TERRITORY

A part of a country sep- arated from the rest, and subject to a par- ticular jurisdiction. In American law. A portion of the United States, not within the limits of any state, which has not yet been admitted as a state of the Union, but is organized, with a separate legislature, and with executive and judicial officers appointed by the president.

A part of a country separated from the rest, and subject to a particular jurisdiction. In American law. A portion of thie United States, not within the limits of any state, which has not yet been admitted as a. state of the Union, but is organized, with a separate legislature, und with executive and judicial officers appointed by the president. See Ex parte Morgan (D. C.) 20 Fed. 304; People v. Daniels, 6 Utah, 288, 22 Pac. 159, 5 L. R. A. 444; Snow v. U. S., 18 Wall. 317, 21 L. Ed. 784. —Territory of a judge. The territorial jurisdiction of a judge; the bounds, or district, within which he me lawfully exercise his qucictal authority. Phillips v. Thralls, 26 Kan.

1. The area of land or country within the jurisdiction of a State, municipality, or court. The district within which a judge or magistrate has jurisdiction is his "territory," and his power in relation thereto, his territorial jurisdiction.¹ Extra-territorial and intra-territorial refer to the effect given to a decree or statute beyond, as compared with within, the geographical limits of the jurisdiction of the court which pronounced the decree or of the body which enacted the statute.2 The decree of a court of admiralty, proceeding in rem, has extra-territorial validity. See COMITY; JuRISDICTION; SHIP, 2. 2. "The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States." 4 "Territory," as here used, is merely descriptive of one kind of property, and is equivalent to "lands." 5 Congress has the same power over it as over any other property belonging to the United States. This power is without limitation and is the foundation upon which the territorial governments rest. The reference is to the territory owned by the United States at the time of the adoption of the Constitution, June 21, 1788. Territory subsequently acquired is subject to the legislation of Congress as a mere incident to its ownership by the United States. The power of Congress over a territory extends to all rightful subjects and methods of legislation not denied by the Constitution, consistent with the spirit and genius of the same, and with the purpose for which the territory may have been acquired. The power to govern new territory, until it is fit to be admitted as a State, results from the acquisition." Territory Northwest of the Ohio. The Ordinance of July 13, 1787, for the government of the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio river, was adopted by the Continental Congress when the Constitutional Convention was in session at Philadelphia. The territory consisted of seventeen millions acres between the Ohio river and the Lakes, and was acquired, by treaties, from Indian tribes. The Ordinance provides, among other things, that there should be "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the Territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crime." Compare CITIZEN, Amendment XIII. 1 [Phillips v. Thralls, 26 Kan. 781 (1882), Brewer, J. * See 4 Wall. 497; 109 U. S. 536. 31 Whart. Ev. § 814. Constitution, Art. IV, sec. 3, cl. 2. 5 United States v. Gratiot, 14 Pet. 537 (1840). • Dred Scott v. Sandford, 19 How. 432-42 (1856), Taney, C. J.; American Ins. Co. v. Canter, 1 Pet. 542 (1828); Benner v. Porter, 9 How. 235 (1850); 16 Op. Att. Gen. 115. 7 Nelson v. United States, 30 F. R. 112 (1887). In the territory northwest of the Ohio river, and as separate Territories were successively formed. Congress applied the principles of the Ordinance of 1787.1 See SCHOOL. The fact that the First Congress confirmed the Ordinance, did not give it effect in any State formed out of the original "territory," unless re-enacted by the authority of such State. See under ORDINANCE, 2. A portion of the public domain becomes an "organized Territory" when Congress provides a governmental system for it, consisting of a legislature, courts, a governor, etc. Within the meaning of the Constitution an organized Territory is not a "State," although the words may be used in that sense.4 Nor are its courts constitutional courts: they are legislative courts, created in virtue of the power vested in Congress to make all needful rules respecting the territory of the United States, or in virtue of the general right of sovereignty which exists in the government. In legislating for the Territories, Congress exercises the combined powers of the General and of a State government. The theory upon which the governments for portions of our territory have been organized has been that of leaving to the inhabitants all the powers of self-government consistent with the supremacy and supervision of the National authority, and with certain fundamental principles established by Congress. The fact that judges of the courts are appointed by the President, under certain acts, does not make their courts "courts of the United States." Their courts are but legislative courts of the Territories. Accordingly, jurors are not to be summoned, necessarily, as in the courts of the United States. The practice, pleadings, forms and modes of procedure, as well as the jurisdiction of the courts, are left to the legislative action of the Territorial assemblies and of the courts themselves. But Congress may establish such regulations as it deems expedient. Thus far Congress has merely instituted a general system of courts.' In organizing a Territory, Congress may establish tribunals for the exercise of admiralty jurisdiction, or leave it to the local legislature to create such tribunals. In either case such courts are not, in strictness, courts of the United States: the jurisdiction is not part of t גל ま ​12 ا the power to make needful rules respecting the public ual the right to lay down railroad tracks, or amending domain.¹ existing charters for such purpose. A resident of a Territory is not a citizen of a State in Granting to any corporation, association, or individthe sense that a citizen of one State may sue a citizen ❘ual any special or exclusive privilege, immunity, or of another State in the Federal courts.2 In ordaining government for the Territories all the discretion which belongs to legislative power is vested in Congress; and that extends to determining by law, from time to time, the form of the local government in a particular Territory, and the qualifications of those who shall administer it. The political rights of the people are franchises which they hold as privileges in the legislative discretion of Congress. See LANDS, Public. An act of Congress approved July 30, 1886 (24 St. L. 170), provides that the legislatures of the Territories now or hereafter to be organized shall not pass local or special laws in any of the following cases, that is to say: Granting divorces. Changing the names of persons or places. Laying out, opening, altering, and working roads or highways. Vacating roads, town-plats, streets, alleys, and public grounds. Locating or changing county seats. Regulating county and township affairs. Regulating the practice in courts of justice. Regulating the jurisdiction and duties of justices of the peace, police magistrates, and constables. Providing for changes of venue in civil and criminal cases. Incorporating cities, towns, or villages, or changing or amending the charter of any town, city, or village. For the punishment of crimes or misdemeanors. For the assessment and collection of taxes for Territorial, county, township, or road purposes. Summoning and impaneling grand or petit jurors. Providing for the management of common schools. Regulating the rate of interest on money. franchise whatever. In all other cases where a general law can be made applicable, no special law can be enacted in any of the Territories by the legislatures thereof. Sec. 2. That no Territory now or hereafter to be organized, or any political or municipal corporation or subdivision thereof, shall hereafter make any subscription to the capital stock of any incorporated company, or company or association having corporate powers, or in any manner loan its credit to or use it for the benefit of any such company or association, or borrow any money for the use of any such company or association. Sec. 3. That no law of any Territorial legislature shall authorize any debt to be contracted by or on behalf of such Territory except in the following cases: To meet a casual deficit in the revenues, to pay the interest upon the Territorial debt, to suppress insurrections, or to provide for the public defense, except that in addition to any indebtedness created for such purposes, the legislature may authorize a loan for the erection of penal, charitable or educational institutions, if the total indebtedness of the Territory is not thereby made to exceed one per centum upon the assessed value of the taxable property as shown by the last general assessment. And nothing in this act shall be construed to prohibit the refunding of any existing indebtedness of such Territory or of any political or municipal corporation, county, or other subdivision therein. Sec. 4. That no political or municipal corporation, county, or other subdivision in any of the Territories shall ever become indebted in any manner or for any purpose to any amount in the aggregate, including existing indebtedness, exceeding four per centum on the value of the taxable property within such corporaThe opening and conducting of any election or destion, county, or subdivision, to be ascertained by the ignating the place of voting. The sale or mortgage of real estate belonging to minors or others under disability. The protection of game or fish. Chartering or licensing ferries or toll bridges. Remitting fines, penalties or forfeitures. Creating, increasing, or decreasing fees, percentage, or allowances of public officers during the term for which said officers are elected or appointed. Changing the law of descent. last assessment for Territorial and county taxes previous to the incurring of such indebtedness; and all bonds or obligations in excess of such amount given by such corporation shall be void: That nothing in this act shall be so construed as to affect the validity of any act of any Territorial legislature heretofore enacted, or of any obligations existing or contracted thereunder, nor to preclude the issuing of bonds already contracted for in pursuance of express provisions of law; nor to prevent any such legislature from Granting to any corporation, association, or individlegalizing the acts of any county, municipal corpora1 City of Panama, 101 U. S. 460 (1879). 2 New Orleans v. Winter, 1 Wheat. 91 (1816); Barney v. Baltimore, 6 Wall. 287 (

