Political legitimacy rests on the popular will expressed by a majority vote through elections in accordance with the Constitution. Under the Compact of Free Association, the United States is responsible for the islands defense. The FSM has no security forces aside from national police operating under the office of the Secretary of Justice and public safety officers operating under the authority of the attorney generals of the individual state governments. The economy depends heavily on transfer payments from the United States, fishing, tourism, and subsistence agriculture. The Government generally respects the human rights of its citizens.
Traditional customs distinguish between persons on the basis of social status and sex.
There is evidence of an increase in both spousal abuse and child neglect, and government agencies often ignore such problems due to the constraints imposed by traditional society. Neither the Government nor other organizations successfully have filled the role of the traditional extended family in protecting and supporting its members. There were no reports of political or other extrajudicial killings. There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. There was no pattern of torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.