The Nation - News from Aug. 9, 1987

Voters in Guam, a U.S. territory in the Western Pacific for 89 years, approved a measure asking Congress to make Guam an American commonwealth, granting the island greater autonomy. If approved by Congress, the Commonwealth Act would replace the 1950 Organic Act, which is the framework of Guam’s government. In voting on 12 sections of the draft Commonwealth Act, two controversial provisions were narrowly defeated. One would have given Guam control over immigration. The other proposed self-determination for indigenous people and five-year residency requirements before voting in local elections or obtaining local government benefits.