Role of municipal councils

At Issue: Measure to revive and define the role of municipal councils in the three island municipalities.

Our View: A thorough review of the constitutional roles of delegations should be weighed against the proposed measure.

Historically, the establishment of municipal governments comprised of the office of the mayor and council was the beginning of civilian government in these isles right after the war.

It was the initial venue where the seed of a republican form of government was planted. It included the election of mayors and councilmen. Then, it (councils) were the only lawmaking body of respective islands under the Naval administration.

The role of councils in lawmaking was reduced substantially when the former Marianas District Legislature was born under the Trust Territory Government. It deals with all issues of Marianas-wide concern in concert with the former district administration.

Then came our constitutional government in 1978 which further reduced the role of municipal councils from lawmaking to a ceremonial body. In fact, the role of councils was taken over by senatorial delegations, a constitutional creature. Perhaps there’s still relevancy in the role of municipal councils, but the constitutional
role of delegations preempts them from the primary role of lawmaking.

At the delegation level, government still resides in the governance given that each member is an elected official of his people. Perhaps the revival of lawmaking of the council ought to be revisited if anything else but to give meaning to its role. In this case, an amendment to the dual role of legislative delegations may be in order. It is a strange arrangement that must have evolved into what it is today in a subtle effort to do away with municipal councils.

While we advocate less government, the issue of relevance and the representation of local sentiments at the grassroots level rest rightfully with municipal councils. They are best poised to deal on a day-to-day basis with the true sentiments of the governance. It’s an issue warranting definition so to give credence to the exercise of electing councilmen who really have no meaningful roles in their respective municipalities today. For once, let us say what we mean and mean what we say insofar as this issue is concerned. Si Yuus Maase`!