ABA Votes to Expand Voting Body to Include US Territories
The ABA gave each of the U.S. Pacific Territories its own seat in the House of Delegates today during the annual meeting in Toronto.
Under the proposal, Constitutional Amendment 11-2 (PDF), Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands (actually a commonwealth), who shared a joint seat, now will each have its own seat. American Samoa also will have its own seat in the House. Previously, American Samoa had no representation. With the addition of these seats, the size of the House of Delegates will increase from 566 to 568.
Joaquin C. Arriola, senior partner at Arriola, Cowan & Arriola, in support of the resolution, spoke to the long history of attendance of representatives from the territories at the House sessions and the diverse body of ABA-member practicing lawyers in each territory.
“We ask that you stand with your fellow American lawyers in territories, as small as they may be, and as far away as they may be,” Arriola said.
The issue of representation of the Pacific territories dates back to 1993 when the House approved a recommendation that would give the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam the opportunity to share a single seat.
American Samoa first petitioned for a delegate seat in 2009, but that request was deferred to give the credentialing body time to review representation from all U.S. territories. Last year, a measure was defeated that would give each of the three territories its own seat. The Virgin Islands has had a seat in the House since 1989.
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