Doing Business in Puerto Rico Blog: Business Coaching, News & Developments

AFTER 100 YEARS PUERTO RICO'S ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL FUTURE REMAINS UNCERTAIN

On the verge of gaining important political clout with Spain after 400 years of colonial rule- Puerto Rico's emerging sovereignty was shut down by the U.S. when it snatched the Island from Spain as part of the spoils of the Spanish-American War.   Over a century later,  the quest to obtain more  autonomy from the colonial status  is equally shared by a  drive toward permanent union with the U.S. This polarization  has the Island running on empty. Until we get over the status issue, the Puerto Ricans will continue to take sides even if it means running the economy to the ground. That is what almost happened less than a year ago when  the government closed for weeks.

With no new economic strategy, the Island is stagnant and slipping further into poverty. We have 8% annual inflation and can only get  42 % of our able- bodied citizens to participate in the work force. A million of our citizens receive food assistance from the government.  We remain afloat partly because  the U.S. is continually pumping  our  ever deflating economy.  Obviously this creates enormous distortions; like having the biggest U.S. retailers making their biggest sales in the poorest 'state' of the union.   

A panel of economists were quoted today in El Nuevo Día newspaper as stating that there is a crisis of leadership; that besides being economically disadvantaged, we are becoming intellectually poor and unable to create a new model or build a consensus on interests and objectives.

The lack of intellectual activity is most likely the symptom of an ailment we all like to talk about but avoid acting upon.  Typically in life when we hesitate to address a pressing concern, we create other issues or turn our attention to  less important matters.  Perhaps that is why the Island has become obsessively focused (or the media has us  thinking  that) with entertainment, fashion and music.

Every day, our media takes up a disproportionate amount of bandwidth to deal with rappers, beauty queens, actors, boxers, skin models; many of which even make our daily front page. Entertainment is fine but we have many unresolved issues that we need to deal with and they should not take a backseat to show-business. 

The status- like it or not- is a back-breaking concern.  We need to address this point of order before we can achieve economic and social consensus.  Our intellectual and creative capacity  is in reaction; tired of the impasse but relentlessly defending its political turf.  Imagine if the U.S. main political debate was still  whether to remain  a colony of England or whether to accept the Confederate States as a new country. Where would the U.S. be now?

The issue of  sovereignty versus union goes at the heart of what it means to be Puerto Rican and it is something that will be eventually  addressed- whether we like it or not. Let hope that this time- unlike a century ago- it is Puerto Rico that decides.

LEGISLATORS HAVE IT BACKWARDS ONE MORE TIME

The Governor and the Legislature are working opposite ways as if each did not exist. While the Executive  acknowledges a run of the mill, insensitive and ineffective  public work force, the legislators touts it it as the finest of its kind.  One branch tries to reduce bureaucracy and payroll; the other raises salaries, benefits and blocks early retirement programs. Is all of this more of the same legislative stupidity or near-election dirty politics?

A few months ago our Governor Anibal Acevedo released an “Economic Development and Government Transformation Plan” (October 2006). In it, Mr. Acevedo conceded that the government was too big (200,000 + workers) and public services were deficient. He shared the private sector’s concern that the lack of sensitivity, effectiveness and quality of services were blocking Puerto Rico’s economic development. As part of the Plan, the Governor committed to restructure, streamline and retrain the public force.

Practically all sectors of our economy agree that our government needs to transform into something leaner and better. The sore exceptions are unions in public service and legislators.  Representing the bottom of the barrel of public service, it’s no surprise that legislators have a different vision. 

Yesterday, several senators filed a bill to reward public employees with automatic salary raises; this in response to public criticism against them for approving  a law awarding themselves automatic raises. Instead of repealing their automatic salary scheme, some legislators decided it was better  to extend automatic salary raises to everyone (an in the process use the bill to publicly praise and acknowledge the commitment, dedication and quality of the pubic service). That would certainly look good in the eyes of 200,000 public employees come election time.  This latest bill is one of many under consideration to provide additional benefits to public workers.

I am for improving benefits and salary of public workers but,  give the mediocre state of our public services, the issue under consideration right now should be how and when to transform the public workforce. When this is under way and results start to show, THEN we can talk about more wages and benefits.

LEGISLATORS' SOCIAL AGENDA KEEP THEM BUSY

It was a very busy day for our legislators.  Seven bills were for the following purposes:

• P C3258- Girls Scout Cookies- to make them exempt from IVU.
• R S711- To congratulate  a high school.
• R S715-  To express gratitude to the employees of a pharmaceutical company for their participation in a Christmas related activity sponsored by the Senate.
• R S712-  To express sympathy for the loss of a businessman.
• R S713-  To express gratitude to the President of a bank for his participation on a Christmas related activity sponsored by the Senate.
• R S714- To express gratitude to the President of a manufacturing co and its employees for their participation in a Christmas related activity sponsored by the Senate.

On the plus side, the Senate approved- by a slim margin- the one-chamber bill which seeks to eliminate one of the two houses.  The bill  will now come to the consideration of the House of representative.

Social Protocol Consumes Legislators' time

Puerto Rico's legislature has become so discredited that many citizens are demanding that they downsize to one single branch; this because people figure they need to keep a  small bunch to enact laws. Criticism is widespread. One claim  is that legislators waste enormous time and resources on matters other than those for which they were elected. This became apparent to me again while I was looking for a particular law. During the search, I learned that between January 2005 and October 2006, between 5,000 to 10,000 people had been congratulated in 2,600 different resolutions passed by the House and the Senate.  It is great to acknowledge fellow citizens, but, doesn't the enormous amount of 'well-wishing' seem a bit of a distraction? Is that reasonable?

We are spending over 100 million dollars a year pay-rolling  legislators and their staff of aids and lawyers; and given the extremely precarious economic situation the Island is going through, it seems that less hobnob and more focused work would be wise.  Here is an example of  a typical resolution I came up with:

To extend a sincere congratulation and warranted recognition by the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to the youngster (name omitted) of the first grade of (name omitted) School for being awarded 'Excellence' thanks to her high academic achievement.

(our emphasis)

When I was in first grade, I was more concerned with toys than anything else, so I cannot understand why would the House waste valuable government resources sucking up to a six year old who could care less.  Under our system of government,  the legislature is a continuous body that convenes in seven sessions during four-year mandate. There are two sessions per year; the first  lasting roughly six months and the second about three.  This means that in just 190 days about five thousand  citizens were commended in the twenty six hundred different measures.  Without counting the necessary background work leading to each bill,  that's  about  twenty six people and thirteen decrees per day. 

There is no slowing down on the public relations agenda; over 100 commendations so far this month. 

Before the U.S. There Was Spain: The Autonomic Charter of 1897

Puerto Rico's drive from colony towards increased autonomy   gathered momentum in the  late 1800's.  The closest Puerto Rico came to independence was Spain's enactment of the Carta Autonómica (Autonomic Charter) in November 1897. It conceded some political and administrative autonomy to the island. 

