Title 1, General Provisions

The Laws in force in Guam constitute those portions of the Constitution, treaties and laws of the United States of America applicable to Guam; Acts of I Liheslaturan Guåhan; the Guam Code Annotated; Executive Orders of I Maga’lahen Guåhan promulgated pursuant to the Organic Act o…

(a) The laws embraced in this Code constitute the “Guam Codes Annotated”. The laws as set out in this Code and in any then-current supplement as certified by the Compiler of Laws establish the permanent laws of Guam relating to and in force in Guam, other than the general and per…

(a) Every law enacted by the Guam Legislature shall go into effect at midnight of the day of its approval by the Governor, unless otherwise provided therein. (b) If a bill passed by the Legislature becomes a law without the signature of the Governor by lying before him for ten (1…

(a) The general and permanent laws of Guam shall be: (1) The Guam Code Annotated shall be the publication of the permanent codes of Guam and the publications thereof, when certified by the Compiler of Laws, shall be legal evidence of the laws contained therein; (2) Electronic pub…

(a) All acts temporary in nature shall have termination dates as specified herein. (b) Temporary acts shall terminate on midnight of the first anniversary of their passage unless the activity authorized by such act has commenced within that period. (c) If the activity authorized …

(a) Any statute, law, or rule which is inconsistent with the provisions of this Title (or other Titles of the Guam Code Annotated as the same are enacted into law) on the same subject is repealed to the extent of such inconsistency. (b) This repeal or abrogation does not revive a…

Subject to the applicable laws of the United States of America, the political authority of Guam is vested in the people of Guam. SOURCE: Former Govt. Code § 100. 2025 NOTE: Reference to “territory” omitted pursuant to 1 GCA § 420.

The authority and jurisdiction of the government of Guam extends to all places within its boundaries and, in certain circumstances specified in the Criminal and Correctional Code (Title 9 of this Code), to actions occurring outside of Guam’s boundaries. The jurisdiction of Guam o…

(a) The boundaries of Guam run two hundred (200) nautical miles seaward from the low-water line; provided, however. that where there are islands or reefs along or adjacent to the shores of Guam, the boundary line runs two hundred (200) nautical miles seaward from the outermost of…

(a) Municipal Boundaries, as delineated on Land Management Drawing No. G1-56T18 filed in the Department of Land Management under Document No. 31523 are the official boundaries of the various municipalities of Guam. All property maps not drawn in conformance with these boundaries …

All property within the boundaries of Guam which does not belong to any person vests to the government of Guam. Whenever title fails for want of heirs, or next of kin, the property vests in the government of Guam. SOURCE: Former Govt. Code § 103, as modified. COL 2026-05-05 COMME…

The authority and power to waive the immunity to suit of the government of Guam, or any of its authorities, departments, agencies, or instrumentalities is vested solely in I Liheslaturan Guåhan. SOURCE: Former Govt. Code § 104, as modified. 2025 NOTE: Reference to the “Guam Legis…

The official Coat of Arms of Guam shall consist of an upright, two-pointed oval scene which portrays an ancient flying proa (canoe) approaching the beach near the mouth of the Hagåtña River, with a lone coconut palm tree in the foreground. The colors of the Coat of Arms shall be …

(a) The official flag of Guam consists, on both sides, of a rectangular field of marine blue seventy- eight inches long and forty inches wide, trimmed on all sides with a border of deep red two inches in width and having in its center the Guam Coat of Arms, such Coat of Arms to b…

(a) The flag of Guam shall be displayed in the open during daylight hours, or, if properly lighted, during the hours of darkness, and during such hours shall be displayed only on buildings, flag staffs or halyards. (b) The flag of Guam shall be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremon…

No pledge of allegiance shall be required to be given by anyone to the Guam Flag. SOURCE: Former Govt. Code § 108, unchanged.

(a) The Great Seal of Guam shall consist of the Coat of Arms of Guam surrounded by the following words, letters and punctuation, encircling the outer border of the Coat of Arms in such a manner as to be read when the Coat of Arms is in a proper position: “Great Seal of Guam, Tano…

I Sigundo Maga’hågan/Maga’låhen Guåhan shall have custody of the Great Seal of Guam and shall affix the Seal to all executive orders, proclamations and all other executive documents requiring the seal of Guam. COL 2026-05-05 SOURCE: Former Govt. Code § 110 amended to reflect the …

(a) There shall be a Seal for each Court of Record and the Traffic Court of the government of Guam, which seals shall be the same as the Great Seal of Guam with the words “Great Seal of” omitted and in their place the name of the court shall be substituted. (b) Any agency of the …

The custodian of the seal or seals of the courts shall be the Clerk of the Court. The custodian of the other seals authorized under § 412 shall be the head of the department, agency, section, or branch of the government whose seal it is, or his designee. The custodian shall affix…

It is unlawful for any person, without authority of law, to use any representation of the Great Seal or Coat of Arms of Guam, or any government seal authorized by law, in any advertisement, letterhead, or for any commercial purpose or in any manner likely to give the impression o…

The name of this government of this territory is the “government of Guam” and all documents prepared in the name of this government shall bear such name. SOURCE: Former Govt. Code § 117 and § 119, unchanged.

