code ). Personally identifiable information
7326-438: The bureau, its staffing, and its counting measurements, to handle the potential lack of responses due to the citizenship question. During these trials, documents released in May 2019 showed that the late Thomas B. Hofeller , an architect of Republican gerrymandering , had found that adding the census question could help to gerrymander maps that "would be advantageous to Republicans and non-Hispanic whites". Hofeller later wrote
7437-465: The campaign unveiled the 2020 census tagline: "Shape your future. START HERE." The tagline was based on research that demonstrated which types of messages will reach and motivate all populations, including segments of the population who are historically hard to count. The printing company Cenveo won the $ 61 million contract in October 2017 to produce census forms and reminders but went bankrupt less than four months later. The inspector general of
7548-634: The case of Anatahan (2003) and Pagan (early 1980s). The mayor 's office and municipality administration, traditionally in the village of Shomushon on Pagan , is now "in exile" on Saipan . In 2005 there were 99 votes cast in the municipality . For the NMI House of Representatives , Northern Islands voters are grouped with one of the Saipan districts. Most of the Northern Islands can be reached only by boat, except for an airstrip that serves Pagan. There are no electricity or telephone systems, and residents rely on generators for electricity and radio for communications. Agriculture and fishing are essentially
7659-408: The case's oral arguments were heard on April 23, 2019. The Supreme Court issued its decision on June 27, 2019, rejecting the Trump administration's stated rationale for including the question. While the Court majority agreed that the question was allowable under the Enumeration Act, they also agreed with the ability of the District Court to ask Commerce for further explanation for the question under
7770-472: The citizenship numbers were necessary to enforce the Voting Rights Act 's protection against voting discrimination. Ross was accused by Democrats in Congress of lying that the citizenship question was requested by the Justice Department and approved by him. Upon the bureau's announcement, several state and city officials criticized the decision, reiterating the concern about discouraging participation from immigrants, resulting in undercounting, and questioning
7881-411: The completeness and accuracy of the 2020 census, the Census Bureau is seeking statutory relief from Congress of 120 additional calendar days to deliver final apportionment counts" due to the COVID-19 emergency, and that "under this plan, the Census Bureau would extend the window for field data collection and self-response to October 31, 2020, which will allow for apportionment counts to be delivered to
7992-624: The count by the end of the year. On March 18, 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau issued a press release by Director Steven Dillingham announcing that 2020 census field operations would be suspended for two weeks until April 1, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic . On March 27, 2020, the agency announced it would temporarily suspend in-person interviews for its on-going surveys. The agency claimed that staffing adjustments at its call centers due to implementing health guidance had "led to increases in call wait times, affecting different languages at different times". According to its own documentation,
8103-538: The country based on federal, state, and local public health guidance, as well as the availability of personal protective equipment, prioritizing reopening mail processing centers and census offices and said the bureau would notify Congress as it begins to restart operations. However, the National Processing Center and Area Census Offices had remained open. Starting on May 4, 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau began publishing dates as it claimed to begin
8214-409: The delivery of a subpoena to his attorney general, withholding required funds from the public schools, and for signing a sole source $ 190 million contract for power generation. 2020 United States Census The 2020 United States census was the 24th decennial United States census . Census Day, the reference day used for the census , was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during
8325-517: The eastern caldera and causing an ash plume 12 km (7.5 mi) high which impaired air traffic to Saipan and Guam. The Northern Mariana Islands does not have voting representation in the United States Congress , but, since 2009, has been represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by a delegate ; congressional delegates may participate in debates and serve on congressional committees but may not cast decisive votes on
8436-491: The efforts nationwide. VMLY&R (formerly Young & Rubicam ) secured the Integrated Communications Contract for the 2020 census campaign in August 2016. As the contract's primary agency of record, VMLY&R created an integrated team for this project, Team Y&R, which includes subcontractors specializing in minority outreach, digital media, earned media and more. In March 2019,
