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UNITED STATES COMMONWEALTH (1978 to Present)
In January 1978 the Northern Marianas became self-governing in political union with the United States under the terms of a Covenant negotiated between the two governments and the area's first elected governor took office. For the first time after more than 300 years under the flags of Spain, Germany, Japan, and the United Nations, the new Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands began to control its a measure of its own destiny.

On May 28,1986 the United Nations Trusteeship Council concluded that the United States had satisfactorily discharged its obligations to the islands. On November 4, 1986 United States citizenship was conferred upon those people of the Northern Marianas that met the necessary qualifications. On December 22,1990 the Security Council of the United Nations voted to dissolve the Trusteeship.