Unlike states, the U.S. federal government has direct control over territories, limited only by the Covenant.
As an unincorporated territory, not all of the provisions of the United States Constitution apply.
Cases under federal law are heard before the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands.
Cases under territorial law are heard by the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, with appeals heard by the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
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