Puerto Rico

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Puerto Rico Image File history File links EscudoPurtoRico. ...

Constitution Government Executive Departments Public corporations Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá Legislative Assembly Senate House of Representatives Supreme Court Political parties Elections: 2004 - 2008 Municipalities

Other countries · Politics Portal view • talk • edit

Politics of Puerto Rico takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic system, whereby the Governor of Puerto Rico is head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth [1] in political union with the United States. The Government of Puerto Rico, established by the Constitution (ratified March 3, 1952; approved by the United States Congress on July 3, 1952; effective on July 25, 1952), consists of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The Executive Branch of the Government of Puerto Rico is comprised of various Departments which provide public services to the citizens of Puerto Rico. ... In Puerto Rico, Public corporations are separate legal entities who are owned, either entirely or in great majority, by the Government of Puerto Rico. ... Seal of the Governor of Puerto Rico The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. ... Aníbal Salvador Acevedo Vilá (born February 13, 1962) is the eighth and current Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. ... The Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico is the legislative branch of the government of Puerto Rico. ... Seal of the Senate of Puerto Rico. ... The House of Representatives of Puerto Rico is the lower house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, larger than the Senate. ... The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico is the highest court of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, having the ultimate judicial authority within Puerto Rico to interpret and decide questions of local commonwealth law. ... Political parties in Puerto Rico lists political parties in Puerto Rico. ... Politics of Puerto Rico Categories: Election related stubs | Elections in Puerto Rico ... The Puerto Rico General Elections of 2004 took place on Election Day, Tuesday, November 2, 2004. ... General elections will be held in Puerto Rico on 4 November 2008. ... There are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the United States Government, but Puerto Rico has 78 municipalities at the second order. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... A presidential system, also called a congressional system, is a system of government where the executive branch exists and presides (hence the term) separate from the legislature, to which it is not accountable, and which cannot in normal circumstances dismiss it. ... Representative democracy is a form of democracy founded on the exercise of popular sovereignty by the peoples representatives. ... Seal of the Governor of Puerto Rico The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. ... The Head of Government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. ... For other uses of Commonwealth, see Commonwealth. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... March 3 is the 62nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (63rd in leap years). ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... July 25 is the 206th day (207th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 159 days remaining. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Chamber of the Estates-General, the Dutch legislature. ... The judiciary, also referred to as the judicature, consists of justices, judges and magistrates among other types of adjudicators. ... Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the executive is the branch of a government charged with implementing, or executing, the law. ... A legislature is a governmental deliberative body with the power to adopt laws. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      In law, the judiciary or judicial is the system of courts which administer justice in the name of the sovereign or state, a mechanism for the resolution of disputes. ...

Constitutional developments

In 1950, the U.S. Congress afforded Puerto Ricans the right to organize a constitutional convention, contingent on the results of a referendum, where the electorate would determine if they wished to organize their own government pursuant to a constitution of their own choosing. Puerto Ricans expressed their support for this measure in a 1951 referendum, which gave voters a yes-or-no choice for the commonwealth status, defined as a ‘permanent association with a federal union’. A second referendum was held to approve the constitution, which was adopted in 1952. Prior to approving the new constitution, the Constitutional Convention specified the name by which the body politic would be known. The convention on February 4 of 1952 approved resolution 22 which chose in English the word “Commonwealth”, meaning a “politically organized community” or “State”, which is simultaneously connected by a compact or treaty to another political system. Unable to translate the word into Spanish, the convention adopted a translation inspired by the Irish Free State called “Estado Libre Asociado” (ELA) to represent the compact between the people of Puerto Rico and the United States, which could be translated into English as “Associated Free State” or as "Free Associated State". For other uses of Commonwealth, see Commonwealth. ... A state is a set of institutions that possess the authority to make the rules that govern the people in one or more societies, having internal and external sovereignty over a definite territory. ... Free state is a term occasionally used in the official titles of some states. ...

Under the 1952 constitution, Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth (use some benefits of the U.S.) and is permitted a degree of autonomy similar to that of a state of the Union. Puerto Rico does not have voting representation in the U.S. Congress; neither does it have any electors in the U.S. Electoral College, and therefore Puerto Rican citizens do not participate in the U.S. Presidential elections, although political parties can, and do, have state-like voting delegations to the nominating conventions of both major national parties. A non-voting Resident Commissioner is elected by the residents of Puerto Rico to the U.S. Congress acting as a delegate of the people of Puerto Rico. For other uses of Commonwealth, see Commonwealth. ... An autonomous (subnational) entity is a subnational entity that has a certain amount of autonomy. ... The United States Electoral College is the electoral college that chooses the President and Vice President of the United States at the conclusion of each Presidential election. ... The Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico is a nonvoting representative of the United States House of Representatives elected by Puerto Ricans every 4 years. ... Congress in Joint Session. ...