While many historians see the charter as a strong effort towards independence, the notion seem to be based more on nostalgia than facts. It seems to me that the level of independence we now have  is superior than what was granted by the Carta Autonómica; but that does not erase the fact that we are still a colony.  Today, as in the days of the Charter, the local government can enact laws on matters that are not  reserved by the central government (U.S. or at that time Spain).  However under Spain's rule,  the Governor and half of one of the two legislative bodies were elected by the  Crown of Spain.  Furthermore the King had the power to summon, adjurn or dissolve the legislatures at his pleasure.

For curious history buffs, here is the text of the Charter (sorry, it's in Spanish).

       Carta Autonómica (Autonomic Charter) of 1897

REAL DECRETO

De acuerdo con el parecer de Mi Consejo de Ministros;

En nombre de Mi Augusto Hijo el Rey Don Alfonso XIII, y como Reina Regente del Reino,

Vengo en decretar lo siguiente:

TITULO I. DEL GOBIERNO Y ADMINISTRACION DE LA ISLA DE PUERTO RICO

ARTICULO 1

El gobierno y administración de la Isla de Puerto Rico se regirá en adelante con arreglo a las siguientes disposiciones.

ARTICULO 2

El Gobierno de la Isla se compondrá de un Parlamento Insular, dividido en dos Cámaras, y de un Gobernador General, representante de la Metrópoli, que ejercerá en nombre de ésta la Autoridad Suprema.

TITULO II. DE LAS CAMARAS INSULARES

ARTICULO 3

La facultad de legislar sobre los asuntos coloniales en la forma y en los términos marcados por las Leyes corresponde a las Cámaras insulares con el Gobernador General.

ARTICULO 4

La representación insular se compone de dos Cuerpos iguales en facultades: la Cámara de Representantes y el Consejo de Administración.

TITULO III. DEL CONSEJO DE ADMINISTRACION

ARTICULO 5

El Consejo se compone de quince individuos, de los cuales ocho serán elegidos en la forma indicada en la ley electoral, y los otros siete serán designados por el Rey, y a su nombre por el Gobernador General, entre los que reúnan las condiciones enumeradas en los artículos siguientes:

ARTICULO 6

Para tomar asiento en el Consejo de Administración se requiere: ser español; haber cumplido treinta y cinco años; haber nacido en la Isla o llevar en ella cuatros años de residencia constante; no estar procesado criminalmente; hallarse en la plenitud de los derechos políticos; no tener sus bienes intervenidos; poseer con dos o más años de antelación una renta propia anual de 4,000 pesos, y no tener participación en contratos con el Gobierno central o con el de la Isla.

Los accionistas de las Sociedades anónimas no se considerarán contratistas del Gobierno, aun cuando lo sean las Sociedades a que pertenezcan.

ARTICULO 7

Podrán ser elegidos o designados Consejeros de Administración los que, además de las condiciones señaladas en el artículo anterior, tengan alguna de las siguientes:

1. Ser o haber sido Senador del Reino, o tener las condiciones que para ejercer dicho cargo señala el Título 3° de la Constitución.

2. Haber desempeñado durante dos años alguno de los cargos que a continuación se expresan:

Presidente o Fiscal de la Audiencia territorial de Puerto Rico;

Director del Instituto de San Juan;

Consejero de Administración del antiguo Consejo de este nombre;

Presidente de las Cámaras de Comercio de la Capital y de Ponce;

Presidente de la Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País de Puerto Rico;

Presidente de la Asociación de Agricultores;

Decano del Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de la Capital;

Alcalde de San Juan o Presidente de la Diputación provincial durante dos bienios;

Deán del Cabildo Catedral.

3. Podrán ser igualmente elegidos o designados los propietarios que figuren en la lista de los 50 mayores contribuyentes por territorial, o en la de los 50 primeros por comercio, profesiones, industria y arte.

ARTICULO 8

El nombramiento de los Consejeros que la Corona designe se hará por Decretos especiales, en los cuales se expresará siempre el título en que el nombramiento se funda.

Los Consejeros así nombrados ejercerán el cargo durante su vida.

Los Consejeros electivos se renovarán por mitad cada cinco años, y en totalidad cuando el Gobernador General disuelva el Consejo de Administración.

ARTICULO 9

Las condiciones necesarias para ser nombrado o elegido Consejero de Administración podrán variarse por una Ley del Reino a petición o propuesta de las Cámaras insulares.

ARTICULO 10

Los Consejeros de Administración no podrán admitir empleo, ascenso que no sea de escala cerrada, título, ni condecoración mientras estuviesen abiertas las sesiones; pero tanto el Gobierno local como el central podrán conferirles dentro de sus respectivos empleos o categorías las comisiones que exija el servicio público.

Exceptúase de lo dispuesto en los párrafos anteriores el cargo de Secretario del Despacho.

TITULO IV. DE LA CAMARA DE REPRESENTANTES

ARTICULO 11

La Cámara de Representantes se compondrá de los que nombren las Juntas electorales en la forma que determina la Ley y en la proporción de uno por cada 25,000 habitantes.

ARTICULO 12

Para ser elegido Representante se requiere ser español, de estado seglar, mayor de edad, gozar de todos los derechos civiles, ser nacido en la Isla de Puerto Rico o llevar cuatro años de residencia en ella, y no hallarse procesado criminalmente.

ARTICULO 13

Los Representantes serán elegidos por cinco años, y podrán ser reelegidos indefinidamente.

La Cámara insular determinará con qué clase de funciones es incompatible el cargo de Representante y los casos de reelección.

ARTICULO 14

Los Representantes a quienes el Gobierno central o el local confieran pensión, empleo, ascenso que no sea de escala cerrada, comisión con sueldo, honores o condecoraciones, cesarán en su cargo, sin necesidad de declaración alguna, si dentro de los quince días inmediatos a su nombramiento no participan a la Cámara la renuncia de la gracia.

Lo dispuesto en el párrafo anterior no comprende a los Representantes que fueren nombrados Secretarios del Despacho.

TITULO V. DE LA MANERA DE FUNCIONAR LAS CAMARAS INSULARES Y DE LAS RELACIONES ENTRE AMBAS

ARTICULO 15

Las Cámaras se reúnen todos los años. Corresponde al Rey, y en su nombre al Gobernador General, convocarlas, suspender, cerrar sus sesiones, y disolver separada o simultáneamente la Cámara de Representantes y el Consejo de Administración, con la obligación de convocarlas de nuevo o de renovarlas dentro de tres meses.

ARTICULO 16

Cada uno de los Cuerpos Colegisladores formará su respectivo Reglamento, y examinará, así las calidades de los individuos que lo componen, como la legalidad de su elección.

Mientras la Cámara de Representantes y el Consejo de Administración no hayan aprobado su Reglamento, se regirán por el del Congreso de los Diputados o por el del Senado respectivamente.

ARTICULO 17

Ambas Cámaras nombrarán su Presidente, Vicepresidentes y Secretarios.

ARTICULO 18

No podrá estar reunido uno de los dos Cuerpos Colegisladores sin que también lo esté el otro.

Exceptúase el caso en que el Consejo de Administración ejerza funciones judiciales.

ARTICULO 19

Las Cámaras insulares no pueden deliberar juntas ni en presencia del Gobernador General.

Sus sesiones serán públicas, aun cuando en los casos que exijan reserva podrá cada una celebrar sesión secreta.