The composition consisting of the words and music known as the “Guam Hymn,” composed by Dr. Ramon M. Sablan, is designated the Guam hymn and the composition of music known as the “Guam March,” composed by Jose Martinez Torres, is designated the march of Guam. The Guam Hymn shall …

There is established the “Ancient Order of Chamorri” to consist of those men and women not native to Guam who shall have contributed substantially to the betterment of the people of Guam, or who shall have demonstrated real and sympathetic interest in the people of Guam, its hist…

Each Maga’håga/Maga’låhi shall have her/his portrait painted, or photograph taken, at government expense during her/his term of office for display in a government of Guam facility. The portrait is the property of the people of Guam. SOURCE: Former Govt. Code § 175, as added by P.…

(a) I Liheslatura, on behalf of the people of Guam, shall honor with a State Funeral any person who at the time of his death or before served as a Senator, I Maga’håga/Maga’låhi, I Sigundo Maga’håga/Maga’låhi, Judge, Non-Voting Delegate to Washington or any citizen who, in the op…

Uses Within the Government of Guam. In the interests of promoting self-respect and in recognition of the necessarily pejorative, diminishing and colonial aspects of the term “territory” within the context of American law, the term “territory of Guam” or its derivatives, such as “…

Guam. (a) For the purposes of this Act, “CHamoru” shall mean the people, language, and culture indigenous to Guam and the Mariana Islands. (b) The Compiler of Law is authorized to collaborate with the Kumisión I Fino’ Chamoru Yan I Fina'nå’guen of Guam on the proposed replacement…

Unless a different intent appears in law, or in applicable court decisions, or in this Code, the common law rules of construction shall apply to the interpretation of this Code and to all other laws of Guam; provided, that, common law rules that statutes in derogation of the comm…

This Code establishes the law of the Guam respecting the subjects to which it relates, and its provisions and all proceedings under it are to be liberally construed with the view to effect its objects and to promote justice. SOURCE: Civil Code § 4; Code of Civil Procedure § 4; Go…

No part of this Code is retroactive, unless expressly so declared. SOURCE: Civil Code § 3; Civil Procedure Code § 3;, P.L. 13-186:2 (Sept. 2, 1976). 1980 NOTE: Compare Government Code § 4.

The provisions of this Code, as far as they are substantially the same as existing law, shall be construed as continuations thereof and not as new enactments. SOURCE: Government Code § 2. 1980 NOTE: Similar provisions in Civil Procedure Code § 4.

No action or proceedings commenced before this Code, or any individual Title thereof, takes effect, and no right accrued is affected by its provisions, but proceedings therein must conform to the requirements of this Code, or any particular Title thereof, as far as possible. SOUR…

(a) In General. This Act shall not apply to a corporation, association, educational institution or institution of learning, or society that is exempt from the religious discrimination provisions of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.) pursuant to § …

English and Chamorro are the official languages of Guam, provided, however, that the Chamorro language shall not be required for official recording of public acts and transactions. SOURCE: Government Code § 3000. 1980 COMMENT: Former Govt. Code § 3000, as originally enacted in 19…

Wherever there is found to exist a material difference between the English version and Chamorro version of any law or public document, the English version shall be held to be binding. 1980 NOTE: From Hawaii Revised Statutes § 1-13. 1980 COMMENT: While this question has not arisen…

When a limitation or period of time prescribed in any existing law for acquiring a right or barring a remedy, or for any other purpose, has begun to run before the applicable Title of this Code goes into effect, and the same or any limitation is prescribed by this Code, the time …

The time within which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day and including the last, unless the last day is a Saturday or holiday, and then it also is excluded. SOURCE: Civil Code § 10; Code of Civil Procedure § 12; Government Code § 205.

When the seal of a court, public officer, department, agency or section of the Government, or notary public, or of any person, is required by law to be affixed to any paper, the word “seal” refers to an impression of such seal on the paper alone, either as a physical impression o…

Words giving a joint authority to three or more public officers or other persons are construed as giving such authority to a majority of them, unless it is otherwise expressed in the act granting the authority. SOURCE: Civil Procedure Code § 15.

Whenever a power is granted to, or a duty is imposed upon, a public officer the power may be exercised or the duty may be performed by the deputy of the officer, or by a person authorized, pursuant to law, by the officer unless this Code provides otherwise. SOURCE: Government Cod…

“Government” means the government of Guam and all of its branches. SOURCE: Government Code § 18. 1980 NOTE: This Section reflects the present status of autonomous agencies. If any change is made, it will be made in the portions of the law specifically dealing with these agencies.

Whenever any reference is made to this Code or to any other law of Guam, the reference applies to all amendments and additions now or hereafter made. SOURCE: Government Code § 9.

(a) Words used in this Code in the present tense include the future as well as the present; (b) words used in the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter; (c) the singular number includes the plural, and the plural the singular; (d) the word “person” includes a corporati…

A law which authorizes the expenditure of funds, but which does not appropriate those funds authorizes the department, agency or person to whom the authorization is directed to take all necessary steps to accomplish the terms of the law except the obligation or expenditure of the…

Wherever any Guam law or rule provides for the giving of notice or service of legal process by registered mail, or for service of notice or legal process and proof of mailing or proof of delivery, the sending of such notice or service of such legal process may be made by means of…

Notice is: (a) Actual - which consists of express information of a fact; or (b) Constructive - which is imputed by law. SOURCE: Civil Code § 18. 2018 NOTE: Subsection designations were added pursuant to 1 GCA § 1606.

Every person who has actual notice of circumstances sufficient to put a prudent man upon inquiry as to a particular fact, has constructive notice of that fact itself in all cases in which, by prosecuting such inquiry, he might have learned such fact. SOURCE: Civil Code § 19.

Title, division, part, chapter, article and section headings and tables of contents do not in any manner affect the scope, meaning, or intent of the provisions of this Code. SOURCE: Government Code § 6. 1980 NOTE: See also 9 GCA § 1.36 and 8 GCA § 5.13

If any of the provisions of this Code, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision or application of this Code which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this e…