ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

United States territory

Okay, imagine you have a big yard, and you have some toys and a house in it. Now, let's pretend your yard is called the United States, and your toys and house are territories.

The United States is made up of 50 smaller parts called states, and it also has a few territories. Territories are like states, but they aren't quite the same.

There are five inhabited territories in the United States: Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. That means there are people living in these places, just like in the states.

But why are they called territories and not states? Well, it's because they don't have the same rights as states. They can't vote for President, they don't have as much control over their own government, and they don't have representation in Congress. It's kind of like how you might not be allowed to stay up as late as your older brother or sister because you aren't grown up enough yet.

Overall, territories are still a part of the United States, just like your toys and house are still a part of your yard. But they have a few special rules and don't have as much independence as states yet.