Organic Act of Guam

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The Organic Act of Guam is a 1950 U.S. federal law that established Guam as an unincorporated U.S. territory with a civilian government and granted U.S. citizenship to its residents.


Statements (35)
Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal law
organic act
territorial organic act
alsoKnownAs Guam Organic Act
amendedBy subsequent federal legislation modifying Guam’s governmental structure and powers
appliesToJurisdiction Guam
codifiedIn Title 48 of the United States Code
contains a bill of rights for the people of Guam
country United States of America
dateEnacted 1950-08-01
defines political status of Guam as an unincorporated U.S. territory
established civilian government of Guam
executive branch of the Government of Guam
judicial branch of the Government of Guam
legislative branch of the Government of Guam
governs distribution of powers between Guam and the United States federal government
grantedCitizenship United States citizenship to residents of Guam
grants U.S. citizenship at birth to persons born in Guam (subject to conditions in the act)
a non-voting Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives (as later amended)
limited self-government to Guam
hasEffectOn political rights of residents of Guam
relationship between Guam and the federal government of the United States
inForce true
legalStatusGranted unincorporated territory of the United States
legislativeBody United States Congress
partOf United States territorial law
purpose to define the political and civil rights of the people of Guam
to provide a civil government for Guam
regulates structure of the Government of Guam
replaced United States Navy administration of Guam
shortDescription Law establishing civilian government and U.S. citizenship in Guam
signedBy Harry S. Truman
subjectOf Guam’s territorial constitution-like framework
territoryStatusDefinedAs unincorporated territory not on a path to statehood by default
yearEnacted 1950


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