ARTICULO 20

Al Gobernador General, por medio de los Secretarios del Despacho, corresponde, lo mismo que a cada una de las dos Cámaras, la iniciativa y proposición de los Estatutos coloniales.

ARTICULO 21

Los Estatutos coloniales sobre contribuciones y crédito público se presentarán primero a la Cámara de Representantes.

ARTICULO 22

Las resoluciones en cada uno de los dos Cuerpos Colegisladores se toman por pluralidad de votos; pero para votar acuerdos de carácter legislativo se requiere la presencia de la mitad más uno del número total de individuos que lo componen. Bastará, sin embargo, para deliberar la presencia de la tercera parte de los miembros.

ARTICULO 23

Para que una resolución se entienda votada por el Parlamento insular, será preciso que haya sido aprobada en iguales términos por la Cámara de Representantes y por el Consejo de Administración.

ARTICULO 24

Los Estatutos coloniales, una vez aprobados en la forma prescrita en el artículo anterior, se presentarán al Gobernador General por las Mesas de las Cámaras respectivas para su sanción y promulgación.

ARTICULO 25

Los Consejeros de Administración y los individuos de la Cámara de Representantes son inviolables por sus opiniones y votos en el ejercicio de su cargo.

ARTICULO 26

Los Consejeros de Administración no podrán ser procesados ni arrestados sin previa resolución del Consejo, sino cuando sean hallados in fraganti , o cuando el Consejo no se halle reunido; pero en todo caso se dará cuenta a este Cuerpo lo más pronto posible para que determine lo que corresponda. Tampoco podrán los Representantes ser procesados, ni arrestados durante las sesiones sin permiso de la Cámara, a no ser hallados in fraganti ; pero en este caso y en el de ser procesados o arrestados cuando estuvieren cerradas las Cámaras, se dará cuenta lo más pronto posible a la de Representantes para su conocimiento y resolución. La Audiencia territorial de Puerto Rico conocerá de las causas criminales contra los Consejeros y Representantes, en los casos y en la forma que determinen los Estatutos coloniales.

ARTICULO 27

Las garantías consignadas en el artículo anterior no se aplicarán a los casos en que el Consejero o Representante se declare autor de artículos, libros, folletos o impresos de cualquier clase en los cuales se invite o provoque a la sedición militar, se injurie o calumnie al Gobernador general o se ataque a la integridad nacional.

ARTICULO 28

Las relaciones entre las dos Cámaras se regularán, mientras otra cosa no se disponga, por la Ley de Relaciones entre ambos Cuerpos Colegisladores de 19 de julio de 1837.

ARTICULO 29

Además de la potestad legislativa colonial, corresponde a las Cámaras insulares:

1°. Recibir al Gobernador general el juramento de guardar la Constitución y las leyes que garantizan la autonomía de la colonia.

2°. Hacer efectiva la responsabilidad de los Secretarios del Despacho, los cuales, cuando sean acusados por la Cámara de Representantes, serán juzgados por el Consejo de Administración.

3°. Dirigirse al Gobierno central por medio del Gobernador general para proponerle la derogación o modificación de las leyes del Reino vi gentes, para invitarle a presentar proyectos de ley sobre determinados asuntos, o para pedirle resoluciones de carácter ejecutivo en los que interesen a la colonia.

ARTICULO 30

En todos los casos en que, a juicio del Gobernador general, los intereses nacionales puedan ser afectados por los Estatutos coloniales, procederá a la presentación de los proyectos de iniciativa ministerial y a su comunicación al Gobierno central.

Si el proyecto naciera de la iniciativa parlamentaria, el Gobierno colonial reclamará el aplazamiento de la discusión hasta que el Gobierno central haya manifestado su juicio.

En ambos casos la correspondencia que mediare entre los dos Gobiernos se comunicará a las Cámaras y se publicará en la Gaceta .

ARTICULO 31

Los conflictos de jurisdicción entre las diferentes Asambleas municipales, provincial e insular, o con el Poder ejecutivo, que por su índole no fueran referidos al Gobierno central, se someterán a los Tribunales de Justicia, on arreglo a las disposiciones de presente Decreto.

TITULO VI. DE LAS FACULTADES DEL PARLAMENTO INSULAR

ARTICULO 32

Las Cámaras insulares tienen facultad para acordar sobre todos aquellos puntos que no hayan sido especial y taxativamente reservados a las Cortes del Reino o al Gobierno central, según el presente Decreto o lo que en adelante se dispusiere, con arreglo a lo preceptuado en el artículo 2°. adicional.

En este sentido, y sin que la enumeración suponga limitación de sus facultades, les corresponde estatuir sobre cuantos asuntos y materias incumben a los Ministerios de Gracia y Justicia, Gobernación, Hacienda y Fomento en sus tres aspectos de Obras Públicas, Instrucción y Agricultura.

Les corresponde además el conocimiento privativo de todos aquellos asuntos de índole puramente local que afecten principalmente al territorio colonial; y en este sentido podrán estatuir sobre la organización administrativa; sobre división territorial, provincial, municipal o judicial; sobre sanidad marítima y terrestre; sobre crédito público, bancos y sistema monetario.

Estas facultades se entienden sin perjuicio de las que sobre las mismas materias correspondan, según las leyes, al Poder ejecutivo colonial.

ARTICULO 33

Corresponde igualmente al Parlamento insular formar los reglamentos de aquellas leyes votadas por las Cortes del Reino que expresamente se le confíen. En este sentido le compete muy especialmente, y podrá hacerlo desde su primera reunión, estatuir sobre el procedimiento electoral, formación del censo, calificación de los electores y manera de ejercitar el sufragio; pero sin que sus disposiciones puedan afectar al derecho del ciudadano, según le está reconocido por la ley electoral.

ARTICULO 34

Aun cuando las leyes relativas a la administración de justicia y de organización de los tribunales son de carácter general, y obligatorias, por tanto, para la Colonia, el Parlamento colonial podrá con sujeción a ellas dictar las reglas o proponer al Gobierno central las medidas que faciliten el ingreso, conservación y ascenso en los tribunales locales, de los naturales de la isla, o de los que en ella ejerzan la profesión de abogado.

Al Gobernador General en Consejo corresponden las facultades que, respecto al nombramiento de los funcionarios, subalternos y auxiliares del orden judicial y demás asuntos con la Administración de Justicia relacionados, ejerce hoy el Ministro de Ultramar, en cuanto a la Isla de Puerto Rico se refiere.

ARTICULO 35

Es facultad exclusiva del Parlamento insular la formación del presupuesto local, tanto de gastos como de ingresos, y del de ingresos necesarios para cubrir la parte que a la isla corresponda en el presupuesto nacional.

Al efecto, el Gobernador general presentará a las Cámaras, antes del mes de Enero de cada año, el presupuesto correspondiente al ejercicio siguiente, dividido en dos partes: la primera contendrá los ingresos necesarios para cubrir los gastos de la soberanía; la segunda, los gastos e ingresos propios de la administración colonial.

Ninguna de las dos Cámaras podrá pasar a deliberar sobre el presupuesto colonial, sin haber votado definitivamente la parte referente a los gastos de soberanía.

