Legislature of Guam

Legislature of Guam
Liheslaturan Guåhan
34th Guam Legislature
Seal of the Guam Legislature
Type
Type
Term limits
 no limit
History
Founded May 23, 1950
Preceded by Guam Congress
Leadership
Benjamin J.F. Cruz (D)
Since January 2, 2017
Vice Speaker
Therese M. Terlaje (D)
Since January 2, 2017
Legislative Secretary
Regine Biscoe Lee (D)
Since January 2, 2017
Majority Leader
Thomas C. Ada (D)
Since January 2, 2017
Majority Whip
Telena C. Nelson (D)
Since January 2, 2017
Minority Leader
James V. Espaldon (R)
Since January 2, 2017
Minority Whip
Mary Camacho Torres, R)
Since January 2, 2017
Structure
Seats 15
Political groups

Government

Opposition

Length of term
 2 years (no term limit)
Authority Organic Act of Guam
Salary $55,000 [1]
Elections
Plurality-at-large voting
Last election
 November 8, 2016
Next election
 November 7, 2018
Meeting place
Guam Congress Building in Agaña, Guam
Website
http://www.guamlegislature.com
Constitution
Organic Act of Guam
Guam
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Guam

The Legislature of Guam (Chamorro: Liheslaturan Guåhan) is the law-making body for the United States territory of Guam. The unicameral legislative branch consists of fifteen senators, each serving for a two-year term. All members of the legislature are elected at-large with the island under one whole district. After the enactment of the Guam Organic Act in 1950, the First Guam Legislature was elected composing of 21 elected members. Today, the current fifteen-member 34th Guam Legislature (Chamorro: I Mina' Trentai Kuåttro Na Liheslaturan Guåhan) was elected in November 2016.

Current 34th Guam Legislature

History

Spanish Period: 1668–1898

During the Spanish colonial era, lasting roughly from the 1670s until 1898, Guam was provided with no colonial legislature. All political decisions on the island were left to a Madrid appointed governor, who, until 1817, reported to the Viceroy of New Spain in Mexico. Due to New Spain's distance from Guam and the speed of transportation of the times, Guam's leadership often took matters into its own hands. During the Mexican War of Independence, when Spain increasingly saw New Spain falling through its grip, Madrid transferred Guam's political authority to the Governor of Manila, and after 1821, fully to the Spanish Philippines.

American Period: 1898–1941, 1944–present

Spain lost Guam during the 1898 Spanish–American War in a bloodless invasion. For the next forty years, the United States Navy assumed executive control of the island, treating it more as a military outpost than an overseas territory, with little to no civilian say in the island's affairs. Governor Captain Willis Winter Bradley instituted the Guam Congress during the 1930s as an elected advisory body to the naval governor. On December 8, 1941, Imperial Japanese forces invaded Guam, beginning a three-year occupation of the island. The island was eventually retaken in 1944 during the intense Battle of Guam.

Following the end of the war, the U.S. Navy attempted to resume military control of the islands, much to the dismay of the local Chamorro population who demanded greater rights on the heels of the harsh Japanese occupation. The U.S. federal government listened. The result was the Guam Organic Act of 1950 signed by President Harry S. Truman. The act established a civilian territorial government with executive, legislative, and judicial branches. It was the first time that Guam had a democratic civilian government.

