§2 Cou.Pus JuRis SEcUNDUM UNT'l'F.

D STA1'ES §3
indestructible states. 16 The United States miles, is included.a Accordingly 1 for most private citizen cannot be considered rep-
is not, in relation to the several states, purposes, the nation's territorial limits resentative of a government's position as
regarded as a foreign nation. 17 The United § 3 Generally are set at a point three miles distant from regards claims of sovereignty to land or
States is a "state" as such word is fre- the low waterline on the coast. 4 It does water. 0
quently used in international law .18 Research References not include the high seas, which are the
The United States is a body politic19 and West's Key Numbe1· Digest, United States c:€=2 common propArty of all nations. 5 A consulate building, even when not
corporate. 20 The corporate residence of the The Supreme Court ofthe United States owned by the United States, is neverthe-
United States is within the United The territory under the jurisdiction or the is not free to adopt varying definitions of less a part of the territory of the United
States. 11 It is, for some purposes, 22 al - United States includes the land areas under its inland waters for different portions of the States of America.10
though not others,23 treated as a "person." dominion and control; the 110rts, harbors, bay~, United States coast. 6 A legislative decla-
and other euclosed 1trms of the sea qlong the
When the United States enters into com- coast; and a marginal belt or the sea extending
ration of jurisdiction over claimed inland American vessel.q,
mercial business, it abandons its sover- vut ihree mUcs.
waters, without evidence of fUrther active An American vessel is part of the terri-
eign capacity and is to be treated like any and continuous assertion of dominion over
such waters, is not sufficient to establish tory of the United States.11 However, this
other corporation. 24 The territory subject to the jurisdiction is true only fo:r certain purposes and in a
of the United States includes the land ar- a claim that such waters are historic
B. TERRITORIAL EXTENT, bays. 7 limited sense. 12 A merchant vessel flying
BOUNDARIES, AND eas under its dominion and control.1 Also the American flag is not a part of the
included are the ports, harbors, bays, and Even where the United States lacks
JURISDICTION dominion and control, as on the high seas United States within the immigration
other enclosed arms of the sea along the
or in a foreign country, it is not debarred laws. 13 Accordingly, a person born on such
Research Referencel!l coast.2 Additionally, a marginal belt of the a vessel on the high seas is not born ''in
sea extending from the coastline outward from governin.g the conduct of its own
A.L.R. Library citizens when the rights of other nations the United States" with respect to
A.L.R. Index, Federal Government a marine league, or three geographical
or their nationals are not infringed. 8 In
West's A.L.R. Digest, United States ~2
the absence of some official license or
other governmental authority, acts of a
16
U.S.- Tcxas v, White, 74 U.S . 700, 19 L. Ed. [Section 3]
227, 1868 WL 11083 (1868) (overruled in part on 1
U.S .- Cunard S.S. Co. v . Mellon, 262 U.S. 7
other grounds by, Morgan v. U.S., 20 Ct. Cl. 533, Beach Protection Ass'n v. Federal Power Commis- U.S.- U.S. v. State of Cal., 381 U.S. 139, 85
100, 43 S. Ct. 504, 67 L. Ed. 894, 27 A.L.R. 1306 sion, 212 F.2d 227 (D.C. Cir. 1954). S. Ct. 1401, 14 L. Ed. 2d 296 (1965), supplemented
113 U.S. 476, 5 :::>. Ct. 588, 28 L. Ed. 1044 l1885)). (1923); Matter of Arawak Trust Co. (Cayman) LLd.,
17 ~.S.-Cunard S.S . Co. v. Mellon, 262 U .S. on other gl'OW1rls, R82 U.S. 448, 86 S . Ct. 607, 15 L.
U.S.- Clafiin v. Houseman, 93 U.S. 130, 23 489 F'. Supp. 162 (E.D. N.Y. 1980). Ed . 2d 517 (1966), opinion supplemen ted on other
L. Ed. 833, 1876 WL 19239 (1876). As to territorial extent and jurisdiction 100, 43 S. CL. 504, 67 L. Ed . 894, 27 A.L .R. 1306
(1923); U.S. v. Marino-Garcia, 679 F.2d 1373, 7::l gJ'ounds, 432 U.S. 40, 97 S. Ct. 2915, 53 L. Ed. 2d
As to r elation of states to United States, gen· therein, generally, see C.J.S., international Law 94 (1977).
erally, see C.J.S., States §§ 38 to 41. §§ 10 to 21. A.L.R. Fnd. 144 (11th Cir. 1982). 8
U.S.-Skiriotes v. State of Florida, 313 U.S.
18
Conn.-McLaughlin v. Poucher, 127 Conn. 2
U.S.- Lam Mow v. Nagle, 24 F.2d 316 (C.C.A. Coral reefs held part of continental shell 69, 61 S. Ct. 924, 85 L. Ed. 1193 (1941); U .S. v.
