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Government and Politics of Guam
Government structure, leadership, capital, military, and national symbols of Guam.
Government Structure
Constitutional foundations, branches, parties, and leadership.
- Government Type
- NA
- Administrative Divisions
- none (territory of the US)
- Legal System
- modeled on US; US federal laws apply
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections
- Citizenship
- See United States
- Executive Branch
- chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP of the US (since 20 January 2025) and Vice President JD VANCE (since 20 January 2025) head of government: Governor Lourdes "Lou" Leon GUERRERO (since 7 January 2019) and Lieutenant Governor Josh TENORIO (since 7 January 2019) cabinet: heads of executive departments; appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam Legislature elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Guam, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, Guam residents who are US citizens may vote in presidential elections if they establish residency in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2026) election results: Lourdes "Lou" Leon GUERRERO reelected governor; percent of vote - Lourdes Leon GUERRERO (Democratic Party) 56.5%, Felix CAMACHO (Republican Party) 43.5%
- Legislative Branch
- unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 6, Republican Party 9 note: Guam elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House of Representatives; election last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2006); results - Madeleine BORDALLO (Democratic Party) was elected as delegate; percent of vote by party - Democratic Party 64.6%, Republican Party 35.4%; seats by party - Democratic Party 1
- Judicial Branch
- Federal District Court (judge is appointed by the president); Territorial Superior Court (judges appointed for eight-year terms by the governor)
- Political Parties
- Democratic Party [leader Michael PHILLIPS]; Republican Party (controls the legislature) [leader Philip J. FLORES]
- Head of State
- President Barack H. OBAMA
- Head of Government
- Governor Felix P. Camacho
- Cabinet
- heads of executive departments; appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislature
- Elections
- under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Guam, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term (can serve two consecutive terms, then must wait a full term before running again); election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held in November 2010)
- Election Results
- Felix P. CAMACHO reelected governor; Dr. Michael W. CRUZ elected lieutenant governor; percent of vote - NA
- Constitution
- Organic Act of 1 August 1950
- Independence
- none (territory of the US)
- National Holiday
- Discovery Day, first Monday in March (1521)
- International Organization Participation
- Interpol (subbureau), IOC
- Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.
- none (territory of the US)
- U.S. Diplomatic Representation
- none (territory of the US)
Capital City
Seat of government and political history.
- Capital City
- Hagatna (Agana)
- Location
- 13 28 N, 144 44 E
- Time Difference
- UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- History
- The name is derived from the Chamoru word "haga," meaning "blood", and may refer to the bloodlines of the various families that established the original settlement
National Symbols
Flag, anthem, and other symbols of national identity.
