Territories

Territories are geographic areas governed by a state or other authority, with varying degrees of sovereignty and self-government. The term covers both sovereign territories that form independent political units and non-sovereign or dependent territories that are administered from a central government. Territorial arrangements influence law, citizenship, taxation, and political representation, and they are often defined by constitutions, treaties, or patterns of international recognition.

Types include sovereign territories that form independent states, dependent or non-sovereign territories that remain under another state's control, and disputed territories whose final status is unresolved. States may manage overseas regions, protectorates, or special administrative zones. Examples include Puerto Rico and Guam as United States territories; Bermuda and the Cayman Islands as British Overseas Territories; and Guadeloupe or Réunion as French overseas departments.

Governance within territories ranges from substantial local self-government—with elected legislatures and executives—to direct administration by a central government. Citizenship and rights can differ from those of the governing state; residents may have varying participation in national politics, such as voting rights in elections or representation in the national legislature. For instance, Puerto Rico has a local government and a non-voting representative in Congress while U.S. citizens living there cannot vote in presidential elections.

Disputed or contested territories are areas whose sovereignty is claimed by more than one state or whose administration is not universally recognized. International practice, including United Nations decolonization frameworks, distinguishes self-governing or non-self-governing territories and seeks to resolve final status through negotiation, referendum, or peaceful settlement. Examples of ongoing disputes include regions with competing sovereignty claims in various parts of the world.

See also: colonialism, decolonization, federations, overseas territory, self-determination.