Law making powers in Yap, one of the four states that comprise the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), is vested in the State Legislature. The legislature has operated in its current form since 1983 following the approval by referendum of the State constitution in 1982 (see <I>PMB 1173</I> for further details). It has 10 members who are elected by universal adult suffrage every four years. However, the Legislature has its origins in the immediate post World War II period when the US Navy assumed administrative responsibility for the island. In 1945-47 the Navy encouraged and helped re-establish a Council of Chiefs. In the 1950s the 10 municipal magistrates (who were also customary chiefs) began holding meetings with the then US civil administration. Technically this Council was separate from that of the chiefs, but usually represented them. Between 1957-58 the municipalities were chartered, part of a process leading to the formation of a representative legislative body. In 1959 the first Yap Island Congress as it was then called, was convened, running parallel to the Council of Magistrates. In the 1960s Congress was expanded to include representatives from Yap's outer islands. In 1967 a new Yap District Legislature was formed, whose powers were enhanced by amendment[s] in 1978. These developments provided the foundations for the formation of the current legislature whose session journals are included here.

The Yap Legislature has law making powers over matters of public health, education, schooling, resource management, land use, the civil service, and some revenue raising abilities. Debates and discussions over these issues are carried in the <I>Yap Legislature Journal</I>.

The Journal is compiled by the Office of the Speaker of the Legislature. Issues from 1984-1997 are available here. Each volume is 500-600 pages, ring bound, double-sided photocopies. Digital copies of the <I>Legislature Journal</I> are held by the Office of the Speaker on diskette, including editions of the <I>Journal</I> since 1993. See reel list for more details.