For the past fifty years, a single issue has dominated Puerto Rican politics: its political status vis-à-vis the United States. A Commonwealth associated to the U.S. since 1952, Puerto Rico today is torn by profound ideological rifts, as represented by its political parties, which stand for the current relationship or the two distinct future political scenarios: the status quo, statehood, and independence. The Popular Democratic Party (PPD) seeks to maintain or improve the current status, the New Progressive Party (PNP) seeks to fully incorporate Puerto Rico as a U.S. state, and the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) seeks national independence. PPD logo and accompanying motto: Bread, Land, Freedom. The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico —or Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico (PPD) in Spanish— is a political party that supports the continuation of Puerto Ricos current status as a free associated state of the United States, which... PNP logo with motto (Statehood, Security, Progress) The New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico (Spanish: Partido Nuevo Progresista de Puerto Rico, PNP) is a political party that campaigns for Puerto Rican statehood. ... The Puerto Rican Independence Party (Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (PIP) in Spanish) is a Puerto Rican political party that campaigns for the independence of Puerto Rico from the United States. ...

In 1967, the Legislative Assembly tested political interests of the Puerto Rican people by passing a plebiscite Act that allowed a vote on the status of Puerto Rico. This constituted the first plebiscite by the Legislature for a choice on three status options. Puerto Rican leaders had lobbied for such an opportunity repeatedly, in 1898, 1912, 1914, 1919, 1923, 1929, 1932, 1939, 1943, 1944, 1948, 1956, and 1960. Following the plebiscite, efforts in the 1970s to enact legislation to address the status issue died in Congressional committees. In a 1993, in which Congress played a more substantial role, and in a 1998 plesbicite the status quo, Commonwealth status, was upheld. ^[1] A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ...

Puerto Rico's political status and international law

Although Puerto Rico is, politically speaking, an unincorporated territory of the United States classified as a Commonwealth, Puerto Ricans and people from other nations refer to Puerto Rico as a país, the Spanish word for country. The United Nations has intervened in the past to evaluate the legitimacy of Puerto Rico's political status, to ensure that the island's government structure complies with the standards of self-government that constitute the basic tenets of the United Nations Charter, its covenants, and its principles of international law. For other uses of Commonwealth, see Commonwealth. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

On November 27, 1953, shortly after establishment of the Commonwealth, the General Assembly of the UN approved Resolution 748, removing Puerto Rico’s classification as a non-self-governing territory under article 73(e) of the Charter of the United Nations. The resolution garnered a favorable vote of fewer than 40% of the General Assembly, with over 60% abstaining or voting against it (20 to 16, with 18 abstentions). This resolution has not been revoked by the UN even though the political status is still debated in many international forums. November 27 is the 331st day (332nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

For a territory to be deemed self-governing, the United Nations require:

"(a) Legislative representation. Representation without discrimination in the central legislative organs, on the same basis as other inhabitants and regions [within the governing nation].

(b) Participation of the population. Effective participation of population in the government of the territory

(1) Is there an adequate and appropriate electoral and representation system?

(2) Is this electoral system conducted without direct or indirect interference from a foreign government?

(c) Citizenship. Citizenship without discrimination on the same basis as other inhabitants

(d) Government officials. Eligibility of officials from the territory for all public offices of the central authority, by appointment or election, on the same basis as those from other parts of the country".

The General Assembly did not apply its list of criteria to Puerto Rico for determining whether or not self-governing status had been achieved. In fact, in a 1996 report on a Puerto Rico status political bill, the U.S. House Committee on Resources stated that Puerto Rico’s current status “does not meet the criteria for any of the options for full self government.” The House Committee concluded that Puerto Rico is still an unincorporated territory of the United States under the territorial clause, that the establishment of local self-government with the consent of the people can be unilaterally revoked by U.S. Congress, and that U.S. Congress can also withdraw at any time the American citizenship now enjoyed by the residents of Puerto Rico as long as it achieves a legitimate Federal purpose, in a manner reasonably related to that purpose.

According to a report by the President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status, released in December 2005, the Constitution of the United States does not allow for a mechanism “to bind future Congresses to any particular arrangement for Puerto Rico as a Commonwealth” without an amendment to the Constitution.

The governor of Puerto Rico promised to challenge the task force report. On January 4, 2006, Governor Anibal Acevedo Vilá announced the steps that he and the governing Popular Democratic Party will take in the following months. The historic resolution denounces the task force as a political fraud that represents a threat to democracy and is in violation of the basic agreements held between the people of Puerto Rico and the United States since 1952^[2][3]. It also stated a compromise to challenge the task force report and validate the current status in all international forums including the United Nations. Also rejects any colonial or territorial status as a status option and vows to keep working for the enhanced commonwealth status that was approved by the PPD in 1998 which included: January 4 is the 4th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... For other uses, see Governor (disambiguation). ... Aníbal Acevedo Vilá (born February 13, 1962) is the eighth and current democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico. ... The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico —or Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico (PPD) in Spanish— is a political party that stands for Puerto Rico to be a free associated state of the United States, which is also known as a commonwealth status. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean [1]. // Coated in ice, power and telephone lines sag and often break, resulting in power outages. ...

(a) Sovereignty

(b) An association based on respect and dignity between both nations

(c) Common citizenship

As part of the PDP's strategy, a bill supporting its position was introduced in the United States Senate by two senators who have traditionally been identified with Puerto Rico, Sens. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and two senators whose interest in all matters Puerto Rican was up to then unknown, Sens. Burr (R-NC) and Lott (R-MS). Since its introduction, the bill has not attracted any other co-sponsors, in spite of heavy lobbying on the part of Puerto Rico's Executive Branch lobbyists. A bipartisan Senate bill supporting the implementation of the White House report recommendations is expected to be filed shortly by Sens. Martinez (R-FL) and Salazar (D-CO).

