Territories of the United States

For the U.S. historical territories, see Historical regions of the United States § Former organized territories. For the forms of U.S. jurisdiction, see U.S. territorial sovereignty. For historical evolution, see Territorial evolution of the United States.

Territories of the United States are sub-national administrative divisions and dependent territories overseen by the federal government of the United States. The American territories differ from the U.S. states and Indian reservations in that they are not sovereign entities.^{[note 2]} In contrast, each state has a sovereignty separate from that of the federal government and each federally recognized Native American tribe possesses limited tribal sovereignty as a "dependent sovereign nation".^[2] Territories are classified by incorporation and whether they have an "organized" government established by an organic act passed by the Congress.^[3] American territories are under American sovereignty and may be treated as part of the U.S. proper in some ways and not others (i.e., territories belong to, but are not considered part of the U.S.).^[4] Unincorporated territories in particular are not considered to be integral parts of the U.S.,^[5] and the U.S. Constitution applies only partially in those territories.^{[6][7][3][8][9]}

Territories of the United States
Flag
The 50 states and the District of Columbia   Compact of Free Association (Palau, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia)   Incorporated, unorganized territory   Unincorporated, organized territory   Unincorporated, organized territory with Commonwealth status[note 1]   Unincorporated, unorganized territory
Languages	English Spanish Samoan Chamorro Carolinian
Demonym(s)	American
Territories	5 inhabited American Samoa Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico United States Virgin Islands 9 uninhabited Baker Island Howland Island Jarvis Island Johnston Atoll Kingman Reef Midway Atoll Navassa Island Palmyra Atoll Wake Island 2 claimed Bajo Nuevo Bank Serranilla Bank
Leaders
• Head of state	Donald Trump
• Governors	List
Area
• Total	22,294.19 km2 (8,607.83 sq mi)
Population
• 2020 census	3,623,895
Currency	United States dollar
Date format	mm/dd/yyyy (AD)

The U.S. administers three^[6][10] territories in the Caribbean Sea and eleven in the Pacific Ocean.^{[note 3][note 4]} Five territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) are permanently inhabited, unincorporated territories; the other nine are small islands, atolls, and reefs with no native (or permanent) population. Of the nine, only one is classified as an incorporated territory (Palmyra Atoll). Two additional territories (Bajo Nuevo Bank and Serranilla Bank) are claimed by the U.S. but administered by Colombia.^[7][12][13] Historically, territories were created to administer newly acquired land, and most eventually attained statehood.^[14][15] The most recent territories to become U.S. states were Alaska on January 3, 1959, and Hawaii on August 21, 1959.^[16]

Politically and economically, the territories are underdeveloped. Residents of U.S. territories cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections, and they have only non-voting representation in the U.S. Congress.^[7] According to 2012 data, territorial telecommunications and other infrastructure are generally inferior to that of the continental U.S. and Hawaii.^[17] Poverty rates are higher in the territories than in the states.^[18][19]

Organized vs. unorganized territories

For a list of former organized territories, see Historical regions of the United States § Former organized territories.

The United States from 1868 to 1876, including nine organized and two unorganized (at the time) territories

Definition

Organized territories are lands under federal sovereignty (but not part of any state or the federal district) which were given a measure of self-governance by Congress through an organic act subject to the Congress's plenary powers under the territorial clause of the Constitution's Article Four, section 3.^[20]

Historical practice

The term unorganized was historically applied either to a newly acquired region not yet constituted as an organized incorporated territory (e.g. the Louisiana Purchase prior to the establishment of Orleans Territory and the District of Louisiana), or to a region previously part of an organized incorporated territory left "unorganized" after part of it had been organized and achieved the requirements for statehood (e.g. a large portion of Missouri Territory became unorganized territory for several years after its southeastern section became the state of Missouri). The Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854 created the Kansas and Nebraska Territories, bringing organized government to the region once again. The creation of Kansas and Nebraska left the Indian Territory as the only unorganized territory in the Great Plains. In 1858, the western part of the Minnesota Territory became unorganized when it was not included in the new state of Minnesota; this area was organized in 1861 as part of the Dakota Territory. In 1890, the western half of the Indian Territory was organized as Oklahoma Territory. The eastern half remained unorganized until 1907, when it was joined with Oklahoma Territory to form the State of Oklahoma. Additionally, the Department of Alaska was unorganized from its acquisition in 1867 from Russia until organized as the District of Alaska in 1884; it was organized as Alaska Territory in 1912. Hawaii was also unorganized from the time of its annexation by the U.S. in 1898 until organized as Hawaii Territory in 1900.

