Do US territories follow all US laws?

Answer 1

No. There is no uniformity in folloeing laws in US Attempts at "uniform" laws Efforts by various organizations to create "uniform" state laws have been only partially successful. The two leading organizations are the American Law Institute (ALI) and the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL). The most successful and influential uniform laws are the Uniform Commercial Code (a joint ALI-NCCUSL project) and the Model Penal Code (from ALI). The question posted is incorrect. There is no such thing as all US laws. United States has 50 States each of them makes laws. The US laws are made by congress, yet majority of the laws are made by the Agencies as long as they comply with the Constitution, and its amendments. US have a number of agencies such as EPA the Environment Protection Agency to the Social Security, Immigration etc. These agencies make 98% of all laws at the federal level. Thirdly the laws are also made by Judges who interpret law or agency created rule based on Constitution and decide what congress intended when it made a particular law or rule. Majority of the courts are not the US District courts, instead they are Administrative Law Judges such as decide cases based on the agencies rules. The rights and privileges of the US Constitution are applied to the territories; however, some laws may be applied to one territory while it may not be applied to another territory. Even in the Continental US there are areas where not all US laws apply. E.G the Sovereign Indian Nations, are self governing, even though they are located in some State of the US. A single store, a single man incorporated town or village has law making authority. It makes traffic, zoning, laws; it appoints Mayor under its charter, as well as a Justice of Peace, and a Police Chief Etc. Even if all these positions are held by a single, person, the laws and rules made by the town or village populated by a single person are very much legal, although you would have a problem with the application of law, wherein the one guy wears the hats of Mayor, Chief of Police, and Justice of Peace all rolled into one, making rules and laws and applying them in his own territory. Finally the answer to your question is a big NO. Not all of the US Laws apply to the Territories. Application of US Federal Laws for example the Bureau of Indian Affairs rules and laws do not apply where there are no Sovereign Indians Nations. Each territory has its own elected or appointed officials, who make laws for the territory, just like our own states legislators. Territories of the United Statesare similar to a state. They have a form of government that includes a law making body that makes laws that apply to the terrritory. Like the states, they are subject to Federal Laws and the US Constitution, but not being a formal part of the country, there are exceptions as to how things are applied.