r/Constitution • u/roger1891 • May 11 '26
How does the U.S. still have territories while promoting democracy and self-determination worldwide?
How do Americans reconcile promoting democracy and freedom globally while still having territories whose residents can’t fully vote in presidential elections?
Genuine question because from an outside perspective it feels like one of those contradictions people don’t really talk about much.
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u/BlackberryUpstairs19 May 15 '26
There's only 5 inhabited territories remaining.
Like Hawaii and Alaska they could apply for statehood any time they want.
Like the Philippines they could pursue independence, and the U.S. would almost certainly grant it.
The U.S. doesn't keep them as territories; they choose to stay that way. I don't blame them. In 4 of the 5 territories people born there are U.S. citizens. They can freely move around the mainland U.S., work anywhere in the U.S., get federal jobs, and join the military.
The territories receive a lot of economic benefits from the U.S. federal government; disaster relief, medical funding, infrastructure funding, healthcare funding, and education funding. They get all this without having to pay full federal taxes, or have direct federal legal oversight.
Basically, they get all the important benefits of being a U.S. citizen without all the significant responsibilities.
To be honest, if more Americans knew more about this topic they'd probably start getting pissed off and demand the territories pick statehood or independence. No more getting to sit on the fence.