Regions that have been admitted as states under the United States Constitution in addition to the original thirteen were, most often, prior to admission, territories or parts of territories of this kind. As the United States grew, the most populous parts of the organized territory would achieve statehood. Some territories existed only a short time before becoming states, while others remained territories for decades. The shortest-lived was Alabama Territory at two years, while New Mexico Territory and Hawaii Territory both lasted more than 50 years.

Of the 50 states, 31 were once part of an organized, incorporated U.S. territory. In addition to the original 13, six subsequent states never were: Kentucky, Maine, and West Virginia were each separated from an existing state;^[21] Texas and Vermont were both sovereign states (de facto sovereignty for Vermont, as the region was claimed by New York) when they entered the Union; and California was part of unorganized land ceded to the United States by Mexico in 1848 at the end of the Mexican–American War.

Existing status

All of the five major U.S. territories are permanently inhabited and have locally elected territorial legislatures and executives and some degree of political autonomy. Four of the five are "organized", but American Samoa is technically "unorganized". All of the U.S. territories without permanent non-military populations are unorganized.

Federal administration

The Office of Insular Affairs coordinates federal administration of the U.S. territories and freely associated states, except for Puerto Rico.^[22]

On March 3, 1849, the last day of the 30th Congress, a bill was passed to create the U.S. Department of the Interior to take charge of the internal affairs of United States territory. The Interior Department has a wide range of responsibilities (which include the regulation of territorial governments, the basic responsibilities for public lands, and other various duties).

In contrast to similarly named Departments in other countries, the United States Department of the Interior is not responsible for local government or for civil administration except in the cases of Indian reservations, through the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and island dependencies administered by the Office of Insular Affairs.

Permanently inhabited territories

The U.S. has five permanently inhabited territories: Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands in the North Pacific Ocean, and American Samoa in the South Pacific Ocean.^{[note 5]} American Samoa is in the Southern Hemisphere, while the other four are in the Northern Hemisphere.^[23] In 2020, their combined population was about 3.62 million, over 90% of which is accounted for by Puerto Rico alone.^[24][25]

People born in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands acquire U.S. citizenship by birth, and foreign nationals residing there may apply for U.S. citizenship by naturalization.^{[26][27][28][note 6]} People born in American Samoa acquire U.S. nationality but not U.S. citizenship by birth if they do not have a U.S. citizen parent.^{[note 7]} U.S. nationals without U.S. citizenship may hold U.S. passports and reside in any part of the United States without restriction.^[32] However, to become U.S. citizens they must apply for naturalization, like foreigners, and may only do so while residing in parts of the United States other than American Samoa.^{[33][note 8]} Foreign nationals residing in American Samoa cannot apply for U.S. citizenship or U.S. nationality at all.^[35][36]

Each territory is self-governing^[8] with three branches of government, including a locally elected governor and a territorial legislature.^[7] Each territory elects a non-voting member (a non-voting resident commissioner in the case of Puerto Rico) to the U.S. House of Representatives.^[7][37][38] Although they cannot vote on the passage of legislation, they can introduce legislation, have floor privileges to address the house, be members of and vote in committees, are assigned offices and staff funding, and may nominate constituents from their territories to the Army, Naval, Air Force and Merchant Marine academies.^[39]

As of the 118th Congress, the territories are represented by Aumua Amata Radewagen (R) of American Samoa, James Moylan (R) of Guam, Gregorio Sablan (D) of Northern Mariana Islands, Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PNP) of Puerto Rico and Stacey Plaskett (D) of U.S. Virgin Islands.^[40] The District of Columbia's delegate is Eleanor Holmes Norton (D); like the district, the territories have no vote in Congress and no representation in the Senate.^[41][42] Additionally, the Cherokee Nation has delegate-elect Kimberly Teehee, who has not been seated by Congress.

