[FLAGS]
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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; the white star symbolizes Puerto Rico; the three sides of the triangle signify the executive, legislative and judicial parts of the government; blue stands for the sky and the coastal waters; red symbolizes the blood shed by warriors, while white represents liberty, victory, and peace.
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[POLITICAL PARTIES]
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Partido Nuevo Progresista (New Progressive Party):
- Short Form: PNP, Penepé, La Palma
- Electoral Color: Blue
- Philosophy: Puerto Rico should join the American union of states with all rights and responsibilities.
- Strategy: win by super majority vote in a popular (simple majority rule) plebiscite.
Partido Popular Democratico (Popular Democratic Party):
- Short Form: PPD, Populares, La Pava, Autonomistas
- Electoral Color: Red
- Philosophy: Puerto Rico should remain a territory belonging to the American union of states, but both sides should work toward “enhancement” of the territorial status.
- Strategy: Continue to offer the “enhancements” and win by default due to inaction (Puerto Rico is already a territory).
Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (Puerto Rican Independence Party):
- Short Form: PIP, Independentistas, Pipiolos
- Electoral Color: Green
- Philosophy: Puerto Rico should be an independent republic leaving the door open to a future treaty of free association with the United States.
- Strategy: Wait it out even if it takes 100 more years because only 3 percent of Puerto Ricans support independence, or convince Congress to grant Puerto Rico its independence unilaterally.
Movimiento Union Soberanista (Sovereign Union Movement):
Short Form: MUS, Soberanistas
Electoral Color: TBA
Philosophy: TBA
Strategy: TBA
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[POLITICAL STATUS TIMELINE]
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1508-1898 – Puerto Rico was a subjugated colony of the Empire of Spain.
1898 – Treaty of Paris of 1898 between the Kingdom of Spain and the United States ended the Spanish-American War; Puerto Rico became an American territory.
1900 – Foraker (Organic) Act established Puerto Rican citizenship and granted Puerto Rico a limited civilian government: a Governor, an Executive Council (cabinet), a Supreme Court, and judicial system appointed by the U.S. President, and a popularly elected Resident Commissioner and a 35-member House of Representatives. The Act made clear Congress intended fully to exercise its Territorial Clause powers.
1901 –The first five Insular Cases decided: Armstrong v. United States; De Lima v. Bidwell; Dooley v. United States; Downes v. Bidwell; and Huss v. New York and Porto Rico.
1917 – Jones-Shafroth Act granted Puerto Ricans statutory American citizenship (just in time to send Puerto Ricans to fight in WWI), provided for a popularly elected Senate, and established a Bill of Rights.
1922 – The last of the Insular Cases decided: Balzac v. People of Porto Rico.
1948 – Elective Governors Act of 1947 took effect; Puerto Ricans can elect a Puerto Rican governor.
1950 – Congress approved Public Law 81-600, which allowed Americans in Puerto Rico to draft their own constitution for self-government, but Congress retained all powers of the Territorial Clause.
1952 – Congress amended and approved the Puerto Rico Constitution. The Constitution of 1952 gave limited self-government to Puerto Rico, but Congress reserved plenary (total) powers over Puerto Rico. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Estado Libre Asociado) became the territory’s temporary status.
1967 – First locally sponsored plebiscite was held to solve the status question. Puerto Ricans chose from among three permanent options: statehood, independence, and commonwealth. (Now we know “Commonwealth” status cannot be permanent!) Commonwealth status wins with 60 percent of the vote. Independent- and statehood supporters boycotted the plebiscite.
1993 – Second locally sponsored plebiscite was held to solve the status question. Puerto Ricans, again, chose from among three permanent options: statehood, independence, and enhanced commonwealth. (“Enhanced Commonwealth” is also territorial and cannot be permanent.) No permanent status option received a clear majority. Statehood and the status quo received roughly 48- and 46 percent, respectively.
1998 – Third locally sponsored plebiscite was held to solve the status question. Puerto Ricans, now, chose from among five options: statehood, independence, commonwealth, free association, and none of the above, which received a majority of 50.3 percent. Statehood followed in second with 46.5 percent.
2008 – Puerto Rico’s statehood New Progressive Party ran on a status platform that promised a congressionally sponsored plebiscite to end the unequal Commonwealth status. The PNP won the 2008 elections by landslides: the governorship, the resident commission, super majorities in the Puerto Rico House and Senate, and 48 of the 78 mayorships throughout the territory.
2009 – Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner, Pedro Pierluisi, introduced H.R. 2499, The Puerto Rico Democracy Act. This Act took real aim at the status question; it no longer placed the territorial, temporary Commonwealth status competing directly with the permanent options. Thus, under the new scheme, it would take a majority of Puerto Ricans to consent to the territorial status before they could keep it. If a majority consented, it would also be temporary because another vote would be held every 8 years. If a majority supported a different status, then the permanent status option would be given to Puerto Ricans for selection. The permanent options are statehood, independence, and independence in free association. H.R. 2499 was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives, but not before it was amended to include the non-permanent status of Commonwealth as a permanent option.
2010 – The President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status will issue its report in October and the U.S. Senate will likely wait until then to give its voice to H.R. 2499 and/or the status question. Who knows!?
SOON – Puerto Ricans will vote on statehood or independence, and finally Puerto Rico will be free and sovereign.
