Menu Search Account

LegiStorm

Get LegiStorm App Visit Product Demo Website
» Get LegiStorm App
» Get LegiStorm Pro Free Demo

U.S. Insular Areas: Application of the U.S. Constitution

  Premium   Download PDF Now (75 pages)
Report Type Reports and Testimonies
Report Date Nov. 7, 1997
Report No. OGC-98-5
Subject
Summary:

More than four million U.S. citizens and nationals live in insular areas under the jurisdiction of the United States. Congress has passed legislation making some provisions of the Constitution explicitly applicable to these insular areas. In addition, courts from time to time have ruled on the application of constitutional provisions to one or more of the insular areas. This report updates an earlier GAO study (GAO/HRD-91-18, June 1991) on the applicability of provisions of the Constitution to five insular areas: Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and Guam. GAO also discusses significant judicial and legislative developments concerning the political or tax status of these areas, as well as court decisions since GAO's earlier report.

« Return to search Government Accountability Office reports