Article III — The Legislature
12 sections · 0 paragraphs in this article.
Guam has not adopted a constitution of its own — the federal Organic Act of 1950 serves as its founding charter, establishing the three branches of the territorial government and a bill of rights. Codified at 48 U.S.C. ch. 8A.
48 U.S.C. § 1423 § 1423. Legislature of Guam
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(a) Unicameral nature; power The legislative power and authority of Guam shall be vested in a legislature, consisting of a single house, to be designated the "Legislature of Guam", herein referred to as the legislature. (b) Size of legislature; prohibition against denial of equal…
48 U.S.C. § 1423a § 1423a. Power of legislature; limitation on indebtedness of Guam; bond issues; guarantees for purchase by Federal Financing Bank of Guam Power Authority bonds or other obligations; interest rates; default
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The legislative power of Guam shall extend to all rightful subjects of legislation not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter and the laws of the United States applicable to Guam. Taxes and assessments on property, internal revenues, sales, license fees, and royalties f…
48 U.S.C. § 1423b § 1423b. Selection and qualification of members; officers; rules and regulations; quorum
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The legislature shall be the judge of the selection and qualification of its own members. It shall choose from its members its own officers, determine its rules and procedure, not inconsistent with this chapter, and keep a journal. The quorum of the legislature shall consist of a…
48 U.S.C. § 1423c § 1423c. Privileges of members
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(a) The members of the legislature shall, in all cases except treason, felony, or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the legislature and in going to and returning from the same. (b) No member of the legislature shall be held to answer before…
48 U.S.C. § 1423d § 1423d. Oath of office
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Every member of the legislature and all officers of the government of Guam shall take the following oath or affirmation: "I solemnly swear (or affirm) in the presence of Almighty God that I will well and faithfully support the Constitution of the United States, the laws of the Un…
48 U.S.C. § 1423e § 1423e. Prohibition against acceptance of salary increases or newly created offices
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No member of the legislature shall, during the term for which he was elected or during the year following the expiration of such term, be appointed to any office which has been created, or the salary or emoluments of which have been increased during such term.
48 U.S.C. § 1423f § 1423f. Qualifications of members
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No person shall sit in the legislature who is not a citizen of the United States, who has not attained the age of twenty-five years and who has not been domiciled in Guam for at least five years immediately preceding the sitting of the legislature in which he seeks to qualify as …
48 U.S.C. § 1423g § 1423g. Vacancies
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Vacancies occurring in the legislature shall be filled as the legislature shall provide, except that no person filling a vacancy shall hold office longer than for the remainder of the term for which his predecessor was elected.
48 U.S.C. § 1423h § 1423h. Regular and special sessions
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Regular sessions of the legislature shall be held annually, commencing on the second Monday in January (unless the legislature shall by law fix a different date), and shall continue for such term as the legislature may provide. The Governor may call special sessions of the legisl…
48 U.S.C. § 1423i § 1423i. Approval of bills
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Every bill passed by the legislature shall, before it becomes a law, be entered upon the journal and presented to the Governor. If he approves it, he shall sign it, but if not he shall, except as hereinafter provided, return it, with his objections, to the legislature within ten …
48 U.S.C. § 1423j § 1423j. Authorization of appropriations
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(a) Appropriations, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, and except such appropriations as shall be made from time to time by the Congress of the United States, shall be made by the legislature. (b) If at the termination of any fiscal year the legislature shall have fail…
48 U.S.C. § 1423k § 1423k. Right of petition
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The legislature or any person or group of persons in Guam shall have the unrestricted right of petition. It shall be the duty of all officers of the government to receive and without delay to act upon or forward, as the case may require, any such petition.