The Federated States of Micronesia are a compilation of the Caroline Islands that are widely scattered in the western Pacific Ocean. After WWII they became part of the UN after becoming a part of the United States control. The eastern most group of islands adopted a constitution in 1979. The western island group became Palau. Independence was in 1986 after signing the Compact of Free Association with the United States. This compact was recently amended in 2004.