Politics of Puerto Rico

The government of Puerto Rico, established by the Constitution, is a freely associated commonwealth — or Estado Libre Asociado (ELA) in Spanish. The national government consists of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

The chief of state of the executive branch, the President of the United States of America, is not elected by Puerto Ricans. The head of government (elected) is the Governor of Puerto Rico.

The legislative branch consists of a bicameral Legislative Assembly formed by a Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Supreme Court of the United States is the head of the judicial branch.

The legal system of Puerto Rico is based on Spanish civil code.

Fact list

Country name

Conventional long form

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (English)

Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico (Spanish)

Conventional short form

Puerto Rico

Data code

RQ

Dependency status

Commonwealth associated with the United States.

Government type

Commonwealth

Capital

San Juan

Administrative divisions

None. (commonwealth associated with the United States)

There are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities at the second order.

Adjuntas Aguada Aguadilla Aguas Buenas Aibonito Anasco Arecibo Arroyo Barceloneta Barranquitas Bayamon Cabo Rojo Caguas Camuy Canovanas Carolina

Cataño Cayey Ceiba Ciales Cidra Coamo Comerio Corozal Culebra Dorado Fajardo Florida Guanica Guayama Guayanilla Guaynabo

Gurabo Hatillo Hormigueros Humacao Isabela Jayuya Juana Diaz Juncos Lajas Lares Las Marias Las Piedras Loiza Luquillo Manati Maricao

Maunabo Mayaguez Moca Morovis Naguabo Naranjito Orocovis Patillas Peñuelas Ponce Quebradillas Rincon Rio Grande Sabana Grande Salinas San German

San Juan San Lorenzo San Sebastian Santa Isabel Toa Alta Toa Baja Trujillo Alto Utuado Vega Alta Vega Baja Vieques Villalba Yabucoa Yauco

See also: List of municipalities in Puerto Rico

Independence

None. (commonwealth associated with the United States)

National holiday

Puerto Rico's Constitution Day: July 25 (1952).

See also: Holidays in Puerto Rico.

Constitution

Main article: Constitution of Puerto Rico

Ratified March 3, 1952; approved by the United States Congress on July 3, 1952; effective on July 25, 1952.

Legal system

Based on Spanish civil code.

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal; native inhabitants are United States citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections.

Government

Executive branch

Chief of state (not elected)

President George W. Bush of the United States (since 2001); Vice President Dick Cheney (since 2001).

Head of government (elected)

Governor Sila Maria Calderon (since 2001).

Cabinet

N/A

Elections

Governor elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held on November 7, 2000 (next to be held on November 2004).

Election results

Sila Maria Calderon elected Governor; percent of vote 48.6%.

Legislative branch

Bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (28 seats, including one additional seat; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (51 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms).

Elections

Senate: last held on November 7, 2000 (next to be held on November 2004).

House of Representatives: last held on November 7, 2000 (next to be held November 2004).

Election results

Senate

Percent of vote by party: N/A

Seats by party:

PPD 19

PNP 8

PIP 1

House of Representatives

Percent of vote by party: N/A

Seats by party:

PPD 30

PNP 20

PIP 1

Note: Puerto Ricans elect one nonvoting representative to the United States House of Representatives.

Elections last held on: November 7, 2000 (next to be held on November 2004)

Results (percent of vote by party):

PPD 49.3%

PNP 45.4%

PIP 4.8%

Others 0.5%

Seats by party: PPD 1 (Anibal Acevedo Vila)

Judical branch

Supreme Court; Appellate Court; 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).

Political parties and leaders

Main article: Puerto Rico political parties.

Political pressure groups and leaders

• Armed Forces for National Liberation (FALN for its abbreviation in Spanish)
• Armed Forces of Popular Resistance
• Boricua Popular Army (also known as the Macheteros)
• Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution

International organization participation

• Caricom (observer)
• ECLAC (associate)
• FAO (associate)
• ICFTU
• Interpol (subbureau)
• IOC
• WCL
• WFTU
• WHO (associate)

Diplomatic representation in the United States

None. (commonwealth associated with the U.S.)

Diplomatic representation from the United States

None. (commonwealth associated with the U.S.)

Flag description

Main article: Flag of Puerto Rico

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; design based on the flag of Cuba.

See also

Governor of Puerto Rico, List of Puerto Rican political parties.

Related topics

Constitution of Puerto Rico, Holidays in Puerto Rico, List of municipalities in Puerto Rico, List of Puerto Rico Governors, Los Macheteros, New Progressive Party, Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican Independence Party.

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External links

• CIA World Factbook: Puerto Rico

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References

1. Central Intelligence Agency (USA). The World Factbook (2003). United States of America.