Guam Constitutional Convention of 1977

The Guam Constitutional Convention of 1977 was a constitutional convention that took place in Agana, Guam, in 1977.[1]

Authorization of the Guam Constitutional Convention

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Under the authority granted by the U.S. Congress under Public Law 94-584,[2] Guam Senator Frank F. Blas introduced Bill 978, which would establish the Guam Constitutional Convention. The bill was substituted by the Committee on Rules and passed the Guam Legislature unanimously with 21 votes, and was enacted as Public Law 13-202 by Governor Ricardo J. Bordallo.[3][4] The law provided for the election of delegates by municipality based upon population, as determined by the election commission. It provided for a referendum to approve the constitution following the convention.[3]

Delegates Elected to the Guam Constitutional Convention of 1977

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A special election was held on April 16, 1977, at which delegates were elected to the Constitutional Convention.[3][4] The following is a list of the delegates who were elected and from which municipal district each was elected.[1]

Name Municipal District
Martin C. Benavente Dededo
Gregorio M. Borja Santa Rita
Edward W. Chargualaf Piti
Felix L. Crisostomo Mangilao
Thomas Crisostomo Talofofo
Francisco Cruz Agat
Joseph C. Cruz Barrigada
Vicente T. Diaz Asan-Maina
Steve Eichner Tamuning
Roque B. Eustaquio Yona
T. Frank Flores Yigo
Judith Guthertz Mangilao
Carl T.C. Gutierrez Agana Heights
Frank C. Guzman Dededo
Anthony C. Leon Guerrero Yona
Frank G. Lujan Chalan Pago
Mark Martinez Tamuning
Ernesto A. Natividad Dededo
Theodore S. Nelson Mongmong-Toto-Maite
Jesus L. Perez Barrigada
Vicente P. Perez Mongmong-Toto-Maite
Jesus S. Quinata Umatac
Vicente C. Reyes Sinajana
Jose B. Sarmiento Santa Rita
Joseph F. Soriano Dededo
Jesus M. Tedpahogo Merizo
Jose Tuquero Agat
James H. Underwood Agana
Donald I. Weakley, Sr. Inarajan
Judith T. Won Pat Sinajana
Antonio C. Yamashita Tamuning
Prospero Zamora Dededo

Proceedings of the Guam Constitutional Convention of 1977

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The convention was convened on May 4, 1977, by Speaker Joseph F. Ada. Members of the Convention selected Carl T.C. Gutierrez to act as Chairman of the convention. On December 15, 1977, the delegates signed the draft constitution.[1]

Referendum on the Draft Constitution

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Following the approval of the draft Constitution by President Jimmy Carter and the U.S. Congress, Senator Carmen A. Kasperbauer introduced Guam Public Law 15–23, which postponed the referendum on the draft Constitution until August 4, 1979.[5] Eighty-two percent of those who voted in the 1979 referendum voted to reject the constitution.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Guam Constitutional Convention 1977. Proceedings of the Guam Constitutional Convention 1977. Agana, Guam: 1979.
  2. ^ U.S. Congress. Public Law 94-584. Washington, D.C.
  3. ^ a b c Guam Legislature. Public Law 13-202. Agana, Guam.
  4. ^ a b c Guampedia. Guam Constitutional Conventions (ConCon). Hagatna, Guam.
  5. ^ Guam Legislature. Public Law 15-23. Agana, Guam.

Further reading

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  • Solomon, Neil (1979). "The Guam Constitutional Convention of 1977". Virginia Journal of International Law. 19 (4): 725–806. Retrieved 29 December 2016.