The national judicial branch consists of a Supreme Court, headed by a Chief Justice and not more than five Associate Justices. Justices are appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Congress and serve for life. The Court consists of a trial and an appellate division. The judiciary in the FSM functions as a fully independent branch of government. The four states of the FSM have a great deal of control over their internal governance, including the power to make external contracts.
State governments are also divided into executive, legislative and judicial branches.
The state executive branch is headed by a governor and a lieutenant governor elected by popular vote for four-year terms. Each state also has executive agencies performing a variety of functions, including resource and development, health, education, public safety, public works, public affairs, finance, planning and budget, and personnel. The elected state legislatures, like the National Congress, are unicameral. All four states have their own state supreme courts. Municipal government exists at the village level.