A large extent or tract of land; a region; a country; a district. He looked, and saw wide territory spread Before him -- towns, and rural works between. Milton. The extent of land belonging to, or under the dominion of, a prince, state, or other form of government; often, a tract of land lying at a distance from the parent country or from the seat of government; as, the territory of a State; the territories of the East India Company. In the United States, a portion of the country not included within the limits of any State, and not yet admitted as a State into the Union, but organized with a separate legislature, under a Territorial governor and other officers appointed by the President and Senate of the United States. In Canada, a similarly organized portion of the country not yet formed into a Province.

A large extent or tract of land; for example a region, country or district. | One of three of Canada's federal entities, located in the country's Arctic, with fewer powers than a province and created by an act of Parliament rather than by the Constitution: Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. | One of three of Australia's federal entities, located in the country's north and southeast, with fewer powers than a state and created by an act of Parliament rather than by the Constitution: Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Territory. | A geographic area under control of a single governing entity such as state or municipality; an area whose borders are determined by the scope of political power rather than solely by natural features such as rivers and ridges. | An area that an animal of a particular species consistently defends against its conspecifics. | The part of the playing field or board over which a player or team has control. | A geographic area that a person or organization is responsible for in the course of work. | A location or logical space which someone owns or controls. | A market segment or scope of professional practice over which an organization or type of practitioner has exclusive rights. | An area of subject matter, knowledge, or experience.