PA PRT IS RUPE TE
a7 et
ve
lew tnt
ULTIMATE STATUS OF U.S.
TERRITORIES IS UNCLEAR
Prior
to
the
acquisition of offshore
territo-
ries beginning at the turn of the century the
United
States,
under
the
framework
of
the
Northwest Ordinance of 1787, established a traditional policy objective of eventually grant-
ing statehood to its contiguous territories.
The current policy objective toward offshore
territories--encouraging self-determined polit-
ical, economic, and social development--is less
clear.
The
Constitution,
Congress,
under
establishes
Article
federal
IV of
policy
the
for
U.S. territories--Puerto Rico, American Samoa,
Guam,
the Virgin
Islands,
and
the Northern
Mariana Islands.
The ultimate political status
of these offshore territories has not yet been
determined.
(See ch. 2.)
TERRITORIES ACHIEVE GREATER
SELF-GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL AUTONOMY
BUT STATUS REMAINS AN ISSUE
The
U.S.
policy
of
self-determination
has
resulted in freely chosen but different
of political status in each territory.
has attained greater self-government and
types
Each
local -:
tory
self-
autonomy, which in turn has complicated relations with the federal government.
Many terriofficials
support
the
principle
determination but believe political
of
status
is
a major unresolved issue in federal-territorial
relations.
All
the
territories
want
more
representation in Congress and greater voice
within the federal establishment.
Some, such
as
Guam
and
the
Virgin
Islands,
re-examining their political status with
United
policy
States.
direction
are
the
Many
believe
that
federal
is unclear because it offers
little specific guidance on how the territories
can
achieve
development.
economic
(See ch.
self-reliance
3.)
and
social
COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION COULD
.
INFLUENCE U.S.~TERRITORIAL RELATIONS
Under
U.N.
supervision,
the
United
States
administers the Trust Territory of the Pacific
90001498
commonly
known
ii
as
Micronesia.
In
me,
Islands,