
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 48USC1421a]

 
              TITLE 48--TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS
 
                            CHAPTER 8A--GUAM
 
                    SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
Sec. 1421a. Unincorporated territory; capital; powers of 
        government; suits against government; type of government; 
        supervision
        
    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.

(Aug. 1, 1950, ch. 512, Sec. 3, 64 Stat. 384; Pub. L. 86-316, Sept. 21, 
1959, 73 Stat. 588; Pub. L. 90-497, Sec. 12(a), Sept. 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 
847.)


                               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.


                    Effective Date of 1968 Amendment

    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.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 1423i of this title.