On the other hand, Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuño (R-PR) and Rep. Jose E. Serrano (D-NY) filed a bipartisan House bill to implement the recommendations, which has been cosponsored by over 60 Republicans and over 40 Democrats, significantly more cosponsors than the Young Bill which cleared the House in 1998. The House Committee on Resources called a hearing on the subject on April 27, 2006, signalling a greater degree of interest than previously anticipated.

At the beginning of the 110th Congress, Serrano and Fortuño refiled their bill as HR900. Hearings were held by the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs in March 2007. A final hearing is scheduled for April 25 to hear Gov. Acevedo Vilá, Senate President McClintock, Speaker Aponte and a Bush administration spokesperson before the bill is brought to a full committee vote, according to Resources Committee chair Nick Rahall (D-WV) before the July 4 recess. Nick Joe Rahall II (born May 20, 1949), American politician of Lebanese descent, has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing West Virginias 3rd Congressional District since 1977(map). ...

Executive branch

The head of government is led by the Governor of Puerto Rico, who is popularly elected for a 4 year term. Seal of the Governor of Puerto Rico The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. ...

Governors of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Luis Muñoz Marín • Roberto Sánchez Vilella • Luis A. Ferré • Rafael Hernández Colón Carlos Romero Barceló • Pedro Rosselló González • Sila Calderón • Aníbal Acevedo Vilá

Seal of the Governor of Puerto Rico The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. ... Aníbal Acevedo Vilá (born February 13, 1962) is the eighth and current democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico. ... PPD logo and accompanying motto: Bread, Land, Freedom. The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico —or Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico (PPD) in Spanish— is a political party that supports the continuation of Puerto Ricos current status as a free associated state of the United States, which... January 2 is the second day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Seal of the Governor of Puerto Rico The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. ... Image File history File links EscudoPurtoRico. ... José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín (February 18, 1898 – April 30, 1980) was a poet, journalist and politician. ... Roberto Sánchez Vilella (February 19, 1913-March 24, 1997) was the second democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico. ... Don Luis Alberto Ferré Aguayo (February 17, 1904 – October 21, 2003) was an engineer, industrialist, politician, philanthropist, and a patron of the arts. ... Rafael Hernández Colón (born October 24, 1936 in Ponce, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican politician who was the fourth democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico for three non-consecutive terms (1973-1977, 1985-1993). ... Order: 5th Democratically Elected Governor Term of Office: January 2, 1977– January 2, 1985 Predecessor: Rafael Hernández Colón Successor: Rafael Hernández Colón Date of Birth: Sunday, September 4, 1932 Place of Birth: San Juan, Puerto Rico First Lady: Kate Donnally Profession: Lawyer Political Party: New Progressive... Pedro Juan Rosselló González [pronounced “roh-seh-yóh”] (born April 5, 1944 in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican politician who was the sixth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001. ... Order: 7th Democratically Elected Governor Term of Office: January 2, 2001– January 2, 2005 Predecessor: Pedro Rosselló González Successor: Aníbal Acevedo Vilá Date of Birth: Sunday, September 23, 1942 Place of Birth: San Juan, Puerto Rico Husband: Divorced Profession: Business Woman Political Party: Popular Democratic Party Resident Commissioner... Aníbal Salvador Acevedo Vilá (born February 13, 1962) is the eighth and current Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. ...

Legislative branch

The legislative branch consists of a bicameral Legislative Assembly formed by a Senate and the House of Representatives, with 27 and 51 members respectively, elected every 4 years. Likewise, every 4 years Puerto Ricans elect one Resident Commissioner, a nonvoting representative of the U.S. House of Representatives who is allowed to serve in committees, and who primarily serves as a process observer for the Puerto Rican government. In government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. ... The Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico is the legislative branch of the government of Puerto Rico. ... Seal of the Senate of Puerto Rico. ... The House of Representatives of Puerto Rico is the lower house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, larger than the Senate. ... The Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico is a nonvoting representative of the United States House of Representatives elected by Puerto Ricans every 4 years. ... The House of Representatives is the larger of two houses that make up the U.S. Congress, the other being the United States Senate. ...

Political parties and elections

For other political parties see List of political parties in Puerto Rico. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Puerto Rico.

