Title 48, Territories and Insular PossessionsRelease 119-110

§1844 Political Union Between Territory of Guam and Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands

Title 48 › CHAPTER 17 — NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS › SUBCHAPTER III — MISCELLANEOUS › § 1844

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Federal government and its agencies must make sure that if Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands join together, nothing reduces the rights or benefits they had on the union’s effective date. They also must not let any funds authorized or appropriated for them as of that date be harmed, and must not take steps that would discourage the union. If programs or benefit rules differ between the two, the unified area gets whichever terms are more favorable (for example, grant formulas or similar aid).

Full Legal Text

Title 48, §1844

Territories and Insular Possessions, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In the event that a political union is effected at a future time between the Territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federal Government and each of its agencies is authorized and directed to assure that—
(i)there will be no diminution of any rights or entitlements otherwise eligible to said territory and Commonwealth in effect on the effective date of such union,
(ii)there will be no adverse effect on any funds which have been or may hereafter be authorized or appropriated for said territory or Commonwealth, as of the effective date of such union, or
(iii)no action is taken that would in any manner discourage such unification.
Whenever any discrepancy exists or arises between the benefits available for either said territory or Commonwealth under any policies or programs authorized by law (including, but not limited to, any formulas for matching grants-in-aid or comparable programs or benefits), the most favorable terms available to either said territory or Commonwealth shall be deemed applicable to said unified area after the effective date of unification.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly set out as a note under section 1681 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

48 U.S.C. § 1844

Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110