Politics of Puerto Rico
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Template:Politics of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a United States territory given special commonwealth status. 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.
As part of the United States, the President of the United States is the head of state of Puerto Rico. The executive branch is led by the Governor of Puerto Rico, who is popularly elected for a 4 year term.
The legislative branch consists of a bicameral Legislative Assembly formed by a Senate and the House of Representatives, with 28 and 54 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 commitees, and who primarily serves as a process observer for the Puerto Rican government.
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.
However, Puerto Ricans, like all Americans, 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 American 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.
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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 US state as a solution to the colonial situation and founded the Puerto Rican Republican Party in 1899.
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 sense, Dr. Barbosa, a black M.D. (University of Michigan, 1889), rturned to the original idea of equal footing but with the constituent members of the American republican.
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 th posibility of autonomy, generally as an answer to the Spanish insistence in instituting special laws to govern the colonies.
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 automous 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 automous government to be established immediately. Sagasta demanded that they put their differences aside and both, with their respective groups, became past of the first autonomus 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 Foreker Acct of 1900, was a mixture of the British and the American system, somewhat similar to that established for the territory of Orleans afer 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 statehod. But two years into the new government, he realized that statehood would not be granted and the desired equality as citizens was not fesible uinder the US. 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 paarty bringing into it persons supporting a status change.
The Union, iniatially 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 eaight 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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Pedro Rossello 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.
In 2000 Sila María Calderón (PPD) was elected becoming the first female governor of Puerto Rico.
In 2004 Anibal Acevedo Vila (PPD) was elected governor by 3,000 votes, his party lost both houses of the legislature.
Political parties
Main article: Puerto Rico political parties.
Historically, there have been three major political parties:
- New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico
- Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
- Puerto Rican Independence Party
Political pressure groups and leaders
- 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)
- Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution
- The National Hostosian Congress
- The New Puerto Rican Independence Movement
- Hostosian National Independence Movement
Political status
Puerto Rico is a US 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 US territories of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or American Samoa.
Puerto Rico's current constitutional arrangements are the result of a treaty signed in 1952, so presumably it could become independent in the same way—a right not possessed by the states of the United States. 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.
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.
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.
The National Party of Puerto Rico 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 Commonwealth Freely Associated 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).
During its 8th session, the United Nations General Assembly recognized Puerto Rico's self government in November 27, 1953 with Resolution 748 (VIII) (http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/8/ares8.htm).
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 US Congress (However, the citizenship of current US 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 or U.S. sales 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.
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
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 US 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 US Navy range at Vieques and civil disobedience became a widespread movement inside the US 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.
Sila María Calderón became the seventh head of government in 2001 and the first female governor. She supported the exit of the US 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.
Later that year the US 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 dilema in 2004.
Elections
The Governor of Puerto Rico is 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 María Calderón elected Governor; percent of vote 48.6%.
Senate: last held on November 7, 2000 (next to be held on November 2004). Election results:
House of Representatives: last held on November 7, 2000 (next to be held November 2004). Election results:
- Percent of vote by party: N/A
- Seats by party:
- PPD 30
- PNP 20
- PIP 1
Puerto Ricans elect one nonvoting Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico to the United States House of Representatives. Elections last held on: November 7, 2000 (next to be held on November 2004). Election 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)
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; native inhabitants are United States citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections.
Miscellaneous
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.
Capital: San Juan
National holiday: Constitution Day: July 25 (1952).
International organization participation
- Caricom (observer)
- ECLAC (associate)
- FAO (associate)
- ICFTU
- Interpol (subbureau)
- IOC
- WCL
- WFTU
- WHO (associate)
See also
External links
- Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (http://www.gobierno.pr/)
- Governor (http://www.fortaleza.gobierno.pr/)
- Resident Commissioner (US House) (http://www.house.gov/acevedo-vila/)
- Puerto Rico House of Representatives (http://www.camaradepuertorico.org/)
- Puerto Rico Senate (http://www.senadoelapr.org/)
- Commonwealth Elections Commission (CEEPUR) (http://www.ceepur.org/)
References
- Central Intelligence Agency (USA). The World Factbook (http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook) (2003). United States of America.