A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues. ... Political parties in Puerto Rico lists political parties in Puerto Rico. ... An election is a decision making process whereby people vote for preferred political candidates or parties to act as representatives in government. ... Politics of Puerto Rico Categories: Election related stubs | Elections in Puerto Rico ... Aníbal Salvador Acevedo Vilá (born February 13, 1962) is the eighth and current Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. ... PPD logo and accompanying motto: Bread, Land, Freedom. The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico —or Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico (PPD) in Spanish— is a political party that supports the continuation of Puerto Ricos current status as a free associated state of the United States, which... Pedro Juan Rosselló González [pronounced “roh-seh-yóh”] (born April 5, 1944 in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican politician who was the sixth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001. ... PNP logo with motto (Statehood, Security, Progress) The New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico (Spanish: Partido Nuevo Progresista de Puerto Rico, PNP) is a political party that campaigns for Puerto Rican statehood. ... Date of birth June 21, 1939 Place of birth Aibonito, Puerto Rico Occupation Lawyer President of the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP). ... The Puerto Rican Independence Party (Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (PIP) in Spanish) is a Puerto Rican political party that campaigns for the independence of Puerto Rico from the United States. ... November 2 is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 59 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The House of Representatives of Puerto Rico is the lower house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, larger than the Senate. ... PNP logo with motto (Statehood, Security, Progress) The New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico (Spanish: Partido Nuevo Progresista de Puerto Rico, PNP) is a political party that campaigns for Puerto Rican statehood. ... PPD logo and accompanying motto: Bread, Land, Freedom. The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico —or Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico (PPD) in Spanish— is a political party that supports the continuation of Puerto Ricos current status as a free associated state of the United States, which... The Puerto Rican Independence Party (Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (PIP) in Spanish) is a Puerto Rican political party that campaigns for the independence of Puerto Rico from the United States. ... November 2 is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 59 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Seal of the Senate of Puerto Rico. ... PNP logo with motto (Statehood, Security, Progress) The New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico (Spanish: Partido Nuevo Progresista de Puerto Rico, PNP) is a political party that campaigns for Puerto Rican statehood. ... PPD logo and accompanying motto: Bread, Land, Freedom. The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico —or Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico (PPD) in Spanish— is a political party that supports the continuation of Puerto Ricos current status as a free associated state of the United States, which... The Puerto Rican Independence Party (Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (PIP) in Spanish) is a Puerto Rican political party that campaigns for the independence of Puerto Rico from the United States. ...

Judicial branch

The current members of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico has a territorial judiciary including a Supreme Court, Appellate Court, and a Court of First Instance composed of two sections: a Superior Court and a Municipal Court (justices for all these courts appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate). The legal system of Puerto Rico is based on the Spanish civil code. All Puerto Rican laws and judicial opinions are in the Spanish language. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (845x634, 169 KB) Summary Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (845x634, 169 KB) Summary Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. ... The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico is the highest court of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, having the ultimate judicial authority within Puerto Rico to interpret and decide questions of local commonwealth law. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Appeal. ... The Court of First Instance, created in 1989, is a court of the European Union. ... In law, and more specifically, in the Anglo-American common law legal tradition, a superior court is a court of general jurisdiction over all, or major, civil and criminal cases. ... This article is about the concept of justice. ...

Nevertheless, Puerto Ricans are also subject to federal laws that are drafted in English (in the form of the United States Code and the Code of Federal Regulations), and are under the jurisdiction of the United States federal courts, which conduct their proceedings in English. Thus, Puerto Rican lawyers must be fully bilingual in order to effectively represent their clients in both the territorial and federal legal systems. The United States Code (U.S.C.) is a compilation and codification of the general and permanent federal law of the United States. ... The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the codification of the general and permanent rules and regulations (sometimes called administrative law) published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government of the United States. ...

Post 1898 political history and conditions

A year after the United States invasion of the island, Dr. José Celso Barbosa embraced the idea of annexation as a U.S. state as a solution to the colonial situation and founded the Puerto Rican Republican Party in 1899. Dr. José Celso Barbosa (1857 – December 1921), born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, was a medical doctor, sociologist, and political leader. ... The Republican Party (Spanish: Partido Republicano) is a political party in Puerto Rico that supports statehood for the island. ...

Dr. Barbosa had been the leader in the Autonomist Party that favored a republican government for Spain. For much of the 19th Century, the principal parties favored Puerto Rico becoming one of the Spanish provinces in equal footing with the rest of the provinces; such a standing was given twice, under liberal governments, but it was revoked as many times when the monarchs regained their power. In this context, Dr. Barbosa returned to the original idea of equal footing, but this time with the constituent members of the American Republic.

During the last twenty years under the Spanish flag, the local parties, with the exception of the Partido Incondicional Español (Unconditional Spanish Party) embraced the idea of autonomy. The Incondicionales accepted whatever Spain had for Puerto Rico and the Crown duly recognized their support by giving aristocratic titles to the leaders.

The great leader of the Autonomist Party, of which Barbosa and Muños-Rivera were members, was Román Baldorioty de Castro, who followed closely the Canadian model developed by the British and supported a similar development for Puerto Rico under Spain. Before Baldorioty de Castro, other leaders had mentioned the possibility of autonomy, generally as an answer to the Spanish insistence in instituting special laws to govern the colonies. Román Baldorioty de Castro (Image: Library of Congress) Román Baldorioty de Castro (February 23, 1823 – September 30, 1889), born in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, distinguished himself as one of Puerto Ricos foremost abolitionist and spokesperson for the islands right to self-determination. ...

At about the same time that the Republican Party of Puerto Rico was organized under the U.S., Luis Muñoz-Rivera organized the Federalist Party. Like the Republican Party it supported statehood for Puerto Rico.

Muñoz-Rivera had been the leader of the monarchist faction of the autonomists, not truly out of conviction but because Spain was a monarchy. Through this support he was able to get Sagasta, whose party was not in power in the early 1890's, to support an autonomous government for Puerto Rico.

