Legal Definitions - territory

A territory refers to a specific geographical area that is under the exclusive control and jurisdiction of a particular government or state. This means the governing entity has the sole authority to make and enforce laws within that area, manage its resources, and represent it internationally.

The concept of a territory can also describe specific types of administrative arrangements:

• Non-Self-Governing Territory: This is a territory that is administered by another country, often a former colonial power, but does not have full independence or sovereign status. While it may have some local self-governance, its ultimate authority rests with the administering country, and its residents typically have limited or no representation in the administering country's national legislature.
• U.S. Territory: In the context of the United States, a territory is a part of the U.S. that is not one of the 50 states but is organized with its own local government and legislature. Residents of U.S. territories are generally U.S. citizens (though some are U.S. nationals) but do not have voting representation in the U.S. Congress and cannot vote in presidential elections.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of a territory:

• Example 1 (International Control): The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. It is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean where the UK government maintains exclusive administrative control, including defense and foreign policy, despite its remote location from the British mainland.

  How this illustrates "territory": This demonstrates a geographical area under the complete and exclusive jurisdiction of a specific government (the United Kingdom), which exercises full authority over its governance, even though it is not geographically contiguous with the main country.

• Example 2 (Non-Self-Governing): The French overseas collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, located near Canada, is a self-governing territory of France. While its residents are French citizens and elect representatives to the French Parliament, the French government retains ultimate responsibility for its defense, foreign affairs, and justice system.

  How this illustrates "territory": This shows a non-self-governing territory where a larger nation (France) maintains ultimate sovereignty and control over key governmental functions, even while allowing significant local autonomy and representation in the national legislature.

• Example 3 (U.S. Territory): The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is an unincorporated territory of the United States. Its residents are U.S. citizens and have their own locally elected governor and legislature, but they do not have voting representation in the U.S. Congress and cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections. The U.S. federal government ultimately controls immigration, defense, and certain other federal laws.

  How this illustrates "territory": This exemplifies a U.S. territory that is not a state but has its own organized government. It highlights the distinction where the U.S. federal government retains overarching control, and residents have different rights and representation compared to those in the 50 states.