ARTICULO 36

A las Cortes del Reino corresponde determinar cuáles hayan de considerarse por su naturaleza gastos obligatorios inherentes a la soberanía y fijar además cada tres años su cuantía y los ingresos necesarios para cubrirlos, salvo siempre el derecho de las mismas Cortes para alterar esta disposición.

ARTICULO 37

La negociación de los tratados de comercio que afecten a la isla de Puerto Rico, bien se deban a la iniciativa del Gobierno insular, bien a la del Gobierno central, se llevará siempre por éste, auxiliado en ambos casos por Delegados especiales debidamente autorizados por el Gobierno colonial, cuya conformidad con lo convenido se hará constar al presentarlos a las Cortes del Reino.

Estos tratados, si por ellas fueren aprobados, se publicarán como leyes del Reino, y como tales regirán en el territorio insular.

ARTICULO 38

Los tratados de comercio en cuya negociación no hubiere intervenido el Gobierno Insular, se le comunicarán en cuanto fueren leyes del Reino, a fin de que pueda en un período de tres meses declarar si desea o no adherirse a sus estipulaciones. En caso afirmativo, el Gobernador General lo publicará en la Gaceta como Estatuto colonial.

ARTICULO 39

Corresponderá también al Parlamento insular la formación del Arancel y la designación de los derechos que hayan de pagar las mercancías, tanto a su importación en el territorio insular como a la exportación del mismo.

ARTICULO 40

Como transición del régimen actual al que ahora se establece, y sin perjuicio de lo que puedan convenir en su día los dos Gobiernos, las relaciones mercantiles entre la Península y la isla de Puerto Rico se regirán por las siguientes disposiciones:

1. Ningún derecho, tenga o no carácter fiscal, y establézcase para la importación o la exportación, podrá ser diferencial en perjuicio de la producción insular o peninsular.

2. Se formará por los dos Gobiernos una lista de artículos de procedencia nacional directa, a los cuales se les señalará de común acuerdo un derecho diferencial sobre similares de procedencia extranjera.

En otra lista análoga, formada por igual procedimiento, se determinarán los productos de procedencia insular directa que habrán de recibir trato privilegiado a su entrada en la Península y el tipo de los derechos diferenciales.

Este derecho diferencial en ningún caso excederá para ambas procedencias del treinta y cinco por ciento.

Si en la formación de ambas listas y en la fijación de los derechos protectores hubiera conformidad entre los dos Gobiernos, las listas se considerarán definitivas y se pondrán desde luego en vigor. Si hubiere discrepancia, se someterá la resolución del punto litigioso a una comisión de Diputados del Reino, formada por iguales partes de puertorriqueños y peninsulares. Esta comisión nombrará su Presidente: si sobre su nombramiento no se llegara a un acuerdo, presidirá el de más edad. El Presidente tendrá voto de calidad.

3. Las tablas de valoraciones relativas a los artículos enumerados en las dos listas mencionadas en el número anterior se fijarán de común acuerdo, y se revisarán contradictoriamente cada dos años. Las modificaciones que en su vista proceda hacer en los derechos arancelarios se llevarán desde luego a cabo por los respectivos Gobiernos.

TITULO VII. DEL GOBERNADOR GENERAL

ARTICULO 41

El Gobierno supremo de la colonia se ejercerá por un Gobernador General, nombrado por el Rey, a propuesta del Consejo de Ministros. En este concepto ejercerá como Vicerreal Patrono las facultades inherentes al patronato de Indias; tendrá el mando superior de todas las fuerzas armadas de mar y tierra existentes en la isla; será Delegado de los Ministerios de Estado, Guerra, Marina y Ultramar; le estarán subordinadas todas las demás Autoridades de la isla, y será responsable de la conservación del orden y de la seguridad de la colonia.

El Gobernador general, antes de hacerse cargo de su destino, prestará en manos del Rey el juramento de cumplirlo fiel y leal- mente.

ARTICULO 42

El Gobernador general, como representante de la Nación, ejercerá por sí, y auxiliado por su Secretaría, todas las funciones indicadas en el artículo anterior y las que puedan corresponderle como Delegado directo del Rey en los asuntos de carácter nacional.

Corresponde al Gobernador general, como representante de la Metrópoli:

1°. Designar libremente los empleados de su Secretaría.

2°. Publicar, ejecutar y hacer que se ejecuten en la isla las leyes, decretos, tratados, convenios internacionales y demás disposiciones emanadas del Poder legislativo, así como los decretos, Reales órdenes y demás disposiciones emanadas del Poder ejecutivo y que le fueren comunicadas por los Ministerios de que es Delegado.

Cuando a su juicio y al de sus Secretarios del Despacho las resoluciones del Gobierno de S. M. pudieran causar daños a los intereses generales de la Nación o a los especiales de la isla, suspenderá su publicación y cumplimiento, dando cuenta de ello y de las causas que motiven su resolución al Ministerio respectivo.

3°. Ejercer la gracia de indulto a nombre del Rey, dentro de los límites que especialmente se le hayan señalado en sus instrucciones, y suspender las ejecuciones de pena capital cuando la gravedad de las circunstancias lo exigiesen, o la urgencia no diere lugar a solicitar y obtener de S. M. el indulto, oyendo en todo caso el parecer de sus Secretarios del Despacho.

4°. Suspender las garantías expresadas en los artículos 4°., 5°., 6°. y 9°., y párrafos primero, segundo y tercero del artículo 13 de la Constitución del Estado, aplicar la legislación de orden público y tomar cuantas medidas crea necesarias para conservar la paz en el interior y la seguridad en el exterior del territorio que le está confiado, oyendo previamente al Consejo de Secretarios.

5°. Cuidar de que en la colonia se administre pronta y cumplidamente la justicia, que se administrará siempre en nombre del Rey.

6°. Comunicar directamente sobre negocios de política exterior con los Representantes, Agentes diplomáticos y Cónsules de España en América.

La correspondencia de este género se comunicará integra y simultáneamente al Ministerio de Estado.

ARTICULO 43

Corresponde al Gobernador general, como Autoridad superior de la colonia y Jefe de su administración:

1°. Cuidar de que sean respetados y amparados los derechos, facultades y privilegios reconocidos o que en adelante se reconozcan a la Administración colonial.

2°. Sancionar y publicar los acuerdos del Parlamento insular, los cuales les serán sometidos por el Presidente y Secretarios de las Cámaras respectivas.

Cuando el Gobernador general entienda que un acuerdo del Parlamento insular extralimita sus facultades, atenta a los derechos de los ciudadanos reconocidos en el Título 1°. de la Constitución, o a las garantías que para su ejercicio les han señalado las leyes, o compromete los intereses de la colonia o del Estado, remitirá el acuerdo al Consejo de Ministros del Reino, el cual, en un período que no excederá de dos meses, lo aprobará o devolverá al Gobernador general, exponiendo los motivos que tenga para oponerse a su sanción y promulgación. El Parlamento insular, en vista de estas razones, podrá volver a deliberar sobre el asunto y modificarlo, si así lo estima conveniente, sin necesidad de proposición especial.

Si transcurrieran dos meses sin que el Gobierno central hubiera manifestado su opinión sobre un acuerdo de las Cámaras que le hubiere sido trasmitido por el Gobernador general, éste procederá a su sanción y promulgación.

