THE PUBLIC TRUST DOCTRINE: A UNITED STATES AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

The Public Trust Doctrine (PTD or the Doctrine) can be traced back in time as far as the Roman Empire, but it flourished into the modern conception in pre-Colonial England. The Doctrine can apply to any sovereign who holds land for the benefit of the people. This article defines and explores the growth and development of the PTD in the United States - first from the perspective of the federal government as sovereign. The article next turns to the individual state governments and explores the evolution of the Doctrine, comparing the expansion and growth among the states. Finally, the article overviews the use of the PTD intra-nationally and compares the development of the Doctrine outside of the United States. The presence of the Doctrine worldwide largely reflects the broad reach of English colonialism. The article concludes by evaluating the potential benefits and drawbacks of the theoretical expansion of the PTD.