8547-637: The feathers for hats. Early in World War I , Japan declared war on Germany and invaded the Northern Marianas. In 1919 after the war concluded, the League of Nations (LoN) awarded all of Germany's islands in the Pacific Ocean located north of the Equator , including the Northern Marianas, under mandate to Japan. Under this arrangement, the Japanese thus administered the Northern Marianas as part of
8658-479: The floor. Perhaps more importantly, the position is seen as a precursor to establishing voting rights, and discussion about granting delegate voting rights have occurred. In 2018, 18 people embarked on a mission to repopulate the northern islands of Alamagan and Agrihan. They left Saipan aboard the M/V Super Emerald; the families involved originally had come from Alamagan. The mayor's office coordinated
8769-402: The harsh treatment of Guamanian Chamorros during the 31-month occupation, created a rift that would become the main reason Guamanians rejected the referendum on the reunification of Guam with the Northern Marianas that the Northern Marianas approved in the 1960s. On June 15, 1944, the United States military invaded the Mariana Islands, starting the Battle of Saipan , which ended on July 9. Of
8880-526: The headquarters and national processing centers. An OSHA complaint was made from Oklahoma City on May 1, 2020, complaining that employees were not able to practice social distancing and were not provided with adequate personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks, showing the office was open prior to the Census Bureau's published office restart date of May 4, 2020. Additional "restart" dates starting May 18 were published on May 15, 2020, for other geographic areas in eleven states. An OSHA complaint
8991-492: The highest elevation at 3,166 feet (965 m). An expedition organized by John D. Mitchler and Reid Larson made the first complete ascent to the summit of this peak on June 1, 2018. The islands going from north to south comprise 14 main islands, but some smaller islands are often grouped together. Also, Zealandia Bank can sometimes be an island, depending on the tide. In terms of area, it is smaller than Guam; however, as an island chain, it spans hundreds of kilometers/miles from
9102-451: The inhabitants of the western coast of Anatahan were evacuated after earthquake swarms and active fumaroles indicated that an eruption might be imminent, but no eruption occurred at that time. A further earthquake swarm occurred in May 1992. The first historical eruption of Anatahan occurred in May 2003, when a large explosive eruption with a VEI of 4 took place, forming a new crater inside
9213-610: The island, and the head administrator was Georg Fritz. San Jose church was built during the German period. The Germans established a public school system and homesteading program, and some efforts were put into copra production; there was an overall effort to grow the economy with roads being built and vocational/trades training. Pagan and Alamagan were leased to a company called Pagan Gesellschaft, which planned to produce copra there, although its goals were hampered by numerous typhoons . Eight islands were leased to bird hunters, which used
9324-685: The islanders became US citizens . Also on November 4, 1986, the Northern Mariana Islands constitution became fully effective under the Covenant. In May 1981, volcanic eruptions led to the evacuation of the island of Pagan . Most residents of Pagan have not yet returned to Pagan due to ongoing volcanic activity. In the 1960s and 1970s, agriculture and ranching became an important activity with thousands of beef cattle, dairy cows, hogs, and many crops such as pineapple. The food production became an important source of food supply for
9435-476: The islands were claimed by Spain in 1521. In the 18th century, the people of the northern Marianas were forced by Spain to relocate, and when they returned, new peoples migrated there. In 1899 Spain sold the Northern Marianas to Germany in the Spanish-German Treaty of 1899 , while Guam went to the United States. At the end of World War I, with the defeat of Germany, the islands became a part of
9546-409: The islands, including offshore islets and rocks, is 154.755 km (59.75 sq mi). As of the 2010 census , the municipality is reported to be uninhabited. Pagan and Agrihan are known to have seasonal populations. Many Northern Island inhabitants have secondary residences on Saipan due to economic, educational or other needs. Some islands had also been evacuated due to volcanic activities such as in
9657-428: The main economic focus was sugar production, and for example, about 98% of Tinian island was used to grow sugarcane . On December 8, 1941, hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor , Japanese forces from the Marianas launched an invasion of Guam . Chamorros from the Northern Marianas, which had been under Japanese rule for more than 20 years, were brought to Guam to assist the Japanese administration. This, combined with