3°. Nombrar, suspender y separar a los empleados de la Administración colonial, a propuesta de los respectivos Secretarios del Despacho y con sujeción a las leyes.

4°. Nombrar y separar libremente los Secretarios del Despacho.

ARTICULO 44

Ningún mandato del Gobernador general, en su carácter de Representante y Jefe de la Colonia, puede llevarse a efecto si no está refrendado por un Secretario del Despacho, quien por este solo hecho se hace de él responsable.

ARTICULO 45

Las Secretarías del Despacho serán cinco:

Gracia y Justicia y Gobernación.

Hacienda.

Instrucción Pública.

Obras Públicas y Comunicaciones.

Agricultura, Industria y Comercio.

La presidencia corresponderá al Secretario que designe el Gobernador general, el cual podrá también nombrar un Presidente sin departamento determinado.

El aumento o disminución de las Secretarías del Despacho, así como la determinación de los asuntos que a cada una correspondan, pertenece al Parlamento insular.

ARTICULO 46

Los Secretarios del Despacho pueden ser individuos de la Cámara de Representantes o del Consejo de Administración, y tomar parte en las discusiones de ambos cuerpos; pero sólo tendrán voto en aquel a que pertenezcan.

ARTICULO 47

Los Secretarios del Despacho serán responsables de sus actos ante las Cámaras insulares.

ARTICULO 48

El Gobernador general no podrá modificar o revocar sus propias providencias cuando hubiesen sido confirmadas por el Gobierno, fueren declaratorias de derechos, hubieren servido de base a sentencia judicial o contencioso-administrativa, o versasen sobre su propia competencia.

ARTICULO 49

El Gobernador general no podrá hacer entrega de su cargo al ausentarse de la isla sin expreso mandato del Gobierno. En casos de ausencia de la capital que le impidieran despachar los asuntos o imposibilidad de ejercerlos, podrá designar la persona o personas que hubieran de sustituirle, si el Gobierno no lo hubiese hecho de antemano, o si en sus instrucciones no estuviera previsto el modo de hacer la sustitución.

ARTICULO 50

El Tribunal Supremo conocerá en única instancia de las responsabilidades, definidas en el Código Penal que se imputaren al Gobernador general.

De las responsabilidades administrativas en que incurra conocerá el Consejo de Ministros.

ARTICULO 51

El Gobernador general, a pesar de lo dispuesto en los diferentes artículos de este decreto, podrá obrar por sí y bajo su responsabilidad, sin audiencia de sus Secretarios del Despacho, en los siguientes casos:

1°. Cuando se trate de la remisión al Gobierno de los acuerdos de las Cámaras insulares, especialmente cuando entienda que en ellos se atenta a los derechos garantidos en el Título 1°. de la Constitución de la Monarquía o a las garantías que para su ejercicio han señalado las leyes.

2°. Cuanda haya de ponerse en ejecución la ley de orden público, sobre todo si no hubiere tiempo o manera de consultar al Gobierno central.

3°. Cuando se trate de la ejecución y cumplimiento de las Leyes del Reino sancionadas por S. M. y extensivas a todo el territorio español o al de su Gobierno.

Una ley determinará el procedimiento y los medios de acción que en estos casos podrá emplear el Gobernador general.

TITULO VIII. DEL REGIMEN MUNICIPAL Y PROVINCIAL

ARTICULO 52

La organización municipal es obligatoria en todo grupo de población superior a mil habitantes.

Los que no lleguen a esa cifra podrán organizar los servicios de carácter común por convenios especiales.

Todo Municipio legalmente constituido estará facultado para estatuir sobre la instrucción pública, las vías terrestres, fluviales o marítimas, la sanidad local, los presupuestos municipales, y para nombrar y separar libremente sus empleados.

ARTICULO 53

Al frente de la provincia habrá una Diputación elegida en la forma que determinen los Estatutos coloniales y compuesta del número de individuos proporcional a su población.

ARTICULO 54

La Diputación provincial es autónoma en todo lo referente a la creación y dotación de establecimientos de instrucción pública, servicios de beneficencia, vías provinciales terrestres, fluviales o marítimas, formación de sus presupuestos y nombramientos y separación de sus empleados.

ARTICULO 55

Tanto los Municipios como la provincia podrán establecer libremente los ingresos necesarios para cubrir sus presupuestos, sin otra limitación que la de hacerlos compatibles con el sistema tributario general de la Isla.

Los recursos del presupuesto provincial serán independientes de los del municipal.

ARTICULO 56

Serán Alcaldes y Tenientes de Alcalde los Concejales elegidos por los Ayuntamientos.

ARTICULO 57

Los Alcaldes ejercerán sin limitación alguna las funciones activas de la Administración municipal, como ejecutores de los acuerdos de los Ayuntamientos y representantes suyos.

ARTICULO 58

Tanto los Concejales como los Diputados provinciales serán responsables civilmente de los daños y perjuicios causa- dos por sus actos.

Esta responsabilidad será exigible ante los Tribunales ordinarios.

ARTICULO 59

La Diputación provincial nombrará libremente su Presidente.

ARTICULO 60

Las elecciones de Concejales y Diputados provinciales se harán de manera que las minorías tengan en ellas su legítima representación.

ARTICULO 61

Las Leyes provincial y municipal vigentes en Puerto Rico seguirán rigiendo en cuanto no se opongan a las disposiciones del presente Decreto y a las modificaciones introducidas por la ley Electoral mientras el Parlamento colonial no estatuya sobre estas materias.

ARTICULO 62

Ningún estatuto colonial podrá privar a los Municipios ni a la Diputación de las facultades reconocidas en los artículos anteriores.

TITULO IX. DE LAS GARANTIAS PARA EL CUMPLIMIENTO DE LA CONSTITUCION COLONIAL

ARTICULO 63

Todo ciudadano podrá acudir a los Tribunales cuando entienda que sus derechos han sido violados o sus intereses perjudicados por los acuerdos de un Municipio o de la Diputación provincial.

El ministerio fiscal, si a ello fuera requerido por los agentes del Poder ejecutivo colonial, perseguirá igualmente ante los Tribunales las infracciones de ley o las extralimitaciones de facultades cometidas por los Ayuntamientos y Diputación.

ARTICULO 64

En los casos a que se refiere el artículo anterior, serán Tribunales competentes para las reclamaciones contra los Municipios la Sala de lo civil de la Audiencia territorial, y para las reclamaciones contra la Diputación provincial, la Audiencia territorial de Puerto Rico en pleno.

Cuando se trate de extralimitación de facultades de las referidas Corporaciones, resolverá en Tribunal pleno la Audiencia Territorial. De las resoluciones de la Audiencia territorial podrá apelarse al Tribunal Supremo del Reino.

ARTICULO 65

Las facultades concedidas en el artículo 63°. a todo ciudadano se podrán también ejercer colectivamente por medio de la acción pública, nombrando al efecto apoderado o representante.

ARTICULO 66

Sin perjuicio de las facultades que le están otorgadas en el artículo 5°., el Gobernador General, cuando lo estime conveniente, podrá acudir, en su calidad de Jefe del Poder ejecutivo colonial, ante la Audiencia territorial de Puerto Rico, para que ésta dirima los conflictos de jurisdicción entre el Poder ejecutivo colonial y sus Cámaras legislativas.

