<P> The age of consent in the Northern Mariana Islands is 16, according to Sections 1306--1309 of the Commonwealth Code . There a close - in - age exemption permitting minors aged 13--15 to engage in sexual activity with those less than three years older . Under the same provisions, it is also illegal for any person aged 16 or older to aid, encourage, induce or causes minors under 13 to engage in any sexual activity with anyone else, or minors aged 13--15 to engage in sexual activity with persons older than them by three years or more . </P> <P> The age of consent rises to 18 when the older partner--being age 18 or older--is the parent, stepparent, adopted parent, or legal guardian of the younger person, or when the older partner has or occupies a position of authority over the younger person . This does not apply for minors aged 16 or 17 as long as the older partner is less than three years older and is not the younger person's parent, stepparent, adopted parent or legal guardian . According to section 1317, a position of authority "means an employer, youth leader, scout leader, coach, teacher, counselor, school administrator, religious leader, doctor, nurse, psychologist, guardian ad litem, babysitter, or a substantially similar position, and a police officer or probation officer other than when the officer is exercising custodial control" over a person under 18 . </P> <P> According to Section 1310, affirmative defenses for the crimes outlined in Sections 1306--1309 exists for consensual activity between legal spouses and for cases where the defendant reasonably believed that a minor age 13 or older was of legal age . </P> <P> Sections 1303 and 1304 of the Commonwealth Code also criminalize sexual activity with persons aged 18 or 19, if they are "committed to the custody of the Department of Public Health and Environmental Services under the Commonwealth's civil or criminal laws, and the offender is the legal guardian of the person". </P>

Can a 17 year old date a 16 year old