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An incorporated territory of the United States is a specific area under the jurisdiction of the United States, over which the United States Congress has determined that the United States Constitution is to be applied to the territory's local government and inhabitants in its entirety (e. g. citizenship, trial by jury), in the same manner as it applies to the local governments and residents of the U.S. states. Incorporated territories are considered an integral part of the United States, as opposed to being merely possessions.[1]

In contrast, an unincorporated territory is an area under U.S. jurisdiction, to which Congress has determined that only select parts of the U.S. Constitution apply. Unincorporated territories are essentially colonies, under the supremacy clause, receiving only whatever powers are offered by the U.S. Congress.[2] [3]

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Wikipedia.

Before Hawaii became a state in 1959 it was an incorporated territory and the last of this kind. There are currently only unincorporated ones, for example Puerto Rico, Guam and the US Virgin Islands are organized, non-incorporated territories. There are several variations on the legal entity of "territory," denoting various levels of self-governance and rights under the US Constitution, so see the Wikipedia article for a full explanation.

Diane

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Women for Women International - For the special needs of women surviving war.
Kiva - Small loans changing lives around the world.
Bukavu Foundation - For the Panzi Women's Shelter & other programs in Eastern Congo.
Room to Read - Change begins with educated children.

Edited by diane9247 (09/07/08 01:45 AM)

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