Electoral Systems

Guam

ES001

Question:	How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):	c. Directly elected in general elections (absolute majority with 2nd round if necessary) d. Indirectly elected by legislature
Comments:	The President of the United States acts as the Head of State of Guam. The President is not elected directly by citizens, they are chosen by electors through a process called the "Electoral College." The Electoral College is not always required to elect the same candidate who won the popular vote in any state. A candidates must win over half of the electors (at least 270) to win. If no candidate wins 270 electoral votes, the House of Representatives chooses the president among the top three candidates; the Senate then chooses the vice president from the remaining two candidates. When choosing the president in the House of Representatives, each state gets a single vote.
Source:	1 Guam Code 400, 402: https://law.justia.com/codes/guam/2019/title-1/chapter-4/ ; Article II, Section 1, United States Constitution ; National Archives: Electoral College: https://www.archives.gov/electoral-college/faq#no270 ; https://www.usa.gov/election
Verified:	2020/10/28

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ES002

Question:	How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:	b. Directly elected in general elections, absolute majority (with 2nd round if necessary)
Comments:	Even though Guam is subject to all applicable laws of the United States, the Governor of Guam is the executive of the political authority granted to the government of Guam. The Governor is elected with the Lieutenant Governor.
Source:	1 Guam Code 400, 402: https://law.justia.com/codes/guam/2019/title-1/chapter-4/ ; 48 U.S. Code 1422: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/48/1422
Verified:	2020/10/28

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ES003

Question:	Does the country have a president?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	As Guam is an unincorporated territory of the US, the president of Guam is the president of the USA. The Governor of Guam acts as Guam's Head of Government for all political authority of Guam where U.S. laws do not apply.
Source:	Organic Act of Guam, 1421 (a) ; 1 Guam Code 400: https://law.justia.com/codes/guam/2019/title-1/chapter-4/
Verified:	2020/10/28

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ES004

Question:	The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:	a. One chamber
Comments:	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.
Source:	Organic Act, Art. 1423 ; 2 Guam Code: https://law.justia.com/codes/guam/2019/title-2/chapter-1/
Verified:	2020/10/28

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ES005

Question:	What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):	a. Plurality (FPTP)
Comments:	Guam Legislators are elected through popular vote.
Source:	https://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/3113/ ; 48 U.S. Code Ch. 8A: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title48/chapter8A&edition=prelim
Verified:	2020/10/28

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