Past Speakers of the Guam Legislature

Legislature Speaker Born-Died Term Party
1st–2nd Legislature Antonio B. Won Pat (1908–1987) January 1, 1951 – January 3, 1955 Popular Party
3rd Legislature Francisco B. Leon Guerrero (1897–1974) January 3, 1955 – January 7, 1957 Territorial Party
4th–7th Legislature Antonio B. Won Pat (1908–1987) January 7, 1957 – January 4, 1965 Popular Party
8th Legislature Carlos P. Taitano (1917–2009) January 4, 1965 – January 2, 1967 Territorial Party
9th–10th Legislature Joaquin C. Arriola (b. 1925) January 2, 1967 – January 4, 1971 Democratic
11th–12th Legislature Florencio T. Ramirez (1915–1995) January 4, 1971 – January 6, 1975 Democratic
13th–14th Legislature Joseph F. Ada (b. 1943) January 6, 1975 – January 1, 1979 Republican
15th–16th Legislature Thomas V.C. Tanaka (b. 1940) January 1, 1979 – January 3, 1983 Republican
17th–18th Legislature Carl T.C. Gutierrez (b. 1941) January 3, 1983 – January 5, 1987 Democratic
19th Legislature Franklin J. Arceo Quitugua (1933–2015) January 5, 1987 – January 2, 1989 Democratic
20th–22nd Legislature Joe Taitano San Agustin (b. 1931) January 2, 1989 – January 2, 1995 Democratic
23rd Legislature Don Parkinson (b. ?) January 2, 1995 – January 6, 1997 Democratic
24th–26th Legislature Antonio "Tony" R. Unpingco (1942–2007) January 6, 1997 – January 6, 2003 Republican
27th Legislature Vicente "Ben" C. Pangelinan (1955–2014) January 6, 2003 – January 3, 2005 Democratic
28th–29th Legislature Mark Forbes (b. 1954) January 3, 2005 – March 7, 2008 Republican
29th–33rd Legislature Judith T. Won Pat (b. 1949) March 7, 2008 – January 2, 2017 Democratic
34th Legislature Benjamin J.F. Cruz (b. 1951) January 2, 2017 – present Democratic

Structure of the Guam Legislature

The Guam Organic Act of 1950 provides for the establishment of the Guam Legislature. The Organic Act provides that the Guam Legislature is a unicameral body with up to twenty-one members and that elections shall be held every two years. Until a change to Guam law in 1996, the Guam Legislature had 21 members, called senators, but since then it has had 15 senators. Senators of the Guam Legislature have been elected both by a number of at-large districts and by an island-wide at-large election. Since the 1980s, senators of the Guam Legislature have been elected at-large through an open partisan primary and a subsequent island-wide election.

Qualifications

The qualifications for membership in the legislature are expressly stated in the Organic Act of Guam:

  • a candidate must be at least twenty-five years old, and;
  • a candidate must have lived on Guam for at least five years preceding the sitting of the legislature in which he or she seeks to become a member.

Seat

The Guam Congress Building in Hagåtña, the seat of the legislature

The legislature currently meets at the Guam Congress Building along Chalan Santo Papa in the village of Hagåtña, directly across from the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica.

Guam Congress Building under construction in 1947
The cornerstone being laid for the under-construction Guam Congress Building in 1947

24th through 34th Guam Legislatures

In the November 1996 legislative elections, the Republican Party defeated the Democratic Party. The Republicans held 11 seats (Antonio Unpingco, Anthony C. Blaz, Joanne M. Salas Brown, Mark Forbes, Felix Perez Camacho, Eduardo J. Cruz, Alberto C. Lamorena V, Lawrence F. Kasperbauer, Carlotta Leon Guerrero, Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson and John C. Salas). The Democrats held 10 seats (Vicente C. Pangelinan, Lou Leon Guerrero, Franciso P. Camacho, Thomas C. Ada, Frank B. Aguon Jr., Mark C. Charfauros, Francis E. Santos, Judith Won Pat-Borja, Willam Flores, and Angel L.G. Santos).

In the November 1998 legislative elections, the Republican Party defeated the Democratic Party. The Republicans held a 12-seat "super" majority (Speaker Antonio Unpingco, Vice Speaker Anthony C. Blaz, Legislative Secretary Joanne M. Salas Brown, Majority Leader Mark Forbes, Asst. Majority leader Eddie Calvo, Majority Whip Lawrence F. Kasperbauer, Asst. Majority Whip Kaleo Moylan, Simon A. Sanchez II, Marcel G. Camacho, Alberto "Tony" C. Lamorena V, Carlotta A. Leon Guerrero, and Dr. John C. Salas). The Democrats held three seats (Vicente C. Pangelinan, Eulogio C. Bermudes, and Frank B. Aguon Jr.).