At about this time, the U.S. was pressuring Spain to grant autonomy to Cuba, but the Spaniards dilly-dallied until a year before the Spanish-American War. Sagasta was then Prime Minister and he had made a compact with the Islanders to give them autonomy. Autonomy was granted, not through an act of the Cortes (the Legislative branch of Spain), but through an edict of the monarch.

Bickering between Muñoz-Rivera and Barbosa did not allow the autonomous government to be established immediately. Sagasta demanded that they put their differences aside and both, with their respective groups, became part of the first autonomous government of Puerto Rico immediately before the War.

The Republican Party won the elections in 1900 and again in 1902. The new government of Puerto Rico, organized under the [Foraker Act] of 1900, was a mixture of the British and the American system, somewhat similar to that established for the territory of Orleans after the Louisiana Purchase. The House of Delegates was elected directly by the voters (male, propertied) and the equivalent to the Senate was the Cabinet appointed by the Governor and by the President of the United States.

Muñoz-Rivera exiled himself to New York after the defeat, but returned once the Federalist Party was no longer useful and joined Rosendo Matienzo-Cintrón in organizing the Union Party. Also with them was José de Diego.

Matienzo Cintrón had been a Republican, supporting statehood. But two years into the new government, he realized that statehood would not be granted and the desired equality as citizens was not feasible under the United States. He brought with him other former Republicans and practically all of Muñoz-Rivera's Federalists into a party that was to bring about the union of all political groups.

He was remarkably successful. They won the elections of 1904 and all subsequent elections until the 20's, when another defection of Republicans allowed for the creation of yet another party bringing into it persons supporting a status change.

The Union, initially supported statehood or an autonomous government. The it included independence. In fact, Matienzo-Cintrón went from statehood advocate to autonomist to independence advocate as a result of eight years of American civil government in Puerto Rico.

The Union Party, from the very beginning, was against the colonial government established under the Foraker Act. Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón, Manuel Zeno Gandía, Luis Llorens Torres, Eugenio Benítez Castaño, and Pedro Franceschi started to organize the Independence Party in 1912 which paved the path for similar movements. The Foraker Act, also known as the Organic Act of 1900, established civilian government on the island of Puerto Rico newly acquired by the United States as a result of the Spanish-American War. ... Dr. Manuel Zeno Gandia (January 10, 1855 – 1930) born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, wrote the novel La Charca (The Pond), which is considered to be the first Puerto Rican novel. ... Luis Llorens Torres (May 14, 1876 - June 16, 1944) born in Juana Diaz, Puwerto Rico, was a poet, journalist, playwright, and politician. ...

The Union Party quickly gained the attention of the colonial governors, all Republicans, who were willing to work closely with them because of their control of the House of Delegates. The local Republicans protested bitterly and, once took statehood out of the platform, not bringing it back until the early 20s.

Many in the Union Party leadership were lawyers who had contracts with the sugar operations recently bought and enlarged by the new American owners, thus establishing a close relationship between the nascent middle classes and the American corporate interests.

The Nationalist Party (NP) was founded in the year 1922. It strongly criticized the American colonial regime for its menace to the Spanish and Latin American roots of the Puerto Rican culture. It also advocated for complete independence. The NP began to grow with the leadership of Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos, who was later jailed as a subversive leader by the colonial regime. In an unauthorized march by the NP in the city of Ponce 18 nationalists were killed by the police, this would be known later as the Ponce Massacre. The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party was first organized on September 17, 1922. ... Pedro Albizu Campos Pedro Albizu Campos (September 12, 1891 – April 21, 1965) born in Tenerías Village in Ponce, Puerto Rico was the son of Alejandro Albizu and Juana Campos. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

After 1940

Luis Muñoz Marín founded the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) in 1940. Their slogan was "Pan, Tierra y Libertad" (Bread, Land and Liberty). The party favored independence for the country in its initial stages but social and economic reform were priorities in their political agenda. José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín (February 18, 1898 – April 30, 1980) was a poet, journalist and politician. ... The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico —or Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico (PPD) in Spanish— is a political party that stands for Puerto Rico to be a free associated state of the United States, which is also known as a commonwealth status. ...

The Puerto Rican Independence Party was formed six years later by dissidents who saw the PPD moving away from the ideal of independence. During that period, the colonial regime appointed the first Puerto Rican governor, Jesús T. Piñero, until 1948 when the people elected Luis Muñoz Marín, the first elected governor. The Puerto Rican Independence Party (Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (PIP) in Spanish) is a Puerto Rican political party that campaigns for the independence of Puerto Rico from the United States. ... Order: 1st Puerto Rican to be appointed governor by the government of the United States Term of Office: 1946–1949 Predecessor: Rexford Guy Tugwell Successor: Luis Muñoz Marín (1949) Date of Birth: April 6, 1897 Date of Death: November 16, 1952 Place of Birth: Carolina, Puerto Rico Profession...

