Unincorporated territory; capital; powers of government; suits against government; type of government; supervision

48 U.S.C. § 1421a

• Title: 48 — Territories and Insular Possessions
• Chapter: SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS

Text

Guam is declared to be an unincorporated territory of the United States and the capital and seat of government thereof shall be located at the city of Agana, Guam. The government of Guam shall have the powers set forth in this chapter, shall have power to sue by such name, and, with the consent of the legislature evidenced by enacted law, may be sued upon any contract entered into with respect to, or any tort committed incident to, the exercise by the government of Guam of any of its lawful powers. The government of Guam shall consist of three branches, executive, legislative, and judicial, and its relations with the Federal Government in all matters not the program responsibility of another Federal department or agency, shall be under the general administrative supervision of the Secretary of the Interior.

History

(Aug. 1, 1950, ch. 512, §3, 64 Stat. 384; Pub. L. 86–316, Sept. 21, 1959, 73 Stat. 588; Pub. L. 90–497, §12(a), Sept. 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 847.)

Editorial Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments
1968—Pub. L. 90–497 substituted provisions that all matters concerning Guam which are not the program responsibility of other Federal departments or agencies be under the general administrative supervision of the Secretary of the Interior for provisions that the general administrative supervision of matters concerning Guam be under the head of such civilian department or agency of the Government of the United States as the President might direct.
1959—Pub. L. 86–316 permitted government of Guam, with consent of legislature, to be sued.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1968 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 90–497 necessary to authorize the holding of an election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor on Nov. 3, 1970, effective Jan. 1, 1970, and all other amendments unless otherwise provided effective Jan. 4, 1971, see section 13 of Pub. L. 90–497, set out as a note under section 1422 of this title.