In the November 2000 legislative elections, the Republican Party defeated the Democratic Party. The Republicans held 8 seats (Speaker Antonio Unpingco, Vice Speaker Lawrence F. Kasperbauer, Legislative Secretary Joanne M. Salas Brown, Majority Leader Mark Forbes, Asst. Majority leader Eddie Calvo, Majority Whip Felix Perez Camacho, Asst. Majority Whip Kaleo Moylan, and Joseph F. Ada). The Democrats held seven seats (Vicente C. Pangelinan, Lou Leon Guerrero, Mark C. Charfauros, Judith Won Pat-Borja, Thomas C. Ada, Frank B. Aguon Jr. and Angel L.G. Santos).

In the November 2002 legislative elections, the Democratic Party defeated the Republican Party. The Democrats held 9 seats (Speaker Vicente C. Pangelinan, Vice Speaker Frank B. Aguon, Jr., Legislative Secretary Tina R. Muna Barnes, Majority Leader Lou Leon Guerrero, Asst. Majority leader Antoinette Sanford, Majority Whip Carmen Fernandez, Asst. Majority Whip John M. Quinata, Rory J. Respicio, and F. Randall Cunliffe). The Republicans held six seats (Mark Forbes, Joanne M. Salas Brown, Lawrence Kasperbauer, Jesse Anderson Lujan, Robert Kiltzkie and Ray Tenorio).

In the November 2004 legislative elections, the Republican Party defeated the Democratic Party. The Republicans held 9 seats (Speaker Mark Forbes, Vice Speaker Joanne Salas Brown, Majority Leader Ray Tenorio, Majority Whip Jesse Anderson Lujan, Lawrence Kasperbauer, Antonio R. Unpingco, Edward B. Calvo, Michael Cruz and Robert Klitzkie). The Democrats held six seats (Frank B. Aguon Jr., Lou Leon Guerrero, Adolpho Palacios, Benjamin Cruz, Judith Won Pat-Borja and Rory Respicio).

In the November 2006 legislative elections, the Republican Party defeated the Democratic Party. The Republicans held 8 seats (Speaker Mark Forbes, Vice Speaker Edward B. Calvo, Ray Tenorio, Antonio R. Unpingco, Jesse Anderson Lujan, James V. Espaldon, Frank F. Blas Jr., and Frankie Ishizaki). The Democrats held seven seats (Judith Won Pat, Rory J. Respicio, David L.G. Shimizu, Tina R. Muna Barnes, Judith P. Guthertz, Adolpho B. Palacios, Vicente C. Pangelinan).

In October 2007, Republican Senator Antonio (Tony) Unpingco died, and in a Special Election held in January 2008, Democratic Party candidate Benjamin "BJ" Cruz won the vacated seat and brought the Democrats to the majority. After Cruz was inaugurated, the new Democratic majority demanded control of the legislature, but Republicans held on to standing rules adopted in January 2007 which required a 12-3 vote to change the speakership and a 10-5 vote to change the standing rules, both of which the Democrats did not have. Finally, after a six-day power struggle[2] during which two "legislatures" with two "speakers" both claimed legitimacy, Republicans gave up their leadership[3] and Democratic Senator Judith Won Pat was elected speaker by the full legislature.

In the November 2008 legislative elections, the Democratic Party defeated the Republican Party. The Democrats held 10 seats (Speaker) Judith T. Won Pat, Vice Speaker Benjamin J. F. Cruz, Legislative Secretary Tina R. Muna Barnes, Majority Leader Rory J. Respicio, Judith P. Guthertz, Adolpho B. Palacios, Vicente C. Pangelinan, Thomas C. Ada, Frank B. Aguon Jr., and Matthew J. Rector. The Republicans held five seats (Minority Leader Edward B. Calvo, Ray Tenorio, Frank F. Blas Jr., James V. Espaldon, and Telo Taitague).