ARTICULO 67

Si surgiera alguna cuestión de jurisdicción entre el Parlamento insular y el Gobernador General en su calidad de Representante del Poder central, que a petición del primero no fuera sometida al Consejo de Ministros del Reino, cada una de las dos partes podrá someterla a la resolución del Tribunal Supremo del Reino, que resolverá en pleno y en una sola instancia.

ARTICULO 68

Las resoluciones que recaigan en los casos previstos en los artículos anteriores se publicarán en la Colección de Estatutos Coloniales y formarán parte de la legislación insular.

ARTICULO 69

Todo acuerdo municipal que tenga por objeto la contratación de empréstitos o Deudas municipales carecerá de fuerza ejecutiva, si no fuere aprobado por la mayoría de los vecinos, cuando así lo hubiera pedido la tercera parte de los Concejales.

Un Estatuto especial determinará la cuantía del empréstito o de la deuda que, según el número de vecinos que compongan el Ayuntamiento, será necesaria para que tenga lugar el referéndum.

ARTICULO 70

Todas las disposiciones de carácter legal que emanen del Parlamento colonial o de los Tribunales, se compilarán con el nombre de Estatutos coloniales en una colección legislativa, cuya formación y publicación estará confiada al Gobernador General como Jefe del Poder ejecutivo colonial.

ARTICULOS ADICIONALES

ARTICULO 1

Mientras no se hayan publicado en debida forma Estatutos coloniales, se entenderán aplicables las Leyes del Reino a todos los asuntos reservados a la competencia del Gobierno insular.

ARTICULO 2

Una vez aprobada por las Cortes del Reino la presente Constitución para las Islas de Cuba y Puerto Rico, no podrá modificarse sino en virtud de una ley y a petición del Parlamento insular.

ARTICULO 3

Los contratos referentes a servicios públicos comunes a las Antillas y a la Península que estén en curso de ejecución continuarán en la forma actual hasta su terminación, y se regirán en un todo por las condiciones del contrato.

Sobre los que aún no hubieran empezado a ejecutarse, pero estuvieran ya convenidos, el Gobernador General consultará al Gobierno central o a las Cámaras coloniales en su caso, resolviéndose de común acuerdo entre los dos Gobiernos la forma definitiva en que hubieren de celebrarse.

ARTICULOS TRANSITORIOS

ARTICULO 1

A fin de llevar a cabo con la mayor rapidez posible y con la menor interrupción de los servicios la transición del sistema actual al que se crea por este Decreto, el Gobernador General, cuando considere llegado el momento oportuno, previa consulta al Gobierno central, nombrará los Secretarios del Despacho a que se refiere el artículo 45°., y con ellos conducirá el Gobierno interior de la Isla de Puerto Rico hasta la constitución de las Cámaras insulares. Los Secretarios nombrados cesarán en sus cargos al prestar el Gobernador general juramento ante las Cámaras insulares, procediendo el Gobernador acto continuo a sustituirlos con los que a su juicio representen de la manera más completa las mayorías de la Cámara de Representantes y del Consejo de Administración.

ARTICULO 2

En el caso de que el Gobierno Insular deseare destinar a otra clase de obras públicas los 250,000 pesos que para subvenciones a ferrocarriles de vía estrecha se destinaron en la ley de 24 de agosto de 1896, propondrá al Gobierno central lo que estimase oportuno.

Dado en Palacio a veinticinco de noviembre de mil ochocientos noventa y siete.

            María Cristina

El Presidente del Consejo de Ministros

Práxedes Mateo Sagasta

Resident Commissioner's Role in the US Congress

Text of the 106th Congress House Rules Manual 
regarding Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner:

