Why is American Samoa called an unincorporated and unorganized U.S. territory?

American Samoa is classified as an unincorporated and unorganized territory of the United States due to its specific legal and constitutional status:

• Unincorporated: This means the territory is not part of the union of 50 states, and consequently, not all provisions of the U.S. Constitution apply to it.12
• Unorganized: This indicates that the United States Congress has not passed an "organic act"—a formal charter that establishes a specific system of government for the territory.1

Because there is no organic act, the U.S. Department of the Interior has maintained jurisdiction over the territory since 1951. Under this authority, American Samoa was permitted to draft its own constitution in 1967, which established its current government structure, including the Fono (legislature) and the office of the governor. Unlike residents of other U.S. territories, American Samoans are classified as U.S. nationals rather than citizens by birth, as no federal statute has granted them citizenship.132