Guam: Political System
According to topschoolsintheusa, the official name of the country is:
| Guam Unincorporated and unorganized Territory of Guam |
The head of state is the American president, who is elected for four years and can only be re-elected once. Guam residents have been US citizens since 1950 and have been represented in Congress by a non-voting delegate since 1973. The residents of Guam are not allowed to vote in the presidential election.
A governor elected for four years is the island’s head of government. There is also a unicameral parliament with 21 members who are elected for two years.
National anthem
The US anthem is officially played on Guam, but a local national anthem has also existed since 1919.
The text and music of this hymn are by Ramon Manalisay Sablan (1901-1970). The Chamoru text is as follows:
Original text
| Fanohge Chamoru put it tano’-taKanta i matuna-na gi todu i lugat
Para i onra, para i gloria Abiba i isla sinparat. Para i onra, para i gloria Abiba i isla sinparat.Todu i tiempo i pas para hita Yan ginen i langet na bendision Kontra i piligru na’fansafo ‘ham Yu’os prutehi i islan Guam Kontra i piligru na’fansafo’ ham Yu’os prutehi i islan Guam |
And in the English translation
| Stand ye Guamanians for your countryAnd sing her praise from shore to shore
For her honor, for her glory Exalt our island forever more. For her honor, for her glory Exalt our island forever more.May everlasting peace reign o’er us May heaven’s blessing to us come Against all perils, do not forsake us God protect our isle of Guam. Against all perils, do not forsake us God protect our isle of Guam. |
In English translation
| Stand, you Guamans, for your countryAnd praise and praise it from coast to coast,
For its honor and for its glory Glorify our island for all time May everlasting peace reign over us, May the blessing of heaven come upon us Against all dangers, don’t leave us, God protect our island of Guam Go against all, don’t leave us, God protect our island of Guam. |
National flag
Based on flag descriptions by Countryaah.com, the national flag of Guam shows a canoe and a palm tree against the background of the “Two Lovers Point” (for details see under sights). The flag was first hoisted on July 6, 1917.
- Check top-mba-universities for public holidays, sports events, UNESCO world heritage sites and major places to visit in Guam.
Guam: animals
The mermaid Sirena
A mermaid is not an animal, but a water dweller
The legend of the mermaid Sirena tells of a young girl in Hagatna who preferred to swim in the sea than to collect coconuts, as instructed by her mother. When the daughter was late because of this, the mother uttered the following curse: If Sirena likes bathing so much, then I hope that she will turn into a fish.
However, the godmother Sirenas said: “Please let the God-given part of her remain human”.
And so it so happened that Sirena turned into a mermaid.
Today there is a statue of the mermaid Sirena on the St. Antonio Bridge.
Mammals
The only remaining wild native mammal on Guam is the Mariana fruit bat (Pteropus mariannus).
Reptiles
Brown or Pacific night tree snake
This poisonous snake was probably introduced from Guinea to Guam during transports by the US military in the 1940s or 1950s. It is also found in the northern and eastern coastal regions of Australia, as well as on some islands in Indonesia and the Solomon Islands. The snake’s venom is a neurotoxin, but it is not fatal for humans.
The snake with the scientific name Boiga irregularis is yellowish-brown in color and can grow up to approx. 3 m long.
Since the snake has no enemies on Guam, it was able to spread very quickly over the island and become a real threat, especially for the native bird world. Almost all native bird species were exterminated by the snake.
The snake also has another – almost bizarre effect – because it not only climbs trees but also electricity pylons, it more often connects the voltage-carrying lines with the earthed electricity pylon. The consequence is repeated power outages on Guam. However, this ends fatally for the snake in question. Populations of over 10,000 animals per km² are reported. But this information is to be met with great skepticism – since this would represent a huge population density.
