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In addition to the 50 states and Washington, DC, the United States of America includes 14 undisputed territories, the following five of which are inhabited: American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Individuals born in each of these territories, with the exception of American Samoa, are considered to be United States citizens. Residents of U.S. territories do not pay federal income taxes, but they may serve in the U.S. military and are subject to most federal laws. This page provides a brief summary of the citizenship status of individuals born or residing in U.S. territories.[1][2][3]
Contents
- 1 American Samoa
- 2 Guam
- 3 Northern Mariana Islands
- 4 Puerto Rico
- 5 U.S. Virgin Islands
- 6 See also
- 7 Footnotes
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated, unorganized territory of the United States, meaning that only certain parts of the U.S. Constitution apply to its residents and the U.S. Congress has not established a system of government for the territory.[4]
Individuals born in American Samoa are United States nationals, rather than citizens of the United States. U.S. nationals have the right to reside within the United States and its territories indefinitely. They may apply for U.S. citizenship if they choose, following the same process as every non-citizen. Individuals born in American Samoa are not eligible to vote in federal elections or hold public office, even if they reside in one of the 50 states.[1][5][6]
Individuals residing in American Samoa cannot vote in federal elections, but they can vote in local elections and elections for a delegate with limited voting abilities to represent American Samoa in the U.S. House of Representatives. American Samoa holds U.S. presidential nominating events and sends delegates to the Republican and Democratic national conventions.[7][8][9]
Guam
Guam is an unincorporated territory of the United States, meaning that only certain parts of the U.S. Constitution apply to its residents. Individuals born in Guam are considered citizens of the United States. They may vote in federal elections if they reside in one of the 50 states or Washington, DC.[4][1][10]
Individuals residing in Guam cannot vote in federal elections, but they can vote in local elections and elections for a delegate with limited voting abilities to represent Guam in the U.S. House of Representatives. Guam holds U.S. presidential nominating events and sends delegates to the Republican and Democratic national conventions.[11][12][13]
Northern Mariana Islands
The Northern Mariana Islands are a commonwealth of the United States, meaning that the territory has a political union with the United States. The President of the United States is considered to be the head of state in the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territory receives funding from the U.S. government. Individuals born in the Northern Mariana Islands are considered to be citizens of the United States. They may vote in federal elections if they reside in one of the 50 states or Washington, DC.[4][1][14][15]
Individuals residing in the Northern Mariana Islands cannot vote in federal elections, but they can vote in local elections and elections for a delegate with limited voting abilities to represent the Northern Mariana Islands in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Northern Mariana Islands holds U.S. presidential nominating events and sends delegates to the Republican and Democratic national conventions.[16][17][18]
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States, meaning that only certain parts of the U.S. Constitution apply to its residents. Puerto Rico is also a commonwealth of the United States, meaning the territory has a political union with the United States. Individuals born in Puerto Rico are considered citizens of the United States. They may vote in federal elections if they reside in one of the 50 states or Washington, DC.[4][1]
Individuals residing in Puerto Rico cannot vote in federal elections, but they can vote in local elections and elections for a delegate, or resident commissioner, with limited voting abilities to represent Puerto Rico in the U.S. House of Representatives. Puerto Rico holds U.S. presidential nominating events and sends delegates to the Republican and Democratic national conventions.[19][20][21]
U.S. Virgin Islands
The United States Virgin Islands are an unincorporated territory of the United States, meaning that only certain parts of the U.S. Constitution apply to its residents. Individuals born in the U.S. Virgin Islands are considered citizens of the United States. They may vote in federal elections if they reside in one of the 50 states or Washington, DC.[4][1][22]
Individuals residing in the U.S. Virgin Islands cannot vote in federal elections, but they can vote in local elections and elections for a delegate with limited voting abilities to represent the U.S. Virgin Islands in the U.S. House of Representatives. The U.S. Virgin Islands holds U.S. presidential nominating events and sends delegates to the Republican and Democratic national conventions.[23][24][25]
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, "Chapter 2 - Becoming a U.S. Citizen," accessed July 13, 2023
- ↑ NPR, "What Does Being A U.S. Territory Mean For Puerto Rico?" October 13, 2017
- ↑ U.S. Government, "Selective Service System - Who Needs to Register," accessed July 17, 2023
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 U.S. Department of the Interior, "Definitions of Insular Area Political Organizations," accessed July 13, 2023
- ↑ Encyclopædia Britannica, "American Samoa," accessed July 13, 2023
- ↑ U.S. State Department, "Certificates of Non Citizen Nationality," accessed July 13, 2023
- ↑ The Green Papers, "American Samoa Republican Delegation 2024," accessed July 17, 2023
- ↑ The Green Papers, "American Samoa Democratic Delegation 2024," accessed July 17, 2023
- ↑ Slate, "What kinds of voting rights do American Samoans have?" January 31, 2008
- ↑ Encyclopædia Britannica, "Guam," accessed July 13, 2023
- ↑ The Green Papers, "Guam Republican Delegation 2024," accessed July 17, 2023
- ↑ The Green Papers, "Guam Democratic Delegation 2024," accessed July 17, 2023
- ↑ The Guardian, "The US election that doesn't count: Guam goes to the polls but votes won't matter," October 30, 2020
- ↑ CIA World Factbook, "Northern Mariana Islands," accessed July 13, 2023
- ↑ Encyclopædia Britannica, "Northern Mariana Islands," accessed July 13, 2023
- ↑ The Green Papers, "Northern Marianas Republican Delegation 2024," accessed July 17, 2023
- ↑ The Green Papers, "Northern Marianas Democratic Delegation 2024," accessed July 17, 2023
- ↑ The CIA World Factbook, "Northern Mariana Islands," accessed July 13, 2023
- ↑ The Green Papers, "Puerto Rico Republican Delegation 2024," accessed July 17, 2023
- ↑ The Green Papers, "Puerto Rico Democratic Delegation 2024," accessed July 17, 2023
- ↑ Scholars Strategy Network, "Understanding Puerto Rican Voting Rights in the United States," April 23, 2019
- ↑ Encyclopædia Britannica, "U.S. Virgin Islands," accessed January 22, 2017
- ↑ The Green Papers, "Virgin Islands Republican Delegation 2024," accessed July 17, 2023
- ↑ The Green Papers, "Virgin Islands Democratic Delegation 2024," accessed July 17, 2023
- ↑ U.S. Congress, "Voting Rights and Election Administration in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Other Territories," July 28, 2020