Throughout July, Guam celebrated the 75th Anniversary of the Organic Act, which redesignated the island of Guam as an unincorporated territory of the United States. Activities included signings, exhibits, and panels. At the end of the festivities, there was a final islandwide celebration, the History Comes Alive Festival, on August 1.
“Seventy-five years ago, the Organic Act laid the foundation for a government on Guam by and for our people,” Lieutenant Governor Josh Tenorio said. “It gave our families US citizenship, established the Guam Legislature, and began a critical shift to let Guam govern itself.”
To begin, Guam hosted a ceremony led by Governor Tenorio on July 1. It was attended by representatives from all three branches of Guam’s government. Some of these notable people were Speaker Frank Blas Jr., Chief Justice Robert J Torres, and Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood. Others in attendance included Attorney Mike Phillips and Carlos P. Taitano. The occasion marked a powerful tribute to a significant piece of legislation in Guam’s government.
“While we recognize the Organic Act as a beginning, not an end, it represents an essential chapter in our island’s ongoing journey,” Governor Tenorio continued. “Today is not just about why laws are important. It’s about why our people are important most of all.”
For context, it is key to understand the history of this enactment. Before the Organic Act was signed into law, the US Navy was tasked with governing the island. During their rule, the residents of Guam were not US citizens. Without citizenship, their rights were not being defined, guaranteed, or even protected.
This sparked much protest from many individuals. Among the protesters were the CHamoru people. They argued that a military government could not serve the inhabitants of Guam. The petitioners also demanded US Citizenship and political rights. The CHamoru people thought that citizenship would guarantee them liberties the naval government had denied them.
“A military government at best is distasteful and highly repugnant to the fundamental principles of a civilized government…” the petition made by the Chamoru people said.
The Guam Congress, formed in 1917 by US Naval Governor Roy Smith, worked to ease the outcries. Yet, efforts towards a more civil, self-government were put to a halt when Japan occupied Guam in World War II. Although the US military was able to re-establish the naval government of Guam, concerns still remained. The CHamoru people were worried about their chance for local home rule. This was when Guam Congress created the symbolic Organic Act and its three branches: executive, judicial, and legislative.
The Organic Act was signed into law by President Truman on August 1, 1950. The legislation established a civil government without a military in Guam. It also granted US citizenship to inhabitants and accepted Guam as a US territory.
In the year 2025, the act is celebrated from July 1 to August 1. The Organic Act solidified Guam’s position as an unincorporated territory of the United States of America. However, this piece of legislation wasn’t simply a legal milestone. According to Supreme Court of Guam Chief Justice Robert Torres Jr., the statute provides a landmark moment in the island’s long journey to self-rule.
“[The Organic Act] gave us a civilian government, legislative authority, an executive branch, and crucially the framework for local judiciary,” Torres said. “It was and remains our foundational document, serving the role of the constitution in the absence of one created and ratified by our own people.”
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