9768-505: The months-long project plans, including a clean water supply, establishment of radio contact, and hopefully sending more families to the two islands. One returning Marianan remarked, "I was born and raised on Saipan but my family is from Alamagan. We are going to live there for a long time." The 2020 United States Census reported a total of 7 people living on Alamagan and Agrihan. Typhoon Yutu caused widespread damage in October 2018, and
9879-473: The motives of Secretary Ross in adding the question. Three simultaneous separate federal lawsuits came out of this discovery, occurring at the district courts of New York, Maryland, and California. During the controversy over the census question, the Census Bureau ran a test census in June 2019 on about 480,000 households to determine what effects adding the census question would have on participation, and to prepare
9990-603: The northernmost to the southernmost. Many islands have multiple names due to popular nicknames, usually of Spanish, Chamorro, or English origin. Many of the islands have had to be evacuated due to volcanic activity. Anatahan Volcano is a small volcanic island 80 miles (130 km) north of Saipan. It is about 6 miles (10 km) long and 2 miles (3 km) wide. Anatahan began erupting from its east crater on May 10, 2003. It has since alternated between eruptive and calm periods. On April 6, 2005, an estimated 50,000,000 cubic feet (1,416,000 m ) of ash and rock were ejected, causing
10101-511: The ongoing coronavirus pandemic , the remaining 5% of U.S. households (mostly in rural areas) were supposed to be visited by census takers in April/May, dropping off invitation letters to owners. This was delayed, but most census offices restarted work again in mid-May. By July 14, 2020, the self-response rate was 62.1% or 91,800,000 households. The self-response rate was 66.5% in 2010 and 67.4% in 2000. In an update published October 19, 2020,
10212-656: The only economic activities, although on Pagan pozzolan mining became a small industry after the early-1980s volcanic eruptions. Previously Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Public School System operated an elementary school on Pagan prior to the 1981 eruptions. In 1977 the school had 13 students. Students from Pagan attending secondary school did so on Saipan. 18°06′00″N 145°45′36″E / 18.10000°N 145.76000°E / 18.10000; 145.76000 This Northern Marianas location article
10323-424: The pillars lived in an era when people possessed supernatural abilities. In 2013 archaeologists posited that the first people to settle in the Marianas may have made what was at that point the longest uninterrupted ocean-crossing voyage in human history. Archeological evidence indicates that Tinian may have been the first Pacific island to be settled. The Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan , sailing under
10434-401: The pre-war population comprised 29,348 Japanese settlers and 3,926 Chamorro and Caroline Islanders; Tinian had 15,700 Japanese settlers (including 2,700 ethnic Koreans and 22 ethnic Chamorro). The Japanese built military constructions on the island in the 1930s and, in December 1941, used it as a staging area to invade Guam, which was part of the U.S. at that time. During the Japanese mandate,
10545-479: The president by April 30, 2021, and redistricting data to be delivered to the states no later than September 30, 2021." On April 15, 2020, U.S. Census Bureau director Steven Dillingham wrote to Department of Commerce inspector general Peggy E. Gustafson responding to a March 12, 2020, memo sent by the Office of the Inspector General requesting information about the Census Bureau's plans to respond to
10656-415: The requested documents. As a result, the House committee subsequently voted along party lines to hold both Ross and Barr in contempt that day. The full House voted to hold Ross and Barr in contempt on July 17, 2019, in a 230–198 vote along party lines. A lawsuit, led by New York state's attorney general Barbara Underwood and joined by seventeen other states, fifteen cities and other civil rights groups,
10767-533: The rest of Remote Oceania. The islands were first settled around 1500 to 1400 BC by people from the Philippines . This was followed by a second migration from the Caroline Islands by the first millennium AD, and a third migration from Island Southeast Asia (likely the Philippines or eastern Indonesia ) by 900 AD. After their first contact with Spaniards, the islanders eventually became known as
10878-409: The signing of the armistice. The last group of Japanese holdouts surrendered on Saipan on December 1, 1945. However, as mentioned, a group of about 30 held out until 1951 on Anahatan. The bizarre story has been the subject of several movies and writings, including The Saga of Anatahan . On a related note, on Guam, Japanese soldier Shoichi Yokoi , unaware that the war had ended, hid in a jungle cave in
10989-622: The southernmost island, Guam is a U.S. territory. The Northern Mariana Islands were listed by the United Nations as a non-self-governing territory until 1990. During the colonial period, the Northern Marianas were variously under the control of the Spanish , German , and Japanese empires. After World War II , the islands were part of the United Nations trust territories under American administration before formally joining