Rule III     the members, delegates, and resident commissioner of puerto rico Voting   1. <> Every Member shall be present within the Hall of the House during its sittings, unless excused or necessarily prevented, and shall vote on each question put, unless he has a direct personal or pecuniary interest in the event of such question.   When the House recodified its rules, it consolidated former rule VIII, rule XII, and clause 6(h) of rule X under rule III, except that viable provisions of former clause 2 of rule VIII were transferred to current clause 3 of rule XX. This clause was adopted initially in 1789, with amendment in 1890 (V, 5941). Before the House recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, this clause was found in former clause 1 of rule VIII (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. ----).   Leaves of absence are presented pending the motion to adjourn (IV, 3151), and are usually granted by general consent, but sometimes are opposed or even refused (II, 1142-1145). Application for leave of absence is properly presented by filing with the Clerk the printed form to be secured at the desk rather than by oral request from the floor (VI, 199). Whether or not they are privileged is a matter of doubt (II, 1146, 1147). Excuses for absence, as distinguished from leaves of absence, may be granted by less than a quorum (IV, 3000-3002). The statutes provide that deductions may be made from the salaries of Members who are absent without sufficient excuse (II, 1149, 1150); and while this law has been enforced (IV, [[Page 365]] 3011, footnote; VI, 30, 198), its general application is not practical under modern conditions. Form of resolution for the arrest of Members absent without leave (VI, 686).   It <> has been found impracticable to enforce the provision requiring every Member to vote (V, 5942-5948), and such question, even if entertained, may not interrupt a pending record vote (V, 5947). The weight of authority also favors the idea that there is no authority in the House to deprive a Member of the right to vote (V, 5937, 5952, 5959, 5966, 5967; VIII, 3072). In one or two early instances the Speaker decided that because of personal interest, a Member should not vote (V, 5955, 5958); but on all other occasions and in the later practice the Speaker has held that the Member himself and not the Chair should determine this question (V, 5950, 5951; VIII, 3071; Speaker Albert, Dec. 2, 1975, p. 38135; Speaker O'Neill, Mar. 1, 1979, p. 3748; July 30, 1996, p. 19952), and the Speaker has denied his own power to deprive a Member of the constitutional right to vote (V, 5956; Speaker Albert, Dec. 2, 1975, p. 38135; Speaker O'Neill, Mar. 1, 1979, p. 3748). Members may not vote in the House by proxy (VII, 1014). Instance where a Member submitted his resignation from a committee on grounds of disqualifying personal interest (VIII, 3074).   The House has frequently excused Members from voting in cases of personal interest (III, 2294; V, 5962; Aug. 2, 1949, pp. 10591, 10592; Oct. 20, 1951, p. 13746; July 21, 1954, p. 11262; July 28, 1955, p. 11930; July 12, 1956, p. 12566).   It <> is a principle of ``immemorial observance'' that a Member should withdraw when a question concerning himself arises (V, 5949); but it has been held that the disqualifying interest must be such as affects the Member directly (V, 5954, 5955, 5963), and not as one of a class (V, 5952; VIII, 3071, 3072; Speaker Bankhead, May 31, 1939, p. 6359; Speaker Albert, Dec. 2, 1975, p. 38135). In a case where question affected the titles of several Members to their seats, each refrained from voting in his own case, but did vote on the identical cases of his associates (V, 5957, 5958). While a Member should not vote on the direct questions affecting himself, he has sometimes voted on incidental questions (V, 5960, 5961).   2. <> (a) A Member may not authorize any other person to cast his vote or record his presence in the House or the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.   (b) No other person may cast a Member's vote or record a Member's presence in the House or [[Page 366]] the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.   Before the House recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, this clause was found in former clause 3 of rule VIII (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. ----). The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct recommended this addition to the rules in its May 15, 1980, report on voting anomalies which had occurred in the House (H. Rept. 96-991), and the House adopted the rule in the 97th Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1981, pp. 98-113). Even prior to the addition of this clause, however, ``ghost voting'' was considered unethical (VII, 1014; Dec. 18, 1987, p. 36274). Delegates and the Resident Commissioner   3. <> (a) Each Delegate and the Resident Commissioner shall be elected to serve on standing committees in the same manner as Members of the House and shall possess in such committees the same powers and privileges as the other members of the committee.   Before the House recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, this provision was found in former rule XII (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. ---- ). Paragraph (a) resumed basically this form in the 104th Congress (sec. 212, H. Res. 6, Jan. 4, 1995, p. 462). The first form of paragraph (a) was adopted in 1871, and it was perfected by amendments in 1876, 1880, 1887, and 1892 (II, 1297). Reference to the Resident Commissioner was first found in 1904 (II, 1306). Paragraph (a) was again amended on January 2, 1947 (Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946), August 2, 1949 (p. 10618), February 2, 1951 (p. 883), January 22, 1971 (H. Res. 5, 92d Cong., p. 144), January 3, 1973 (H. Res. 6, 93d Cong., p. 26), and January 3, 1991 (H. Res. 5, 102d Cong., p. 39). Paragraph (a) was completely revised in the 103d Congress (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1993, p. 49) to provide that each of the Delegates and the Resident Commissioner be elected to committees of the House on the same bases, vote in any committees on which they serve, and vote on questions arising in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. The latter power was affected by former clause 2(d) of rule XXIII (providing for immediate reconsideration in the House of questions resolved in the Committee of the Whole by a margin within which the votes of Delegates and the Resident Commissioner were decisive; see Sec. 984, infra).   The constitutionality of granting to Delegates the right to vote in the Committee of the Whole under the former rule, as circumscribed by former clause 2(d) of rule XXIII, was upheld based on the premise that immediate [[Page 367]] ``revote'' where votes cast by Delegates had been decisive rendered their votes merely symbolic and not an investment of true legislative power (Michel v. Anderson, 14 F.3d 623 (D.C. Cir. 1994)). The changes effected in the 103d Congress were revoked in the 104th Congress (sec. 212, H. Res. 6, Jan. 4, 1995, p. 462).   The office of Delegate was established by ordinance of the Continental Congress and confirmed by a law of Congress (I, 400, 421). The nature of the office has been the subject of much discussion (I, 400, 403, 473); and except as provided by law (I, 431, 526) the qualifications of the Delegate also have been a matter of discussion (I, 421, 423, 469, 470, 473). A territory or district must be organized by law before the House will admit a Delegate (I, 405, 407, 411, 412). The office of Delegate from the District of Columbia was established by Public Law 91-405 (84 Stat. 845). The offices of Delegate from the Territories of Guam and the Virgin Islands were established by Public Law 92-271 (86 Stat. 118). The office of Delegate from American Samoa was established by Public Law 95- 556 (92 Stat. 2078) and was first filled by the general Federal election of 1980. The Act of May 17, 1932, changed the name of Porto Rico to Puerto Rico (48 U.S.C. 731a).   Under an earlier practice, Delegates did not vote in committee (VI, 243); but this had not always been so (II, 1301). The Resident Commissioner, who under the rules of the 91st and earlier Congresses, was designated as an additional member of the Committees on Agriculture, Armed Services, and Interior and Insular Affairs, is now elected to committees in the same fashion as are other Members and may exercise in those committees on which he serves the same powers as other members, including the right to vote.   The law provides that on the floor of the House a Delegate may debate (II, 1290), and he may in debate call a Member to order (II, 1295). He may make any motion which a Member may make except the motion to reconsider (II, 1291, 1292). A Delegate may make a point of order (VI, 240). A Delegate has even moved an impeachment (II, 1303). However, a resolution offered from the floor to permit the Delegate of the District of Columbia to vote on the articles of impeachment against the President was held not to constitute a question of the privileges of the House under rule IX (Dec. 18, 1998, p. ----). He may be appointed a teller (II, 1302); but the law forbids him to vote (II, 1290). He has been recognized to object to the consideration of a bill (VI, 241), to a unanimous-consent request to concur in a Senate amendment (June 29, 1984, p. 20267), and has made reports for committees (July 1, 1958, p. 12870). The rights and prerogatives of a Delegate in parliamentary matters are not limited to legislation affecting his own territory (VI, 240).   At the organization of the House, the Delegates and Resident Commissioner are sworn (I, 400, 401); but the Clerk does not put them on the roll (I, 61, 62; Jan. 6, 1999, p. ----). In the 103d Congress on recorded votes in the Committee of the Whole, their names were listed alphabetically with the names of Members (Feb. 3, 1993, p. 2035). [[Page 368]]   A Delegate resigns in a communication addressed to the Speaker (II, 1304). He may be arrested and censured for disorderly conduct (II, 1305), but there has been disagreement as to whether he should be expelled by a majority or two-thirds vote (I, 469).   The privileges of the floor with the right to debate were extended to Resident Commissioners in the 60th Congress (VI, 244). Prior to the independence of the Philippines it was represented in the House by a Resident Commissioner (Deschler's Precedents, vol. 3, ch. 7, sec. 3.3).    <

> (b) The Delegates and the Resident Commissioner may be appointed to any select committee and to any conference committee.   Before the House recodified its rules in the 106th Congress, paragraph (b) was found in former clause 6(h) of rule X (H. Res. 5, Jan. 6, 1999, p. ----). Paragraph (b), effective January 3, 1975, initially authorized the appointment of Delegates and the Resident Commissioner to certain conferences (H. Res. 988, 93d Cong., Oct. 8, 1974, p. 34470). Paragraph (b) was amended in the 96th Congress to authorize their appointment to select committees (H. Res. 5, Jan. 15, 1979, pp. 7-16), and again in the 103d Congress to authorize their appointment to any conference (H. Res. 5, Jan. 5, 1993, p. 49).   Prior to the adoption and refinement of this paragraph, a Delegate or the Resident Commissioner could not be appointed to a conference committee (Sept. 18, 1973, p. 30144; July 20, 1973, p. 25201); and they could be appointed to a select committee only with the permission of the House (Sept. 21, 1976, p. 31673).

Laws Pertaining to Puerto Rico's Political Status

Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony until 1898, when it became part of the U.S. as a result of the Treaty of Paris.  This treaty ended the Spanish-American War and Spain's last empire in the New World. While Cuba became independent, Puerto Rico was ceded to the U.S.; thus remaining a colony under a different authority.

Separatist autonomous  movements  sprung in the Island during the mid to late 1800's.  Yet, they were not strong enough to impact  Puerto Rico's possibilities of becoming an independent nation as Cuba did immediately after the war.  The closest Puerto Rico came to independence was Spain's enactment of the Carta Autonómica (Autonomic Charter) in November 1897. It conceded some political and administrative autonomy to the island;  less than we curently enjoy under  U.S. flag.   

