Federal

Title 48 — Territories and Insular Possessions

661 sections, each with the official text and a plain-English explanation of what it means for you.

• § 1453 to 1455 — Repealed. Pub. L. 98–213, § 16(c) –(f), Dec. 8, 1983 , 97 Stat. 1462
• § 1456 — Repealed. Sept. 12, 1950, ch. 946 , title III, § 301(106), 64 Stat. 844
• § 1457 to 1469–1 — Repealed. Pub. L. 98–213, § 16(a) , (g)–(u), Dec. 8, 1983 , 97 Stat. 1462 , 1463
• § 1469a — Congressional declaration of policy respecting “Insular Areas”
• § 1469a–1 — Full amounts to be covered into treasuries of Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands; reductions prohibited
• § 1469b — Auditing of transactions of territorial and local governments
• § 1469c — Availability of services, facilities, and equipment of agencies and instrumentalities of United States; reimbursement requirements
• § 1469d — General technical assistance
• § 1469e — Insular government purchases
• § 1470 — Repealed. Pub. L. 98–213, § 16(v) , Dec. 8, 1983 , 97 Stat. 1463
• § 1470a — Omitted
• § 1471 to 1479 — Repealed. Pub. L. 98–213, § 16(w) –(ee), Dec. 8, 1983 , 97 Stat. 1463
• § 1480 to 1480b — Repealed. Pub. L. 95–584, § 1 , Nov. 2, 1978 , 92 Stat. 2483
• § 1481 to 1485 — Repealed. Pub. L. 98–213, § 16(ff) –(jj), Dec. 8, 1983 , 97 Stat. 1463
• § 1486 — Repealed. Pub. L. 87–826, § 3 , Oct. 15, 1962 , 76 Stat. 953
• § 1487, 1488 — Repealed. Pub. L. 98–213, § 16(b) , (kk), Dec. 8, 1983 , 97 Stat. 1462 , 1463
• § 1489 — Loss of title of United States to lands in territories through adverse possession or prescription forbidden
• § 1490 — Repealed. Mar. 3, 1933, ch. 202, § 1 , 47 Stat. 1428
• § 1491 — License, permit, etc., for transportation for storage or storage of spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste; prerequisites; applicability; “territory or possession” defined
• § 1492 — Energy resources of Caribbean and Pacific insular areas
• § 1492a — Study of electric rates in the insular areas
• § 1493 — Prosecution; authorization to seek review; local or Federal appellate courts; decisions, judgments or orders
• § 1494 — Purposes
• § 1494a — Annual reports to Congress
• § 1494b — Enforcement and administration in insular areas
• § 1494c — Drug Enforcement Agency personnel assignments
• § 1501 — Lands in Territories
• § 1502 — Previously acquired lands; bona fide resident aliens; mining or incorporated village lands
• § 1503 — Acquisition by inheritance, in collection of debts, etc.
• § 1504 — Conveyance of lands in Territories by aliens before escheat proceedings
• § 1505 — Proceedings for escheat of improperly held lands
• § 1506 — Condemnation and sale of lands in escheat proceedings
• § 1507 — Public lands
• § 1508 — Application to District of Columbia
• § 1509 to 1512 — Omitted
• § 1541 — Organization and status
• § 1542 — Voting franchise; discrimination prohibited
• § 1543 — United States citizenship requirement for government officials
• § 1544 — Reports by Governor; jurisdiction of Secretary of the Interior; exceptions
• § 1545 — Lease and sale of public property; conveyance of title in certain lands to the government of Virgin Islands
• § 1546 — Authorization of appropriations
• § 1561 — Rights and prohibitions
• § 1571 — Legislature
• § 1572 — Legislators
• § 1573 — Time, frequency, and duration of regular sessions; special sessions; place of holding
• § 1574 — Legislative powers and activities
• § 1574–1 — Applicability of laws referred to in section 502(a)(1) of Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
• § 1574a — Revenue bonds or other obligations
• § 1574b — Federal guarantee for issuance of revenue bonds or other obligations
• § 1574c — Priority for payment of principal and interest of revenue bonds or other obligations
• § 1574d — Repealed. Pub. L. 97–357, title III, § 308(g) , Oct. 19, 1982 , 96 Stat. 1710
• § 1575 — Legislative procedure
• § 1576 — General elections; time; transfer of Council functions, property, etc.
