Commonwealth of puerto rico: Government of Puerto Rico

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April 14, 2023
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The Meaning of “Commonwealth” – PUERTO RICO REPORT

Puerto Rico is often called a commonwealth, but that is actually just a word in the official title of the government of Puerto Rico. Kentucky is also a commonwealth, as are Virginia, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Clearly, these states are no different from states like California and Arkansas, which do not refer to themselves as a commonwealth.

So why is Puerto Rico frequently referred to as a commonwealth and what does this term really mean? The answer to the first part of this question is clear: some people began to call Puerto Rico a commonwealth in 1952 after Congress approved its local constitution, the “Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.” At the time, Congress was explicit that its gift of local power did not lessen federal control over the Island or change its status as a territory.

Since 1952, the term “commonwealth” has evolved to describe a potential relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico in which Puerto Rico is given special rights and privileges greater than those enjoyed by states. Under a proposed “enhanced commonwealth” government, Puerto Rico could ignore federal laws, sign treaties with foreign countries, and receive federal funding with no strings attached, all while possessing irrevocable U.S. citizenship and forcing the U.S. to maintain Puerto Rican policies it may no longer want by mandating a “mutual consent” clause in an initial U.S.-Puerto Rico pact.

United States officials representing all three branches of government have rejected “Commonwealth” proposals as unconstitutional and unfeasible. They have done so many times over the course of many years. “Commonwealth” is clearly not an option that the U.S. federal government accepts – as a matter of law or policy.

One high level statement on this topic came in 2011 from The President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico, in which the White House clarified that, ““[u]nder the Commonwealth option, Puerto Rico would remain, as it is today, subject to the Territory Clause of the U.S.Constitution.”

Despite this record, the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico (which is not affiliated to the U. S. Democratic Party and is also known informally as the “Commonwealth” Party) was permitted to place a “Commonwealth” option on plebiscite ballots – one definition of “Commonwealth” in 1967 and a different definition on the 1993 ballot. In 1998, no “Commonwealth” option was allowed on the plebiscite ballot. The Commonwealth party urged its supporters to vote for “none of the above” in protest; many did so and this option became an inexact proxy for “Commonwealth” support.

The confusion and lack of understanding over the “Commonwealth” option in Puerto Rico led to inconclusive plebiscite results in 1967, 1993 and 1998. The only firm conclusion reached from the three votes was that the vast majority of Puerto Ricans want to move beyond the status quo. The 2012 referendum confirmed this, with 54% of voters voting against the status quo. When asked what new option they preferred, 61% chose statehood.

In a 2017 plebiscite, 97% of voters again chose statehood.

Message to Governor Munoz Marin on the 10th Anniversary of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

John F. Kennedy

35th President of the United States: 1961 ‐ 1963

July 25, 1962

[Released July 25, 1962. Dated July 24, 1962]

Dear Governor Munoz:

I have your letter advising me of the celebration on July 25 of the tenth anniversary of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. This is indeed a great occasion. The achievements of the Puerto Rican people in this short period have been remarkable. Puerto Rico has furnished an example to the world of the benefits that can be achieved by close collaboration between a larger and a smaller community within the framework of freedom and mutual agreement. I am confident that I speak for the people of the United States as well as their government in expressing my pride and pleasure at Puerto Rico’s achievements.

I am aware, however, as you point out, that the Commonwealth relationship is not perfected and that it has not yet realized its full potential, and I welcome your statement that the people of Puerto Rico are about to begin the consideration of this with the purpose of moving towards its maximum development. I am in full sympathy with this aspiration. I see no reason why the Commonwealth concept, if that is the desire of the people of Puerto Rico, should not be fully developed as a permanent institution in its association with the United States. I agree that this is a proper time to recognize the need for growth and, both as a matter of fairness to all concerned and of establishing an unequivocal record, to consult the people of Puerto Rico, as you propose to do, so that they may express any other preference, including independence, if that should be their wish.
Sincerely,

JOHN F. KENNEDY

Note: In his letter, dated July 10, 1962, Governor Munoz pointed out that from the beginning the Constitutional Convention had recognized that there was room for growth within the Commonwealth relationship. He suggested the following as suitable lines along which Puerto Rico should proceed:

1. The indispensable principle of the Commonwealth is self-government for Puerto Rico in permanent association with the United States on the basis of common loyalty, common citizenship, mutual dedication to democracy, and mutual commitment to freedom.

2. The moral and juridical basis of the Commonwealth should be further clarified so as to eliminate any possible basis for the accusation, which is made by enemies and misguided friends of the United States and Puerto Rico, that the Commonwealth was not the free choice of the people of Puerto Rico acting in their sovereign capacity, but was merely a different kind of colonial arrangement to which they consented.

3. The governmental power and authority of the Commonwealth should be complete and any reservations or exceptions which are not an indispensable part of the arrangements for permanent association with the United States should be eliminated. Methods should be devised for forms of participation, appropriate to the Commonwealth concept, by the people of Puerto Rico in federal functions that affect them.

Governor Munoz continued by stating that it was his intention to request the Commonwealth legislature to enact a law pursuant to which proposals to perfect the Commonwealth within its association with the United States would be submitted to the people of Puerto Rico.

He added that he proposed to recommend that advocates of both independence and of federated statehood for Puerto Rico should be afforded the opportunity to present these alternatives to the electorate, so that no doubt whatever might be entertained either in Puerto Rico, in the United States, or elsewhere that the basic principle of self-determination had been thoroughly carried out.

Governor Munoz’s letter was released with the President’s reply.