The years or 1944-1948 were crucial ones in the direction of the country. Luis Muñoz Marín shifted his goals from independence to state-like autonomy to accommodate better economic circumstances. This led to the U.S. congress to enact the Law 600 of 1950 which led to the Congressional approval of a local constitution drafted by a Constituent Assembly elected by Puerto Rico and the renaming of the United States unincorporated territory of Puerto Rico as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, using the same official name as the commonwealths of Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The alternative pro-independence Tydings bill had languished in congress.

After 1968

The New Progressive Party (PNP) was founded in 1968 by Luis A. Ferré, that same year the PNP won the elections. The party saw the ideology of annexation to the U.S. as a civil rights issue. The creation of the New Progressive Party polarized the political arena to a great degree as radical independence groups were formed in the 1970s and the Puerto Rican Socialist Party (PSP), a Marxist and Cuban friendly party, was created. Two of the radical groups were labeled as terrorist groups by the U.S. government, Los Macheteros and the Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN). These groups were viewed by many pro-independence followers as freedom fighters. PNP logo with motto (Statehood, Security, Progress) The New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico (Spanish: Partido Nuevo Progresista de Puerto Rico, PNP) is a political party that campaigns for Puerto Rican statehood. ... Don Luis Alberto Ferré Aguayo (February 17, 1904 – October 21, 2003) was an engineer, industrialist, politician, philanthropist, and a patron of the arts. ... Civil rights or positive rights are those legal rights retained by citizens and protected by the government. ... The Puerto Rican Socialist Party -- or Partido Socialista Puertorriqueño (PSP for its abbreviation in Spanish) -- was a Puerto Rican political party that existed from the 1971 to 1993 and advocated independence and a socialist government for Puerto Rico. ... The Boricua Popular Army —or Ejército Popular Boricua in Spanish— is a clandestine political organization based on the island of Puerto Rico, with cells throughout the United States. ... The Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional (Armed Forces of National Liberation, FALN) was a Puerto Rican clandestine terrorist group that advocated complete independence for Puerto Rico. ...

In 1972 the PNP lost to the Popular Democratic Party (PPD). Rafael Hernández Colón became the undisputed leader of the PPD at age 36. He was, as the fourth elected governor, in favor of adding more powers to the commonwealth status. One of his projects was the Puerto Rican owned marine transportation. In order to control the costs of the marine transport in Puerto Rico, the marine company Is Land was bought to form Navieras of Puerto Rico in 1974. Rafael Hernández Colón (born October 24, 1936 in Ponce, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican politician who was the fourth democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico for three non-consecutive terms (1973-1977, 1985-1993). ...

The fifth governor was Carlos Romero Barcelo, a fierce supporter of the pro-U.S. annexation ideology. He was beloved by the PNP and strongly disliked by the opposition. Under his administration, section 936 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Tax Code was implemented as an economic incentive. This allowed American companies to create profit in the island without paying taxes. His administration was shadowed by the Maravilla Hill affair, where two independence activists were killed by undercover police agents. This created a Watergate like scandal that was later investigated by the Senate. Carlos Antonio Romero Barcel (born in September 4, 1932) was Puerto Ricos fifth democratically elected Governor, the second governor to be elected from the New Progressive Party (PNP) and also Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001. ... See the articles discussion page for more information. ... The Watergate building. ...

In 1980, Romero Barcelo remained as Governor by a controversial 0.2% margin, but lost the Senate and House of Representatives to the PPD. Independence radical groups placed bombs on 11 jet fighters in 1981 in the U.S. base Muñiz. Rafael Hernández Colón became the head of government for the second time in 1984 and stayed in power until 1991. Rafael Hernández Colón (born October 24, 1936 in Ponce, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican politician who was the fourth democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico for three non-consecutive terms (1973-1977, 1985-1993). ...

Pedro Rosselló became the sixth Governor in 1992. He pushed the political status dilemma in Washington, D.C. and sponsored two referendums, but these became non-binding. While he was elected to a second term, his last four years were met with mounting allegations of corruption. The Speaker of the House, Edison Misla Aldarondo (PNP/NPP) was jailed as well as many members of Rosello's party. Most of the corruption allegations were based on extortion and appropiation of public funds. This led his party to losing the 2000 election and the Governorship when he ran again in 2004. Pedro Juan Rosselló González [pronounced “roh-seh-yóh”] (born April 5, 1944 in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican politician who was the sixth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001. ... Nickname: DC, The District Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Location of Washington, D.C., in relation to the states Maryland and Virginia Coordinates: Country United States Federal District District of Columbia Government  - Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D)  - City Council Chairperson: Vincent C. Gray (D) Ward 1: Jim Graham (D...

In 2000 Sila María Calderón (PPD) was elected becoming the first female governor of Puerto Rico. Sila María Calderón Serra (born September 22, 1942) was the seventh Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 2001 to 2005. ... PPD logo and accompanying motto: Bread, Land, Freedom. The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico —or Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico (PPD) in Spanish— is a political party that supports the continuation of Puerto Ricos current status as a free associated state of the United States, which...

In 2004 Anibal Acevedo Vila (PPD) was elected governor by 3,000 votes, his party lost both houses of the legislature. An bal Acevedo Vil (born 1962) is the eight and current Democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico. ... PPD logo and accompanying motto: Bread, Land, Freedom. The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico —or Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico (PPD) in Spanish— is a political party that supports the continuation of Puerto Ricos current status as a free associated state of the United States, which...