11100-489: The state of California and several cities within it. In March 2019, Seeborg similarly found as Furman had in New York that the addition of the census question was unconstitutional and issued an injunction to block its use. The government appealed to the Ninth Circuit before the Supreme Court remanded the case. A similar question related to the intent of the question was raised by several immigrants-rights groups in
11211-481: The trench region, which goes to the maximum limit of the EEZ. The nature preserve aims to protect the unique marine life, which includes seabirds, sea turtles, unique coral reefs, and life around under-sea vents. The Marianas Trench includes the deepest ocean water on the planet, along with other underwater wonders, including a pool of liquid sulfur located at Daikoku, an underwater volcano. (see also Challenger Deep ) Guam
11322-413: The trial United States Census Bureau v. State of New York to go forward, but agreed to postpone Ross's deposition until after the start of the trial. The Supreme Court also agreed to treat the writ of mandamus as a writ of petition, and granted certiorari to review the question raised by the government of whether a district court can request deposition of a high-ranking executive branch official on
11433-550: Was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York . During the discovery phase of the trial, new information came to light that Ross had had previous discussions with Steve Bannon before March 2018 with the intent to add the citizenship question, contradicting statements he had made to Congress in March. This led district judge Jesse M. Furman in September 2018 to ask that Ross clear
11544-434: Was for $ 1,502,928.00 awarded to Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc. for hand sanitizer, and a contract for $ 7,053,569.85 for four-ounce (118 ml) hand sanitizers awarded to NewView Oklahoma, Inc. both with the place of principal performance listed as Jeffersonville, Indiana . May 22, 2020, saw two additional contracts, one was a disinfectant wipes contract for $ 3,137,533.00 awarded to Industries for
11655-481: Was private, and taking something one needed, such as a boat for fishing, did not count as stealing. The Spanish did not understand this custom and fought the Chamorros until the boat was recovered. Three days after he had been welcomed on his arrival, Magellan fled the archipelago. Spain regarded the islands as annexed and later made them part of the Spanish East Indies in 1565. In 1734, the Spanish built
11766-561: Was projected to be 329.5 million, a 6.7% increase from the 2010 census . The results of the 2020 census determine the number of seats for each state in the House of Representatives , hence also the number of electors for each state in the Electoral College , for elections from 2022 to 2032. The Census Bureau announced the apportionment figures on April 26, 2021. 13 states had changes in congressional seats: This represented
11877-547: Was recorded that same day from St. Louis , that desks remained close together with no physical dividers, improper sanitation practices were being used, and no remote work for high-risk employees. The published restart date for the St. Louis Area Census Office was May 11, 2020. On May 21, 2020, procurement information for two contracts was entered into the Federal Procurement Data System . One contract
11988-410: Was sufficient before allowing the question on the census. The question would be allowed on the census only if these steps can be completed before the self-imposed form printing deadline. On July 7, the DOJ announced that it was replacing its entire legal team dealing with that question, but on July 9, Furman rejected the DOJ action, saying reasons must be given for the withdrawal of each attorney and that
12099-463: Was the 1st U.S. census to offer a full internet response option and the 1st to extensively use technology instead of paper to manage and conduct fieldwork. Key design changes included: As required by the Census Act, the U.S. Census Bureau submitted a list of questions to Congress on March 29, 2018. The U.S. census will not share any participant's information with any government agency, as it
12210-420: Was the second-lowest ever recorded, and the net increase was the sixth-highest in history. This was the first census where the 10 most-populous states each surpassed 10 million residents, and the first census where the 10 most-populous cities each surpassed 1 million residents. This census's data determined the electoral votes' distribution for the 2024 United States presidential election . A subsequent review by
12321-761: Was the strongest typhoon known to hit the islands. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel deployed to both Tinian and Saipan ahead of the storm. U.S. President Donald Trump declared an emergency for the Northern Islands on October 24, 2018. The Northern Mariana Islands, together with Guam to the south, compose the Mariana Islands archipelago. The southern islands are limestone , with level terraces and fringing coral reefs. The northern islands are volcanic, with active volcanoes on several islands, including Anatahan , Pagan , and Agrihan . The volcano on Agrihan, Mount Agrihan , has
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