TITLE FOUR:  GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article I:  Approval

and Effective Date

Section 411
          This Compact shall come into effect upon mutual agreement between the Government of the United States, acting in fulfillment of its responsibilities as Administering Authority of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and the Government of the Marshall Islands or the Federated States of Micronesia and subse- quent to completion of the following:

           (a)  Approval by the Government of the Marshall Islands or the Federated States of Micronesia in accordance with its constitu- tional processes;

           (b)  Conduct of the plebiscite referred to in Section 412; and

           (c)  Approval by the Government of the United States in accordance with its constitutional processes.

Section 412
          A plebiscite shall be conducted in each of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia for the free and voluntary choice by the peoples of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands of their future political status through informed and democratic processes.  The Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia shall each be considered a voting jurisdiction, and the plebiscite shall be conducted under fair and equitable standards in each voting jurisdiction. The Administering Authority of the Trust Territory of the Pacific islands, after consultation with the Governments of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia, shall fix the date on which the plebiscite shall be called in each voting jurisdiction.  The plebiscite shall be called jointly by the Administering Authority of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and the other Signatory Government concerned.  The results of the plebiscite in each voting jurisdiction shall be determined by a majority of the valid ballots cast in that voting jurisdiction.