John F. Kennedy, Message to Governor Munoz Marin on the 10th Anniversary of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/236352

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What does puerto rico mean – Definition of

words

Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1998

Puerto Rico

The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Spanish Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, English Commonwealth of Puerto Rico), US possession in the West Indies, on about. Puerto Rico and nearby islands. 8.9 thousand km2. Population 3.6 million (1993), mostly Puerto Ricans. Urban population 71% (1990). The official language is Spanish. Believers are Catholics. Administrative-territorial division: 78 municipalities. The administrative center is San Juan. Executive power is exercised by an elected governor. The legislature is the Legislative Assembly. The ridge extends from west to east. Cordillera Central up to 1338 m high, along the northern and southern coasts – lowlands. The climate is tropical, trade wind. Average monthly temperatures are from 24 to 28°C. Precipitation from 800 to 2500 mm per year. Evergreen and mixed forests, in the south and west – drought-resistant shrubs and light forests. Reserve Luquillo. Since ancient times, Fr. Puerto Rico was inhabited by Indians. In the 15th century it was captured by the Spanish conquistadors. The colonialists destroyed most of the indigenous population, and in the 16th century. African slaves were brought to the island. As a result of the Spanish American War 1898 the island passed into the possession of the United States. Since 1952, Puerto Rico has been a “state freely affiliated with the United States” (with the rights of self-government). The basis of the economy is the manufacturing industry and agriculture of the experimental direction. Share in GDP (1992,%): industry 39, agriculture 1.4. The enterprises of the radio-electronic, oil refining, petrochemical, chemical, light, food and flavor industries predominate. Electricity generation 15.3 billion kWh (1990). The main commercial crops are sugar cane, coffee, bananas, pineapples. In animal husbandry: breeding of cattle, pigs, poultry. Road length 9.3 thousand km (1988). The main seaports are San Juan, Mayaguez, Ponce. Export of products of the chemical and radio-electronic industry, foodstuffs. The main trading partner is the USA (about 9/10 of the foreign trade turnover). Foreign tourism (approx. 1.5 million people per year). Monetary unit – US dollar.

Puerto Rico

deep-sea trench in the Atlantic Ocean, north of the island. Puerto Rico. Depth 8742 m.

Wikipedia

Puerto Rico Trench

Puerto Rico Trench is an oceanic trench located on the border of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The formation of the trench is associated with a complex transition between a subduction zone from the south along the Lesser Antilles island arc and a transform fault zone extending eastward between Cuba and Haiti through the Cayman Trench to the coast of Central America. Studies have confirmed the possibility of significant tsunamis as a result of earthquakes in the area.

Puerto Rico Island is directly south of the trench. The length of the trench is 1754 km, the width is about 97 km, the greatest depth is 8380 m, which is the maximum depth of the Atlantic Ocean. Measurements made in 1955 from the American ship “Vima” showed the depth of the chute to be 8385 m.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico officially Free Associated State of Puerto Rico , or The Freely Affiliated State of Puerto Rico , or The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is located in the Caribbean Sea on the island of Puerto Rico of the Greater Antilles and a number of adjoining small islands. Puerto Rico is a territory dependent on the United States and has the status of an “unincorporated organized territory” (Unincorporated organized territory), which means that this territory is under the control of the United States, the effect on the territory of the US Constitution is limited; supreme power is vested in the United States Congress, but the territory has its own system of self-government.

Puerto Rico has its own constitution, legislative, executive and judicial branches. The connection to the United States lies in the presence of a common citizenship, currency and defense. Due to the lack of a clear legislative framework for the status of the territory, this issue is being actively discussed on the island itself, in the USA and the UN. In 2000, a special commission on the status of Puerto Rico was created by order of President Clinton. In its report, the commission confirmed the current status and recommended that the citizens of the island be granted the right to self-determination. It is assumed that within the framework of this procedure, Puerto Ricans will choose one of three options: securing their current status, joining the United States as a state, or gaining independence. The bill has been submitted to Congress for consideration.

In 2012, a political status referendum was held in two stages.

At the first stage, the inhabitants spoke in favor of changing the political status of the archipelago. 54% of voters voted for it.

In the second stage, Puerto Ricans elected a new political system. November 6, 2012 – at the second stage of the referendum – the transformation of Puerto Rico into the 51st state of the United States was supported by 65% of those who voted, and 31% voted in favor of giving the archipelago the status of a sovereign associated state in alliance with the United States. Only 4% supported the complete independence of the territory. (According to other sources, 61.15% of the population voted for joining the US, 33.31% for giving the archipelago the status of a sovereign associated state in alliance with the US, and 5.53% voted for independence). For the final incorporation of Puerto Rico into the United States, a decision by the US Congress is required.

Puerto Rico (disambiguation)

Puerto Rico :

Puerto Rico is a freely associated state on an island in the Caribbean.
Puerto Rico is an island from the Greater Antilles group, on which the state of Puerto Rico is located.
Puerto Rico is an oceanic trench located on the border of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
Puerto Rico is the original name of the city of San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico.
is a resort town on the southwest coast of the island of Gran Canaria, Canary Islands.
is a city and capital of the department of Liberador General San Martin in the province of Misiones, Argentina.
is a city in Caqueta Department, Colombia.
is a city in the Meta Department, Colombia.
Puerto Rico is a town in the municipality of Altamirano, in the state of Chiapas, Mexico.
“” is a German style board game.

Examples of the use of the word puerto rico in the literature.

After successfully defending her dissertation, Ellie was appointed as an assistant at the Arecibo Observatory, a huge bowl 305 meters across, built at the bottom of a sinkhole in the foothills of northwestern Puerto Rico.

If anyone has an idea how to read the message, please write to: Robert McDonald, Program, Arecibo, Puerto Rico.