• § 1591 — Governor and Lieutenant Governor; election; eligibility; official residence; powers and duties; report
• § 1592 — Repealed. Pub. L. 89–554, § 8(a) , Sept. 6, 1966 , 80 Stat. 657
• § 1593 — Initiative and recall
• § 1594 — Repealed. Pub. L. 90–496, § 6 , Aug. 23, 1968 , 82 Stat. 839
• § 1595 — Vacancy in office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor
• § 1596 — Repealed. Pub. L. 104–186, title II, § 224(3) , Aug. 20, 1996 , 110 Stat. 1752
• § 1597 — Reorganization of government
• § 1598 — Omitted
• § 1599 — Transfer of functions from government comptroller for Virgin Islands to Inspector General, Department of the Interior
• § 161 to 170a — Omitted
• § 1611 — District Court of Virgin Islands; local courts; jurisdiction; practice and procedure
• § 1612 — Jurisdiction of District Court
• § 1613 — Relations between courts of United States and courts of Virgin Islands; review by United States Court of Appeals for Third Circuit; reports to Congress; rules
• § 1613a — Appellate jurisdiction of District Court; procedure; review by United States Court of Appeals for Third Circuit; rules; appeals to appellate court
• § 1614 — Judges of District Court
• § 1615 — Judicial divisions
• § 1616 — Trial by jury
• § 1617 — United States attorney; appointment; duties
• § 1631 — Establishment and maintenance; scope
• § 1632 — Repealed. Pub. L. 90–496, § 14 , Aug. 23, 1968 , 82 Stat. 842
• § 1641 — Method of payment of official salaries
• § 1642 — Use of certain proceeds for expenditure; income tax obligations of inhabitants
• § 1642a — Availability of collected customs duties for expenditures as Legislature may provide
• § 1643 — Import provisions with respect to trade-marks
• § 1644 — Import duties on articles entering United States or possessions from Virgin Islands
• § 1645 — Remittance of duties, taxes, and fees to be collected in next fiscal year; authorization, prerequisites, amount, etc.
• § 1661 — Islands of eastern Samoa
• § 1662 — Sovereignty of United States extended over Swains Island
• § 1662a — Repealed. Pub. L. 118–232, § 1 , Jan. 4, 2025 , 138 Stat. 2834
• § 1663 — Acknowledgment of deeds
• § 1664 — Repealed. Pub. L. 109–304, § 19 , Oct. 6, 2006 , 120 Stat. 1710
• § 1665 — Omitted
• § 1666 — Extension of scientific, technical, and other assistance; grant-in-aid program restriction; limitations on expenditures
• § 1667 — Repealed. Pub. L. 90–576, title I, § 103 , Oct. 16, 1968 , 82 Stat. 1091
• § 1668 — Reporting duties of Governor and transfer of functions from government comptroller for American Samoa to Inspector General, Department of the Interior
• § 1669 — Administration and enforcement of collection of customs duties; employment and training of residents
• § 1670 — Industrial development bonds
• § 1681 — Continuance of civil government for Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; assistance programs; maximum fiscal year costs; reimbursement
• § 1681a — Appointment of High Commissioner
• § 1681b — Transfer of functions from government comptroller for Guam to Inspector General, Department of the Interior
• § 1681c — Repealed. Pub. L. 97–357, title II, § 203(d) , Oct. 19, 1982 , 96 Stat. 1708
• § 1682 — Omitted
• § 1683 — Auditing of transactions of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
• § 1684 — Expenditure of funds for administration of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
• § 1685 — Transfer of property or money for administration of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
• § 1686, 1687 — Omitted
• § 1688 — Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Economic Development Loan Fund
• § 1689 — Plan for use of grant to Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Economic Development Loan Fund; loans; terms
• § 1690 — Loans from Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Economic Loan Fund; restrictions; guarantees
• § 1691 — Fiscal control and accounting procedures for plan for use of grant
• § 1692 — Comprehensive annual financial report by chief executives of governments of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and Northern Mariana Islands; contents; other reports
• § 1693 — Audit of government; access to books, records, etc.
