States and Territories

States and territories are designated areas within a country. States are regions with their own governments that have significant authority over local laws, policies, and services. Territories are regions owned by the country but may have less autonomous governance or special arrangements. Typically, states function as semi-independent entities with their own legislatures, while territories are more directly governed by the national government. In the United States, for example, states like California and Texas have their own governments, whereas territories like Puerto Rico are administered differently, often with local governments but under federal oversight.