Title 48, Territories and Insular PossessionsRelease 119-102
§1421a Unincorporated Territory; Capital; Powers of Government; Suits Against Government; Type of Government; Supervision
Title 48 › CHAPTER 8A — GUAM › SUBCHAPTER I — GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 1421a
Summary
Guam is an unincorporated U.S. territory with Agana as its capital and three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. Guam can bring lawsuits, may be sued for contracts or wrongful acts if the legislature passes a law allowing it, and the Secretary of the Interior oversees federal relations when no other federal agency is responsible.
Full Legal Text
Title 48, §1421a
Territories and Insular Possessions, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
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.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
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 AmendmentAmendment 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.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
48 U.S.C. § 1421a
Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102