• § 1694 to 1694e — Transferred
• § 1695 — Federal education and health care programs; nonapplicability or nonparticipation
• § 1701 to 1703 — Repealed. Pub. L. 93–435, § 5 , Oct. 5, 1974 , 88 Stat. 1212
• § 1704 — Concurrent jurisdiction; exceptions for national defense purposes
• § 1705 — Tidelands, submerged lands, or filled lands
• § 1706 — Reserved rights
• § 1707 — Payment of rents, royalties, and fees to local government
• § 1708 — Discrimination prohibited in rights of access to, and benefits from, conveyed lands
• § 171 — Repealed. Pub. L. 87–304, § 9(a)(1) , Sept. 26, 1961 , 75 Stat. 664
• § 1711 — Delegate to House of Representatives from Guam and Virgin Islands
• § 1712 — Election of delegates; majority; runoff election; vacancy; commencement of term
• § 1713 — Qualifications for Office of Delegate
• § 1714 — Territorial legislature; determination of election procedure
• § 1715 — Operation of Office; House privileges; compensation, allowances, and benefits; privileges and immunities; voting in committee
• § 172, 173 — Omitted
• § 1731 — Delegate to House of Representatives from American Samoa
• § 1732 — Election of delegates
• § 1733 — Qualifications for Office of Delegate
• § 1734 — Territorial government; determination of election procedure
• § 1735 — Operation of Office; compensation, allowances, and benefits; privileges and immunities
• § 174 — Repealed. Oct. 31, 1951, ch. 654, § 1(125) , 65 Stat. 706
• § 175, 175a — Omitted
• § 1751 — Delegate to House of Representatives from Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
• § 1752 — Election of Delegate
• § 1753 — Qualifications for office of Delegate
• § 1754 — Determination of election procedure
• § 1755 — Compensation, privileges, and immunities
• § 1756 — Lack of effect on covenant
• § 1757 — Definition
• § 1801 — Approval of Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
• § 1802 — Consideration of issues affecting relations with United States
• § 1803 — Financial assistance to Government of Northern Mariana Islands
• § 1804 — Direct grant assistance
• § 1805 — Failure to meet performance standards; resolution of issues; withholding of funds
• § 1806 — Immigration and transition
• § 1807 — Technical assistance program
• § 1808 — Operations
• § 1821 — District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands
• § 1822 — Jurisdiction of District Court; original jurisdiction; procedural requirements
• § 1823 — Appellate jurisdiction of District Court; procedure; review by United States Court of Appeals for Ninth Circuit; rules
• § 1824 — Relations between courts of United States and courts of Northern Mariana Islands; applicability of statutory provisions
• § 1825 — Effective date
• § 1826 — Authorization of appropriations
• § 1841 — Funds and services
• § 1842 — Covering into Commonwealth treasury of tax proceeds collected pursuant to Covenant
• § 1843 — Exemption from taxation for income derived from sources within Commonwealth
• § 1844 — Political union between Territory of Guam and Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands
• § 1845 — Plans for development, utilization, and conservation of water and related land resources
• § 1846 — Exemption from assessment and taxation of real property owned by Commonwealth in United States capital
• § 1901 — Approval of Compact of Free Association
• § 1902 — Agreements with Federated States of Micronesia
• § 1903 — Agreements with and other provisions related to Marshall Islands
• § 1904 — Interpretation of and United States policy regarding Compact of Free Association
• § 1905 — Supplemental provisions
• § 1906 — Construction contract assistance
• § 1907 — Limitations
• § 1908 — Transitional immigration rules
• § 1909 — Timing
• § 191 to 213 — Omitted
• § 1910 — Implementation of audit agreements
• § 1911 — Compensatory adjustments
• § 1912 — Jurisdiction
• § 1921 — Approval of U.S.-FSM Compact of Free Association and the U.S.-RMI Compact of Free Association; references to subsidiary agreements or separate agreements
• § 1921a — Agreements with Federated States of Micronesia
• § 1921b — Agreements with and other provisions related to the Republic of the Marshall Islands
• § 1921c — Interpretation of and United States policy regarding U.S.-FSM Compact and U.S.-RMI Compact
• § 1921d — Supplemental provisions
• § 1921e — Construction contract assistance
• § 1921f — Prohibition
• § 1921g — Compensatory adjustments
• § 1921h — Authorization and continuing appropriation
• § 1931 — Approval of Compact of Free Association
• § 1932 — Extension of Compact of Free Association to Palau
• § 1933 — Supplemental provisions
• § 1934 — Jurisdiction
• § 1951 — Entry into force of Compact
• § 1952 — Fiscal procedures assistance
• § 1953 — Antidrug program
• § 1954 — Public auditor and special prosecutor
• § 1955 — Audit certification
• § 1956 — Acquisition of defense sites
• § 1957 — Federal programs coordination personnel
• § 1958 — Referendum costs
• § 1959 — Agreements
• § 1960 — Modification of energy assistance funding
• § 1961 — Submission of agreements
• § 1962 — Transition funding
• § 1971 — Transfer of surplus personal property owned by United States
• § 1972 — Controlled substances in freely associated states
• § 1973 — Freely Associated State Air Carrier
• § 1974 — Connecting Oceania’s Nations With Vanguard Exercises and National Empowerment
• § 1981 — Findings
• § 1982 — Definitions
• § 1983 — Approval of 2023 Agreement to Amend the U.S.-FSM Compact, 2023 Agreement to Amend the U.S.-RMI Compact, 2023 U.S.-Palau Compact Review Agreement, and Subsidiary Agreements
• § 1984 — Agreements with Federated States of Micronesia