to
dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the
territory or other property belonging to the United States._

The Government of Territories.--Our Territories at present are
Alaska, Porto Rico, and Hawaii.

The governing authorities in each are: (1) a governor, appointed by the
President, with the consent of the Senate; (2) administrative
officers--secretary, treasurer, auditor, attorney-general,
adjutant-general, and superintendent of education, all appointed in the
same way; (3) a legislature consisting of two houses, the members of the
lower house, at least, being elected by popular vote; (4) a system of
courts in which the judges are appointed by the President and Senate.

Relations between Territories and Congress.--A Territory is
organized by an Act of Congress which provides for these officers and
prescribes their powers. The Territorial legislature controls the
internal affairs of the Territory; but its acts may be changed or vetoed
by Congress. The people of a Territory have no voice in National
affairs, but they elect a delegate to Congress, who may debate but not
vote.

Porto Rico.--The government of Porto Rico is different at some
points from that of the other organized Territories. The upper
house of its legislature is the Executive Council and consists of
the administrative officers of the Territory (secretary, treasurer,
auditor, commissioner of the interior, attorney-general, and
commissioner of education) and five other persons appointed by the
President. Five of the eleven members of this council must be
natives of Porto Rico. The House of Delegates has thirty-five
members, elected triennially by the voters. There is elected by the
people a "resident commissioner" to the United States, who, unlike
the delegates from other Territories, has no seat in Congress, but
rather has official relations with the President.

The Territory of Hawaii.--Hawaii was annexed to the United
States in 1898, and its government was established by Congress in
1900. The administrative officers in this Territory are appointed
by the governor, instead of by the President. Voters in Hawaii must
be able to read and write either the English or Hawaiian language.

Alaska.--By a law of 1912, Alaska was given for the first time
a Territorial legislature, consisting of two houses, elected by the
people.