Insular area

Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution grants to the United States Congress the responsibility of overseeing the territories.

Four of the five are "organized", but American Samoa is technically "unorganized" and subject to the direct jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs.

[5] The islands passed to Japan, which in turn lost them to the United States in 1945 after the end of World War II.

[6] The three countries maintain sovereignty with free association status with the United States, which provides them with defense assistance and economic resources.

Congress has extended citizenship rights by birth to all inhabited territories except American Samoa, and these citizens may vote and run for office in any U.S. jurisdiction in which they are residents.

The people of American Samoa are U.S. nationals by place of birth, or they are U.S. citizens by parentage, or naturalization after residing in a State for three months.

[19] Nationals are free to move around and seek employment within the United States without immigration restrictions, but cannot vote or hold office outside American Samoa.

A world map highlighting the several island claims of the United States
Locations of the insular areas of the United States, color-coded to indicate status
The 50 states and the District of Columbia
Incorporated unorganized territory
Unincorporated organized territory
Unincorporated organized territory with Commonwealth status
Unincorporated unorganized territory
Compact of Free Association
Beach in American Samoa
Capitol of Puerto Rico, the largest insular area
Wake Island lagoon