48 USC § 1421a - Unincorporated territory; capital; powers of government; suits against government; type of government; supervision

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t48/s1421a"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "48 USC § 1421a - Unincorporated territory; capital; powers of government; suits against government; type of government; supervision"
title_number: 48
title_name: "TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS"
section_number: "1421a"
section_name: "Unincorporated territory; capital; powers of government; suits against government; type of government; supervision"
chapter_number: 8
chapter_name: "GUAM"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL PROVISIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Aug. 1, 1950, ch. 512, § 3, 64 Stat. 384; Pub. L. 86–316, Sept. 21, 1959, 73 Stat. 588; Pub. L. 90–497, § 12(a), Sept. 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 847.)"
---


# § 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.

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**Source Credit**: (Aug. 1, 1950, ch. 512, § 3, 64 Stat. 384; Pub. L. 86–316, Sept. 21, 1959, 73 Stat. 588; Pub. L. 90–497, § 12(a), Sept. 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 847.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1968— 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— permitted government of Guam, with consent of legislature, to be sued.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1968 Amendment

Amendment by  necessary to authorize the holding of an election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor on , effective , and all other amendments unless otherwise provided effective , see , set out as a note under .