View source for Politics of Guam

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{{Use American English|date = March 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = March 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2007}}
{{Politics of Guam}}

[[Guam]] is a [[Two-party system|two-party]] [[presidential system|presidential]] [[representative democracy]], in which the [[Governor of Guam|Governor]] is the [[head of government]]. Guam is an [[unincorporated territories of the United States|organized, unincorporated territory]] of the [[United States]], with policy relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the [[Office of Insular Affairs]]. Guam is also listed on the [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories]].

==Background==
The [[Economy of guam|economic situation in Guam]] is currently dependent on the significant U.S. military presence there. Its status as a tourist destination for Japanese, Singaporeans and South Koreans also contributes to Guam's economy. It has also emerged as a destination for [[economic migrants]] from the Philippines working at lower-wage jobs in the [[hospitality industry]]. 

== Debate over political status ==
Maintenance of the status quo vis-à-vis the current political relationship between the territory and the United States is controversial. There is a significant movement in favor of the Territory becoming a [[commonwealth (United States insular area)|commonwealth]], which would give it a political status similar to [[Puerto Rico]] and the [[Northern Mariana Islands]]. 

Competing movements exist, which advocate [[Chamorro Nation|political independence from the United States]], statehood, or a combination with the Northern Mariana Islands as a single territory (not necessarily commonwealth). [[Therese M. Terlaje]], Speaker of the [[Legislature of Guam]], indicated support in 2018 for holding a plebiscite to allow Guamians to vote for their favored political status.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Letman |first=Jon |date=2018-11-17 |title=Historic Wave of Women Candidates Sweep to Power on Guam |url=https://truthout.org/articles/historic-wave-of-women-candidates-sweep-to-power-on-guam/ |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=Truthout |language=en-US |quote="Terlaje sees achieving self-determination an urgent mandate, calling educating the public for a plebiscite “our biggest challenge, our most immediate challenge and one that we can actually accomplish. It’s a goal that we can meet in two years, I think,” expressing confidence that newly elected officials will fulfill promises to make a plebiscite a priority."}}</ref>

These proposals, however, are not seen as favorable by the U.S. federal government, which argues Guam does not have the financial stability or self-sufficiency to warrant such status. They cite Guam's increasing reliance on Federal spending as evidence, and question how commonwealth status or statehood would benefit the United States as a whole.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guam in Washington, 1972-Present: The Overlooked Strategic Implications of Congressional Polarization |url=https://jpia.princeton.edu/news/guam-washington-1972-present-overlooked-strategic-implications-congressional-polarization |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=Journal of Public and International Affairs |language=en}}</ref>

A portion of the people on Guam favors a modified version of the current Territorial status, involving greater autonomy from the federal government (similar to the autonomy of individual States).  Perceived indifference by the U.S. Congress regarding a change-of-status petition submitted by Guam has led many to feel that the territory is being deprived of the benefits of a more equitable union with the United States.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} 

== Past referendums on political status ==

=== January 1982 status referendum ===
{{Main|January 1982 Guamanian status referendum}}
In January 1982, a referendum on Guam's status was held, with a 49.49% plurality of voters favoring [[Commonwealth (U.S. insular area)|commonwealth]] status, with 25.65% favoring [[Statehood movement in Guam|statehood]], the second most popular option. 10.19% said they supported the status quo, while 5.40% supported U.S. [[Territories of the United States|incorporated territory]] status. 3.9% of voters favored a [[Associated state|free association]] agreement with the U.S., while independence was the least popular option, garnering 3.82% support.

=== September 1982 status referendum ===
{{Main|September 1982 Guamanian status referendum}}
A second referendum with the two most popular options in the original vote ([[Commonwealth (U.S. insular area)|commonwealth]] status and [[Statehood movement in Guam|statehood]]) was held in September 1982. By a 72.82% to 27.18% margin, Guamanians voted in favor of commonwealth status over statehood. However, Guam has not received commonwealth status, and remains an [[Territories of the United States|unincorporated territory]].

=== Future referendums ===
In 2000, the Guam Legislature authorized the creation of a non-binding vote to allow [[Chamorro people|native inhabitants of Guam]] to cast their votes in favor of statehood, a free association agreement, or outright independence from the United States. In 2017, Chief Judge [[Frances Tydingco-Gatewood]] declared the proposal unconstitutional under the [[Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|15th Amendment]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Limtiaco |first=Steve |date=2023-03-08 |title=Guam back to the drawing board on political status vote |url=https://www.guampdn.com/news/guam-back-to-the-drawing-board-on-political-status-vote/article_93e3988c-bd70-11ed-bdcd-6b19647a4c19.html |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=guampdn.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Political parties and elections==
{{Elect|List of political parties in Guam|Elections in Guam}}

==See also==
*[[Political party strength in Guam]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://staging.democracynow.org/2009/10/9/guam_residents_organize_against_us_plans Guam Residents Organize Against US Plans for $15B Military Buildup on Pacific Island] - video report by ''[[Democracy Now!]]''

{{Politics in the United States}}
{{Oceania in topic|Politics of}}

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[[Category:Politics of Guam| ]]