11 Facts About US territory

The United States' US territory includes clearly defined geographical area and refers to an area of land, air, or sea under jurisdiction of United States federal governmental authority.

The extent of US territory is all the area belonging to, and under the dominion of, the United States of America federal government for administrative and other purposes.

The power of Congress over such US territory is exclusive and universal, including the creation of political divisions, except as delegated to a US territory's government by act of Congress.

An unorganized US territory was generally either unpopulated or set aside for Native Americans and other indigenous peoples in the United States by the US federal government, until such time as the growing and restless population encroached into the areas.

In essence, an incorporated US territory is land that has been irrevocably incorporated within the sovereignty of the United States and to which the full corpus of the US Constitution applies.

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An unincorporated US territory is land held by the United States, and to which Congress of the United States applies selected parts of the constitution.

Palmyra Atoll is the only incorporated US territory remaining, and having no government it is unorganized.

The Panama canal, and the Canal Zone surrounding it, was US territory administered by the United States until 1999, when control was relinquished to Panama.

However a legal opinion from the Justice Department questioned the President's constitutional authority to extend sovereignty as Congress has the power to make laws concerning the US territory belonging to the United States under the US Constitution.

Under the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907, United States US territory can include areas occupied by and controlled by the United States Armed Forces.

Military personnel in control of the US territory have a responsibility to provide for the basic needs of individuals under their control.