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Title 48, Territories and Insular PossessionsRelease 119-110

§1422c Executive Agencies and Instrumentalities

Title 48 › CHAPTER 8A — GUAM › SUBCHAPTER II — THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH › § 1422c

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Governor must appoint the heads of executive agencies and instrumentalities with the legislature’s approval, unless other Guam laws say otherwise. The legislature must set up and use a merit system for hiring and promotions. Guam may create a Civil Service Commission to run that system, and its members can be removed under Guam law. Officers get their powers and duties from law or from the Governor’s rules that don’t conflict with law, and the Governor must review and reorganize the executive branch as needed. People holding office on August 1, 1950 may stay in their jobs until their successors are appointed and qualified, unless this chapter says otherwise.

Full Legal Text

Title 48, §1422c

Territories and Insular Possessions, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Appointment of heads; establishment of merit system; Civil Service Commission
The Governor shall, except as otherwise provided in this chapter or the laws of Guam, appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the legislature, all heads of executive agencies and instrumentalities. The legislature shall establish a merit system and, as far as practicable, appointments and promotions shall be made in accordance with such merit system. The Government of Guam may by law establish a Civil Service Commission to administer the merit system. Members of the commission may be removed as provided by the laws of Guam.
(b)Powers and duties of officers
All officers shall have such powers and duties as may be conferred or imposed on them by law or by executive regulation of the Governor not inconsistent with any law.
(c)Reorganization
The Governor shall, from time to time, examine the organization of the executive branch of the government of Guam, and shall determine and carry out such changes therein as are necessary to promote effective management and to execute faithfully the purposes of this chapter and the laws of Guam.
(d)Continuation in office of incumbents
All persons holding office in Guam on August 1, 1950 may, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, continue to hold their respective offices until their successors are appointed and qualified.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–396 inserted provisions authorizing establishment of Civil Service Commission and removal of commission members as provided by laws of Guam. 1968—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 90–497, § 4(a), struck out requirement that, in making appointments, preference be given persons of Guamanian ancestry and that opportunities for higher education and use of service training facilities be provided to qualified persons of Guamanian ancestry. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 90–497, § 4(b), struck out provision authorizing the Governor to appoint or remove any officer whose appointment or removal is not otherwise provided for.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1968 AmendmentPub. L 90–497, § 4(a), Sept. 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 845, provided that the amendment made by such section 4(a) is effective on date of enactment of Pub. L. 90–497, which was approved on Sept. 11, 1968. 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.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

48 U.S.C. § 1422c

Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110