On January 19, 2010, Democratic Senator Matt Rector resigned from office. Former Republican candidate, Vicente Anthony "Tony" Ada, was declared the winner of the special election held to fill the vacancy resulting from the Rector resignation. He was sworn-in as Senator on March 22, 2010.

In the November 2010 legislative elections, the Democratic Party defeated the Republican Party. The Democrats held 9 seats (Speaker) Judith T. Won Pat, Vice Speaker Benjamin J. F. Cruz, Legislative Secretary Tina R. Muna Barnes, Majority Leader Rory J. Respicio, Judith P. Guthertz, Dennis G. Rodriguez Jr., Adolpho B. Palacios, Vicente C. Pangelinan, and Thomas C. Ada. The Republicans hold five seats (Minority Leader Frank F. Blas Jr., Aline Yamashita, V. Anthony Ada, Christopher M. Duenas, Shirley "Sam" Mabini, and Mana Silva Taijeron).

Members of the 32nd Guam Legislature[4]

In the November 2012 legislative elections, the Democratic Party defeated the Republican Party. The Democrats held nine seats and the Republicans held six seats.

NameParty AffiliationVotes Received
Dennis G. Rodriguez Jr.Democratic20,038
Frank B. Aguon, Jr.Democratic19,518
Thomas C. AdaDemocratic18,079
Thomas A. MorrisonRepublican16,983
Michael F.Q. San NicolasDemocratic16,625
V. Anthony AdaRepublican15,796
Michael LimtiacoRepublican15,787
Christopher M. DuenasRepublican15,703
Benjamin J.F. CruzDemocratic15,090
Judith T. Won PatDemocratic15,031
Tina R. Muna BarnesDemocratic14,746
Vicente C. PangelinanDemocratic14,707
Aline A. YamashitaRepublican14,203
Brant McCreadieRepublican14,058
Rory J. RespicioDemocratic14,042

Members of the 33rd Guam Legislature

In the November 2014 legislative elections, the Democratic Party defeated the Republican Party. The Democrats held nine seats and the Republicans held six seats.

NameParty AffiliationVotes Received
Frank B. Aguon, Jr.Democratic23,089
Dennis G. Rodriguez Jr.Democratic21,705
Vicente Anthony AdaRepublican20,269
Jim EspaldonRepublican19,444
Thomas Aaron MorrisonRepublican19,381
Thomas C. AdaDemocratic19,006
Mary Camacho TorresRepublican17,758
Nerissa Bretania UnderwoodDemocratic16,760
Judith T.P. Won PatDemocratic16,726
Michael F.Q. San NicolasDemocratic16,650
Tina R. Muña-BarnesDemocratic16,521
Frank Blas Jr.Republican16,452
Benjamin J.F. CruzDemocratic15,950
Rory J. RespicioDemocratic15,671
Brant McCreadieRepublican15,478

Members of the 34th Guam Legislature[5]

In the November 2016 legislative elections, the Democratic Party defeated the Republican Party. The Democrats currently hold nine seats and the Republicans hold six seats.

NameParty AffiliationVotes Received
Frank B. Aguon, Jr.Democratic21,070
Michael F.Q. San NicolasDemocratic19,686
Therese M. TerlajeDemocratic19,681
Dennis G. Rodriguez Jr.Democratic17,600
Telena Cruz NelsonDemocratic16,922
William Mendiola CastroRepublican15,599
James Virata EspaldonRepublican14,998
Regine Biscoe LeeDemocratic14,864
Mary Camacho TorresRepublican14,792
Benjamin J.F. CruzDemocratic14,436
Louisa Borja MuñaRepublican13,666
Thomas Aaron MorrisonRepublican13,634
Thomas Castro AdaDemocratic13,053
Fernando Barcinas EstevesRepublican12,982
Joe Shimizu San AgustinDemocratic12,532

Past composition of the Legislature

References

Coordinates: 13°28′32.5″N 144°44′55.7″E / 13.475694°N 144.748806°E / 13.475694; 144.748806

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