441, 17 A.2d 767 (1941). 9th Cir. 1928). under statute Bowman, 260 U.S, 94, 43 S. Ct. 39, 67 L. Ed. 119
1
SU.S.-U. S. ex rel. Marcus v. Hess, 317 U .S. Proof of acquiescence in claimed territo- U.S.-U.S. v. Ray, 294 F. Supp. 532 (S.D. Fla. (1922).
537, 63 S. Ct. 379, 87 L. Ed. 443 (1943). rial sovereignty inadequate 1969), judgment aff'd in part, rev'd in part on other As to extraterritorial rights and jurisdicLion
20 U.S.- U.S. v. Alaska, 422 U.S. 184, 95 S. Ct. grounds, 423 F.2d 16 (5th Cir. 1970), order clari- of nations, generally, see C.J.S., International Law
U.S.-State ofRussia v. National City Bank ·fied, 1970 A.M.C. 2393 (5th Cir. 1970) and aff'd in §§ 18, 19.
of Now York, 69 F .2d 44 (C.C.A. 2d Cir. 1934). 2240, 45 L . Ed. 2d 109 (1975).
Inland Water Line part, rov'd in part on other grounds, 1970 A.M.C. Retrieving shipwrecked vessel
N.D.-Harding v. City of Dickinson, 76 N.D. 2893 (5th Cir. 1970).
71, 33 N.W.2d 626 (1948). The ''Inland Water Line,'' established in aid of U.S.-Treas ure Salvors, Inc. v . Unidentified
navigation, is not treated by United States as ter-
4
Alaska- State v. Bundrant, 546 P.2d 530 Wrecked and Abandoned SaiHng Vessel, 569 F.2d
Public or quasi corporation 330 (5th Cir. 1978).
ritorial boundary of iLs inland waters. (Alaaka 1976).
U.S.-Dugan v. U.S., 16 U.S. 172,4 L. Ed. 362, 'U.S.- U.S. v. Alaska, 422 U.S. 184, 95 S. Ct.
1818 WT, 2418 (1818). U.S.-U.S. v. Louisiana, 394 U.S. 11, 89 S . Ct. SU.S .-Treasure Salvors, Inc. v. Abandon l'l rl
773, 22 L. Ed . 2d 4-4 (1969), decision s upplemented 2240, 45 L. Ed. 2d 109 (1975).
21
U.S.-I-Ielvering v. British-American Tobacco Sailing Vessel Believed to Be Nuestra Senora De 10
on othtlr grounds, 394. U.S. 836, 89 S. Ct. 1614, 23 Atocha, 408 F. Supp. 907 (S.D. F la. 1976), judgment U.S.- U.S. v. Archer, 61 F . Supp. 708 (S.D.
Co. , 69 F.2d 528 (C. C.A. 2d Cir . 1934), affd, 293 L. Ed . 2d 22(1969), decision supplemented on other Cal. 1943).
U.S. 95, 55 S. Ct. 55, 79 L. Ed. ~18 (1934). aff'd on other grounds and modified on other
grounds, G25 U.S. 1, 119 S. Ct. :~13, 142 L. Ed. 2d 1 grounds, 569 F .2d 330 (5th Cir. 1978). 11
U.S. -Ex parLe Kogi Saito, 18 F.2d 116 (W.D.
:12Pa.-Baker v. Kirschnek, :n7 P a. 225 , 176 (1998). 6 Wash. 1927).
A. 489 (1935). St. Lawrence River U.S.- U.S. v. Louisiana, 394 U.S. 11, 89 S. 12
23 Ct . 773 , 22 L . Ed . 2d 44 (1969) , decision U.S.-United States v. Flores, 289 U.S. 137,
U.S.- U.S. v. Fox, 94 U.S . 315 , 24 L. Ed. 192, 1'he St. Lawrence River on the UniLed Sta Les 53 S. Ct. 580, 77 L. Ed. 1086 (1933).
supplemented on other grounds, 394 U.S. 836, 89
1876 WL l 9533 (1876). !!ide of the inLernational boundary is water over 13
S. Ct. 1614, 23 L . Ed . 2d 22 (1969), decis ion U.S.- Scharrenberg v. DollarS S Co, 229 F.
24
U.S.-The No . 34, 11 F'. 2d 287 CD. Mass. which Congress has jurisdiction. supplemented on other grounds, 525 U.S. l, 119 S. 970 (C.C.A. 9th Cir. 1916), atfd, 245 U .S. 122, 38
1925). U.S.- Lake Ontario Land Development and Ct. 313, 142 L. Ed. 2d 1 ( 1998). S. ct. 28, 62 L. Ed. 189 (191 7).
Hl 19