A referendum on becoming a US commonwealth was held in the Northern Mariana Islands on 17 June 1975.
[1] As a result, the United States Congress approved the change of status on 24 March 1976.
[1] Four previous referendums on either integration with Guam or the islands' status had been held in 1958, 1961, 1963 and 1969.
On 20 February 1975 the Northern Marianas' District Legislature put forward proposals to become a US commonwealth.
[1] A threshold of 55% in favor was set in order for the referendum to pass.