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[PAST PLEBISCITES/REFERENDA]
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| 1967 | 1993 | 1998 | |
| “Commonwealth” | 425,132 (60.4%) | 826,326 (48.6%) | 993 (0.06%) |
| Statehood | 274,312 (39%) | 788,296 (46.3%) | 728,157 (46.49%) |
| Independence | 4,248 (0.6%) | 75,620 (4.4%) | 39,838 (2.5%) |
| Free Association | - | ‑ | 4536 (0.29%) |
| None of the Above | - | - | 787,900 (50.3%) |
| TURNOUT | 66% | 74% | 71% |
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[FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS]
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What is the Status Question?
Given that Puerto Rico’s current territorial status under the "Commonwealth" title is not a sovereign form of government and the U.S. Congress holds all power over said territory, Americans in Puerto Rico have to make a decision on which constitutionally viable, sovereign form of government they want for their island. As recognized by the U.S. Constitution, which is the controlling legal document, there are only two permanent statuses available to the territory: statehood or independence. However, the real fight is between statehood and the territorial (colonial) status quo.
Have Puerto Ricans ever “voted down” statehood?
No. Puerto Ricans have been bamboozled into believing there is a status option that can grant them the benefits of independence AND statehood while choosing none. The “enhanced Commonwealth” idea is one that has been debunked by various Congresses and Administrations. The President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status reports of 2005 and 2007 have made it clear that the “Commonwealth” status is a temporary mechanism instituted under the U.S. Constitution, and that such mechanism cannot be turned into a sovereign status outside the Territorial Clause powers of Congress. When Puerto Ricans get to choose between real alternatives (statehood or independence) they will choose STATEHOOD.
Do Puerto Ricans pay federal taxes?
Yes and no. Puerto Ricans do not pay federal income taxes, but they do pay federal payroll taxes (i.e. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid). However, because Puerto Ricans do not pay some federal taxes, they pay the highest state-taxes rate in the United States. If Puerto Rico were to become a state, then the local tax system would have to be lowered so that the new state’s federal tax burden could be met.
How much would Puerto Rico cost the federal government if it were a state?
There is very little information on the matter, but something remains true for all 37 territories that became states (albeit after the original thirteen colonies): each experienced a massive economic boom in almost every economic sector. If Puerto Rico were to become a state, then two things would almost certainly happen: 1) immediately after the statehood vote, Puerto Rico would enjoy certain congressionally approved benefits to help it transition economically into a state–that would cost, but not much more than what Puerto Rico gets under the current stagnant “Commonwealth” system. Second, after a decade-long transition period, Puerto Rico’s economy should experience enough sustained growth to enter into all the obligations of a state. Puerto Rico currently has plenty of room for growth, and arguing that “Puerto Rico is too poor to be a state” should be changed for “Puerto Rico is too poor because it is not a state.” The most complete objective assessment available is a book called “Pay to the Order of Puerto Rico.” (PDF COPY AVAILABLE FOR FREE; SEE BELOW IN “MUST AXXESS FILES” BOX.)
Can the “Commonwealth” status be enhanced so that Puerto Ricans are sovereign?
No! Lipstick on the pig will not make it stop being a pig! As a matter of fact, Puerto Rico is currently in this political status crisis because the last 100 years have seen nothing but lipstick for the pig. The “Commonwealth” statusis enhanced territorialism.
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[DEMOGRAPHICS]
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Population:
Total: 3,966,213 (July 2010 est.)
Age Structure:
Total: 3,966,213 (July 2010 est.)
0-14 years: 19.8% (male 402,473/female 384,655)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 1,260,191/female 1,361,359)
65 years and over: 14.1% (male 239,957/female 317,578) (2010 est.)
Median Age:
Total: 36.8 years
Male: 35 years
Female: 38.5 years (2010 est.)
Population Growth:
Total: 0.298% (2010 est.)
Birth Rate:
Total: 11.72 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
Death Rate:
Total: 7.78 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
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[GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION]
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Area:
Total: 13,790 sq km (~9,200 sq mi; slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island)
Land: 8,870 sq km
Water: 4,921 sq km
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[GOVERNMENT]
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Three-Branch Government
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Legislative:
Bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (51 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms).
Election results (2008): Senate – percent of vote by party – PNP 81.5%, PPD 18.5%; seats by party – PNP 22, PPD 5; House of Representatives – percent of vote by party – PNP 72.5%, PPD 27.5%; seats by party – PNP 37, PPD 14.
Note: Puerto Rico elects, by popular vote, a resident commissioner to serve a four-year term as a nonvoting representative in the US House of Representatives; aside from not voting on the House floor, he enjoys all the rights of a member of Congress.
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Executive:
Chief of State: President Barack H. Obama; Vice President Joseph R. Biden.
Head of Government: Governor Luis Fortuno.
Cabinet: Appointed by the governor with the consent of the legislature.
Elections: Under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Puerto Rico, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits)
Election results: Luis Fortuno elected governor with 52.8% of the vote.
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Judicial:
U.S. Supreme Court; PR 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).
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Local Governments:
Territory has no first-order administrative divisions (Counties) as defined by the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular – municipio) at the second order: Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas, Carolina, Catano, 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, Penuelas, 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, and Yauco.
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[ECONOMIC]
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Overview:
Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has far surpassed agriculture as the primary locus of economic activity and income. Encouraged by duty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and other livestock products as the main source of income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income with estimated arrivals of more than 3.6 million tourists in 2008. Growth fell off in 2001-03, largely due to the slowdown in the US economy, recovered in 2004-05, but declined again in 2006-09.
GDP:
$67.82 billion (2009 est.)
$70.45 billion (2008 est.)
$72.5 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
Labor Force:
Agriculture: 2.1%
Industry: 19%
Services: 79% (2005 est.)
Industries:
Pharmaceuticals
Electronics
Apparel
Food products
Tourism
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