Political pressure groups and leaders

• Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP)
• Ruben Berrios Martinez (PIP)
• Juan Dalmau Ramírez (PIP)
• Socialist Movement of Workers
• Socialist Front
• Armed Forces for National Liberation (FALN for its abbreviation in Spanish)
• Armed Forces of Popular Resistance
• Boricua Popular Army (also known as Los Macheteros, Filiberto Ojeda Ríos) (RIP)
• Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution
• The National Hostosian Congress
• The New Puerto Rican Independence Movement
• Hostosian National Independence Movement

The Puerto Rican Independence Party (Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (PIP) in Spanish) is a Puerto Rican political party that campaigns for the independence of Puerto Rico from the United States. ... Date of birth June 21, 1939 Place of birth Aibonito, Puerto Rico Occupation Lawyer President of the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP). ... JUAN DALMAU (1973- ___) Born in July of 1973, Juan Manuel Dalmau Ramírez hails from Caguas, Puerto Rico, a medium-sized city, located approximately 15 Kilometers South of San Juan. ... Socialist Front (Spanish: Frente Socialista) is a Puerto Rican alliance of four political parties with the common objectives of independence and socialism. ... The Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional (Armed Forces of National Liberation, FALN) was a Puerto Rican clandestine terrorist group that advocated complete independence for Puerto Rico. ... Ejercito Popular Boricua logo. ... Filiberto Ojeda Ríos (April 26, 1933 – September 23, 2005) was the Responsible General of the Boricua Popular Army, or Ejército Popular Boricua – Los Macheteros, a clandestine paramilitary, organization, considered by United States law enforcement agencies to be a terrorist organization, based on the island of Puerto Rico, with... The National Hostosian Congress —or Congreso Nacional Hostosiano (CNH) in Spanish— is a small political organization actively involved in the Puerto Rican independence movement. ... The Hostosian National Independence Movement (Spanish: Movimiento Independentista Nacional Hostosiano, MINH) is a leftist and pro-independence organization in Puerto Rico. ...

Political status

Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory which has been given self-governing "Commonwealth" status. (The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, located in the western Pacific Ocean, has a similar relationship to the United States.) What this means has never been absolutely clear; however, Puerto Rico has more latitude over its internal affairs than the U.S. territories of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or American Samoa. In the terminology of the United States insular areas, a commonwealth is an organized territory that has established with the Federal Government a more highly developed relationship, usually embodied in a written mutual agreement. ...

Puerto Rico's current constitutional arrangements are the result of the Congressional statutes of 1952 that modified the organic laws governing the federal relations between the territory and the United States. This means that it could, with the approval of Congress, become independent in the same way as the Philippines did in 1945. Alternatively, it could be admitted as a state of the United States by a vote of the U.S. Congress, in the same way that Hawaii was in 1959. 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Congress in Joint Session. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Puerto Rico has approximately the same degree of authority over its internal affairs as an American state. The United States federal government controls interstate trade, foreign commerce, customs, aviation and navigation, immigration, currency, all military and naval matters, radio and television communications, mining and minerals, highways, the postal system, social security, and other areas generally controlled by the federal government in the United States. United States courts have the final say over the constitutionality of Puerto Rican laws. Puerto Rico may not conclude treaties with other sovereign states, although it does belong to some international bodies. Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties Libertarian Party State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... The U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1789 by a constitutional convention, sets down the basic framework of American government in its seven articles. ... Customs duty is a tariff or tax on the import or export of goods. ... Aviation refers to flying using aircraft, machines designed by humans for atmospheric flight. ... Table of geography, hydrography, and navigation, from the 1728 Cyclopaedia. ... The multinational Combined Task Force One Five Zero (CTF-150) The British Grand Fleet, the supreme naval force of World War I A rare occurrence of a 5-country multinational fleet, during Operation Enduring Freedom in the Oman Sea. ... This article is about mineral extraction. ... Minerals are natural compounds formed through geological processes. ... The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independent establishment of the executive branch of the United States Government (see 39 U.S.C. Â§ 201) responsible for providing postal service in the United States. ... Social Security, in the United States, refers to the Federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program. ...

Puerto Rico's elected governor and legislature control all other internal affairs. The major differences between Puerto Rico and the states are greater financial autonomy (it levies its own taxes and is exempt from the Internal Revenue Code), its lack of voting representation in either house of the Congress and the ineligibility of Puerto Rican residents to vote in presidential elections. A tax is a financial charge or other levy imposed on an individual or a legal entity by a state or a functional equivalent of a state (for example, tribes, secessionist movements or revolutionary movements). ... The Internal Revenue Code (or IRC) (more formally, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) is the main body of domestic statutory tax law of the United States organized topically, including laws covering the income tax (see Income tax in the United States), payroll taxes, gift taxes, estate taxes... The presidential seal was first used by President Hayes in 1880 and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii. ...

