Government & politics — Puerto Rico

• unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government
• republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches
• note - reference Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act, 2 March 1917, as amended by Public Law 600, 3 July 1950

• history: previous 1900 (Organic Act, or Foraker Act); latest ratified by referendum 3 March 1952, approved 3 July 1952,
• effective 25 July 1952 amendments: proposed by a concurrent resolution of at least two-thirds majority by the total Legislative Assembly membership; approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses and approval by a majority of voters in a special referendum; if passed by at least three-fourths Assembly vote, the referendum can be held concurrently with the next general election; constitutional articles such as the republican form of government or the bill of rights cannot be amended; amended 1952

• chief of state: Preside
• nt Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025) head of government: Governor Jenniffer GONZÁLEZ-COLÓ
• N (since 2 January 2025) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor with the con
• sent of the Legislative Assembly election/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of electors chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of Puerto Rico do not vote in elections for US president and vice president, but they can vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor directly elected by simple-majority popular vote
• for a 4-year term (no term limits) most recent election date: 5
• November 2024 election results: 2024: Jenniffer GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN elected governor; percent of vote - Jenniffer GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN (PNP) 39.4%, Juan DALMAU Ramírez (PIP) 32.7%, Jesús Manuel ORTIZ (PPD) 21.1%, Javier JIMÉNEZ (PD) 6.7%, other 0.1% 2020: Pedro PIERLUISI elected governor; percent of vote - Pedro PIERLUISI (PNP) 32.9%, Carlos DELGADO (PPD) 31.6%, Alexandra LUGARO (independent) 14.2%, Juan DALMAU (PIP) 13.7%, other 7.6%
• expected date of next election: 7 November 2028

Description

bicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa consists of: Senate or Senado (30 seats statutory, 27 current; 16 members directly elected in 8 2-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 11 at-large members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (51 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)

Elections

• Senate - last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held on 5 November 2024) House of Representatives - last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held on 5 November 2024)

Election Results

• - Senate - percent of vote by party - NA
• seats by party - PPD 12, NP 10, MVC 2, PD 1, PIP 1, independent 1
• composition as of April 2024 - men 14, women 13, percentage women 48.1% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA
• seats by party - PPD 26, PNP 21, MVC 2, PIP 1, PD 1;

Composition

men 41, women 10, percentage women 19.6%;

Note

total Legislative Assembly percentage women 29.5%

Note

• Puerto Rico directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 4-year term as a commissioner to the US House of Representatives
• the commissioner can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House but not when legislation is submitted for a 'full floor' House vote
• election of commissioner last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2022)

• highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice
• and 8 associate justices) judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by majority Senate vote; judges s
• erve until compulsory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; First Instance Court comprised of superior and municipal courts

Summary

none (territory

Regions or States

• of the US)
• there are no first-order administrative divisions 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
• Yauco

• Citizens' Victory Movement (Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana) or MVC [Manuel NATAL Albelo]
• Democratic Party of Puerto Rico [Charlie RODRIGUEZ]
• New Progressive Party or PNP [Pedro PIERLUISI Urrutia] (pro-US statehood)
• Popular Democratic Party or PPD [Jose Luis DALMAU] (pro-commonwealth)
• Project Dignity (Projecto Dignidad) or PD [Cesar VASQUEZ Muniz]
• Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez] (pro-independence)
• Republican Party of Puerto Rico [Jenniffer GONZALEZ]

• 18 years of age
• universal
• note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

embassy

none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

• none (territory of the US)