The United States of America is more than just 50 states...
The United States territory is the extent of region under the control of the
United States of America federal government. Territories have historically
been divided into incorporated territories and unincorporated territories.
Incorporated territories are areas which are intended to become states,
while unincorporated territories are not. Since the admission of Alaska and
Hawaii, there are no incorporated territories of the United States.
Territories should also be distinguished from commonwealths, such as Puerto
Rico and the Northern Marianas. In these areas, Congress has delegated some
powers to the local population. Unlike states, these powers are not
constitutionally entrenched, and the Congress has the power to withdraw
those powers.
United States District of Columbia
A separate federal district under the direct authority of congress, the
District of Columbia, was formed independent of any state. It is there that
the nation's capital city resides. The city contains the historic Federal
City and is that part that was originally designed as the National Capitol.
It is part of the United States of America but not part of any state.
Dependent areas of the United States
Several islands in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea are dependent
territories of the United States:
- American Samoa
- Johnston Atoll
- Palmyra Atoll
- Baker Island
- Kingman Reef
- Puerto Rico
- Guam
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Howland Island
- Midway Islands
- Wake Island
- Navassa Island
- Jarvis Island
- Northern Mariana Islands
(The term "commonwealth" expresses the political relationship between the
United States and Puerto Rico and the Northern Marianas).
US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual
agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease.
US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica but has reserved the right to
do so.
From July 18, 1947 until October 1, 1994, the US administered the Trust
Territory of the Pacific Islands, but recently entered into a new political
relationship with all four political units.
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