The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party denounced the Constitution and Muñoz Marín support as a sham, and attacked the Governor's mansion (La Fortaleza) in 1950, the Blair House, and the United States House of Representatives in 1954. Twenty-three people were killed and more than 50 were injured. Governor Muñoz Marín inaugurated the new status called Estado Libre Asociado —or Free Associated State in English— and raised the Puerto Rican flag along with the national anthem of Puerto Rico for the first time on July 25, 1952 — date in which Puerto Ricans celebrate the Constitution of Puerto Rico (see also: Holidays in Puerto Rico). The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party was first organized on September 17, 1922. ... José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín (February 18, 1898 – April 30, 1980) was a poet, journalist and politician. ... La Fortaleza (or The Fortress in English) is the current residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico. ... Blair House is a guest house for state visitors to Washington, D.C. (in the United States of America). ... Seal of the House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives (or simply the House) is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the Senate. ... Flag ratio: 1:2 The Flag of Puerto Rico consists of five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center. ... La Borinqueña is the official anthem of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. ... July 25 is the 206th day (207th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 159 days remaining. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The following is a list of national holidays in Puerto Rico. ...

During its 8th session, the United Nations General Assembly recognized Puerto Rico's self government in November 27, 1953 with Resolution 748 (VIII). The United Nations General Assembly (GA) is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations. ... November 27 is the 331st day (332nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since 1917 by a statutory law called the Jones-Shafroth Act (or Jones Act) which can be modified at any time by the U.S. Congress (However, the citizenship of current U.S. citizens could not be revoked, only the status of those born in Puerto Rico in the future). They are free to live anywhere within the U.S. without a visa. Similarly, all U.S. citizens have the right to migrate to Puerto Rico without a visa. Puerto Ricans have no voting representation in the U.S. Congress and do not vote for the U.S. president. They don't pay federal income tax, but pay Social Security taxes. Puerto Rico has an elected Resident Commissioner, who sits in Congress as a delegate of the people of Puerto Rico — the delegate may speak in the United States House of Representatives and serve in committees, but may not vote. For the law regarding sailor rights, see the Jones Act The Jones-Shafroth Act conferred United States citizenship to Puerto Ricans, and created the present system of government in Puerto Rico by creating a government mirroring the government structure of the United States. ... Congress in Joint Session. ... For the pop band, see Presidents of the United States of America. ... An income tax is a tax levied on the financial income of persons, corporations, or other legal entities. ... Social Security, in the United States, refers to the Federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program. ... A High Commissioner is a person serving in a special executive capacity. ... Seal of the House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives (or simply the House) is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the Senate. ...

When asked to choose between independence, statehood, or continuation of the present status with enhanced powers, as proposed by the Popular Democratic Party, Puerto Ricans have voted to remain a commonwealth. However, dissatisfaction with the current status is evident. The issue is still being debated and is on the agenda of all the political parties and civil society groups. Many pro-commonwealth leaders within the PPD are proposing an Associated Republic or Free Association similar to that in the Marshall Islands or Palau. The left wing of the PPD has achieved some success in driving the party to a less conservative and more nationalistic stance.

Vieques protests

Main article: Navy-Vieques protests The Navy-Vieques protests is the name given by English-speaking media to a series of protests starting in 1999 on the Puerto Rican island-municipality of Vieques, against the United States Navy and Marine Corps (USMC) use of the island for bombing target practices. ...

On April 19, 1999 two United States Marine Corps jets in training exercises from Roosevelt Roads Naval Base dropped bombs over the military range at the U.S. base on the island of Vieques, missing their targets. David Sanes, a civilian working as security guard, was killed. Later in the month protestors began occupying the U.S. Navy range at Vieques and civil disobedience became a widespread movement inside the U.S. base. Gov. Pedro Rosselló denounced the Sanes incident, and supported the end of the military exercises. 100,000 people marched in the March for the Peace in Vieques, in the spring of 2000, in San Juan to demand the end of the military exercises and the use of the base for military purposes. April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces to global crises. ... Vieques is an island-municipality of Puerto Rico. ... David Sanes Rodriguez (circa 1957-1999) was a Vieques native who became famous after death, and one of the focal personalities in the struggle of Puerto Ricans to stop military bombings in his hometown. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... An anti-war activist is arrested for civil disobedience on the steps of the Supreme Court of the United States on February 9, 2005. ... Pedro Juan Rosselló González [pronounced “roh-seh-yóh”] (born April 5, 1944 in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican politician who was the sixth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001. ...

Sila María Calderón became the seventh head of government in 2001 and the first female governor. She supported the exit of the U.S. Navy and permitted the continuation of the civil disobedience camps inside the bombing range while the press reported wide ecological damage to the environment of the island, and presented studies that showed higher cancer rates in residents of Vieques, as compared to the main island. Sila María Calderón Serra (born September 22, 1942) was the seventh Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 2001 to 2005. ...

Later that year the U.S. government suspended military exercises in Vieques and in May of 2003 closed the base. The land is expected to return back to the Vieques municipality. More than 1,500 people were arrested for civil disobedience, including leaders of the three political parties and members of the Catholic Church, from 1999 to 2003. On July 25, 2003, Governor Calderón announced her support for a new process outside the political parties that would deal with the status dilemma in 2004. July 25 is the 206th day (207th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 159 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

International organization participation

• Caricom (observer)
• ECLAC (associate)
• FAO (associate)
• ITUC
• Interpol (subbureau)
• IOC
• WFTU