Every four years, U.S. political parties nominate presidential candidates at conventions which include delegates from the territories.^[43] U.S. citizens living in the territories can vote for presidential candidates in these primary elections but not in the general election.^[7][41]

The territorial capitals are Pago Pago (American Samoa), Hagåtña (Guam), Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands), San Juan (Puerto Rico) and Charlotte Amalie (U.S. Virgin Islands).^{[44][45][46][47][48][49][50]} Their governors are Lemanu Peleti Mauga (American Samoa), Lou Leon Guerrero (Guam), Ralph Torres (Northern Mariana Islands), Pedro Pierluisi (Puerto Rico) and Albert Bryan (U.S. Virgin Islands).

Among the inhabited territories, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is available only in the Northern Mariana Islands;^{[note 9]} however, in 2019 a U.S. judge ruled that the federal government's denial of SSI benefits to residents of Puerto Rico is unconstitutional.^[51] This ruling was later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, allowing for the exclusion of territories from such programs.^[52] In the decision, the court explained that the exemption of island residents from most federal income taxes provides a "rational basis" for their exclusion from eligibility for SSI payments.^[53]

American Samoa is the only U.S. territory with its own immigration system (a system separate from the United States immigration system).^[54][55] American Samoa also has a communal land system in which 90% of the land is communally owned; ownership is based on Samoan ancestry.^[56]

Overview of populated American territories^{[44][45][46][47][48]}

Name (abbreviation)	Location	Area	Population (2020)[24][25]	Capital	Largest town	Status	Acquired
American Samoa (AS)	Polynesia (South Pacific)	197.1 km2 (76 sq mi)	49,710	Pago Pago	Tafuna	Unincorporated, unorganized[note 10]	April 17, 1900
Guam (GU)	Micronesia (North Pacific)	543 km2 (210 sq mi)	153,836	Hagåtña	Dededo	Unincorporated, organized	April 11, 1899
Northern Mariana Islands (MP)	Micronesia (North Pacific)	463.63 km2 (179 sq mi)	47,329	Saipan[note 11]	Saipan[note 12]	Unincorporated, organized (Commonwealth)	November 4, 1986[note 13][58][57]
Puerto Rico (PR)	Caribbean (North Atlantic)	9,104 km2 (3,515 sq mi)	3,285,874	San Juan	San Juan	Unincorporated, organized (Commonwealth)	April 11, 1899[59]
U.S. Virgin Islands (VI)	Caribbean (North Atlantic)	346.36 km2 (134 sq mi)	87,146	Charlotte Amalie	Charlotte Amalie	Unincorporated, organized	March 31, 1917[60]

History

• American Samoa: territory since 1900; after the end of the Second Samoan Civil War, the Samoan Islands were divided into two regions. The U.S. took control of the eastern half of the islands.^[61][23] In 1900, the Treaty of Cession of Tutuila took effect.^[62] The Manuʻa islands became part of American Samoa in 1904, and Swains Island became part of American Samoa in 1925.^[62] Congress ratified American Samoa's treaties in 1929.^[62] For 51 years, the U.S. Navy controlled the territory.^[34] American Samoa is locally self-governing under a constitution last revised in 1967.^{[23][note 14]} The first elected governor of American Samoa was in 1977, and the first non-voting member of Congress was in 1981.^[34] By jus soli, people born in American Samoa are U.S. nationals, but not U.S. citizens.^[26][23] American Samoa is technically unorganized,^[23] and its main island is Tutuila.^[23]
• Guam: territory since 1899, acquired at the end of the Spanish–American War.^[64] Guam is the home of Naval Base Guam and Andersen Air Force Base. It was organized under the Guam Organic Act of 1950, which granted U.S. citizenship to Guamanians and gave Guam a local government.^[64] In 1968, the act was amended to permit the election of a governor.^[64]
• Northern Mariana Islands: A commonwealth since 1986,^[58][57] the Northern Mariana Islands together with Guam were part of the Spanish Empire until 1899 when the Northern Marianas were sold to the German Empire after the Spanish–American War.^[65] Beginning in 1919, they were administered by Japan as a League of Nations mandate until the islands were captured by the United States in the Battle of Saipan and Battle of Tinian (June–August 1944) and the surrender of Aguigan (September 1945) during World War II.^[65] They became part of the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) in 1947, administered by the United States as U.N. trustee.^[65][57] The other constituents of the TTPI were Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands.^[66] Following failed efforts in the 1950s and 1960s to reunify Guam and the Northern Marianas,^[67] a covenant to establish the Northern Mariana Islands as a commonwealth in political union with the United States was negotiated by representatives of both political bodies; it was approved by Northern Mariana Isla