While P.R. and the U.S. have strengthened their political ties over the years, the autonomy undercurrent has always been present. Perhaps Puerto Rico's future is more uncertain now  than after the Treaty of Paris. 

The strength of the  independence movement is subject to extensive debate and opinion. There is also a crisis of identity that splits the nation between perceived political options (namely status quo, independence or statehood).  One thing is clear.  The fact that the Island's  status is a main topic of conversation among Puerto Ricans evidences unresolved political issues between two nations.

In December 2005, the White House published a Report by the President's Task Force on Puerto Rico's Status.  The document among other things,  discusses the meaning of the term "Commonwealth" as pertaining to its degree of soverignty (P.R. 's official name is The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico"). According to the Report, P.R. is a territory of the U.S. subject to congressional authority under the U.S. Constitution's Territorial Clause, "to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Teritory...belonging to the United States." That as an unincorporated territory, it is not intended to become a State and "therefore is subject only to the most fundamental provisions of the U.S. Constitution."  The power of the U.S. over P.R. was expressed in unambiguous terms when the report explained that the Federal Government could relinquish its sovereignty over P.R.  "by granting independence or ceding the territory to another nation." So, as I understand it, Puerto Rico could be ceded to Haiti, for example.

Four laws enacted over the years by Congress have shaped Puerto Rico's government and its relations with the U.S.  The Foraker Act in 1900, determined how was P.R. to be governed by the U.S. (a civilian governor  and an executive council appointed by the President). The Jones Act in  1917, established the Island's role as an organized but unincorporated territory of the U.S. but gave Puerto Ricans U.S. citizenship. Public Law 600 in 1950, maintained the applicability of the Jones Act but  extended to Puerto Ricans the  right to govern themselves locally. Law 600 is the federal law that authorized P.R. to draft its own Constitution and local laws "on matters of purely local concern".

Here are some of the key legal provisions  governing the political relations between the United States and Puerto Rico; coded in 48 U.S.C. § 731 et seq. :

§ 731. Territory included under name Puerto Rico The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the island of Puerto Rico and to the adjacent islands belonging to the United States and waters of those islands; and the name Puerto Rico, as used in this chapter, shall be held to include not only the island of that name, but all the adjacent islands as aforesaid.

§ 731a. Change of name; Puerto Rico From and after May 17, 1932, the island designated “Porto Rico” in the Act entitled “An Act to provide a civil government for Porto Rico, and for other purposes,” approved March 2, 1917, as amended, shall be known and designated as “Puerto Rico.” All laws, regulations, and public documents and records of the United States in which such island is designated or referred to under the name of “Porto Rico” shall be held to refer to such island under and by the name of “Puerto Rico.”

§ 731b. Organization of a government pursuant to a constitution
Fully recognizing the principle of government by consent, sections 731b to 731e of this title are now adopted in the nature of a compact so that the people of Puerto Rico may organize a government pursuant to a constitution of their own adoption.

§ 731c. Submission of sections 731b to 731e of this title to the people of Puerto Rico for referendum; convening of constitutional convention; requisites of constitution

Sections 731b to 731e of this title shall be submitted to the qualified voters of

Puerto Rico for acceptance or rejection through an island-wide referendum to be held in accordance with the laws of Puerto Rico.

Upon the approval of said sections, by a majority of the voters participating in such referendum, the Legislature of Puerto Rico is authorized to call a constitutional convention to draft a constitution for the said island of Puerto Rico. The said constitution shall provide a republican form of government and shall include a bill of rights.

§ 731d. Ratification of constitution by Congress
Upon adoption of the constitution by the people of Puerto Rico, the President of the United States is authorized to transmit such constitution to the Congress of the United States if he finds that such constitution conforms with the applicable provisions of sections 731b to 731e  of this title and of the Constitution of the United States.

Upon approval by the Congress the constitution shall become effective in accordance with its terms.

§ 733. Citizens; former Spanish subjects and children; body politic; name
All inhabitants continuing to reside in Puerto Rico who were Spanish subjects on the 11th day of April 1899, and then resided in Puerto Rico, and their children born subsequent thereto, shall be deemed and held to be citizens of Puerto Rico, and as such entitled to the protection of the United States, except such as shall have elected to preserve their allegiance to the Crown of Spain on or before the 11th day of April 1900, in accordance with the provisions of the treaty of peace between the United States and Spain entered into on the 11th day of April 1899; and they, together with such citizens of the United States as may reside in Puerto Rico, shall constitute a body politic under the name of the People of Puerto Rico, with governmental powers as hereinafter conferred, and with power to sue and be sued as such.

 § 733a. Citizens; residence in island of citizens of the United States
All citizens of the United   States who have resided or who shall after March 4, 1927, reside in the island for one year shall be citizens of Puerto Rico.

 §734. United States laws extended to Puerto Rico; internal revenue receipts covered  into treasury
The statutory laws of the United States not locally inapplicable, except as hereinbefore or hereinafter otherwise provided, shall have the same force and effect in Puerto Rico as in the United States, except the internal revenue laws other than those contained in the Philippine Trade Act of 1946 [22 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.] or the Philippine Trade Agreement Revision Act of 1955 [22 U.S.C. 1371et seq.]. Provided, however, That after May 1, 1946, all taxes collected under the internal revenue laws of the United States on articles produced in Puerto Rico and transported to the United States, or consumed in the island shall be covered into the treasury of Puerto Rico. 

§ 737. Privileges and immunities
The rights, privileges, and immunities of citizens of the United States
shall be respected in Puerto Rico to the same extent as though Puerto Rico
were a State of the Union and subject to the provisions of paragraph 1 of section 2 of article IV of the Constitution of the United States.

§ 738. Free interchange of merchandise with  United States

All merchandise and articles coming into the United States from Puerto Rico and coming into Puerto Rico from the United States shall be entered at the several ports of entry free of duty and in no event shall any tariff duties be collected on said merchandise or articles.

§ 739. Duties on foreign imports; books and pamphlets in English language
The same tariffs, customs, and duties shall be levied, collected, and paid upon all articles imported into Puerto Rico from ports other than those of the United States
which are required by law to be collected upon articles imported into the United   States
from foreign countries. All books and pamphlets printed in the English language shall be admitted into Puerto Rico free of duty when imported from the United States.

§ 740. Duties and taxes to constitute fund for benefit of Puerto Rico; ports of entry The duties and taxes collected in Puerto Rico in pursuance of the provisions of this Act, less the cost of collecting the same, and the gross amount of all collections of duties and taxes in the United States upon articles of merchandise coming from Puerto Rico, shall be paid into the treasury of Puerto Rico to be expended as required by law for the government and benefit thereof, and the Secretary of the Treasury shall designate the several ports and subports of entry in Puerto Rico and shall make such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as may be necessary to collect the duties and taxes authorized to be levied, collected, and paid in Puerto Rico by the provisions of this Act, and he shall fix the compensation and provide for the payment thereof of all such officers, agents, and assistants as he may find it necessary to employ to carry out the provisions of law.

§ 741. Export duties, taxes, etc.; bonds to anticipate revenues
No export duties shall be levied or collected on exports from Puerto Rico, but taxes and assessments on property, income taxes, internal revenue, and license fees, and royalties for franchises, privileges, and concessions may be imposed for the purposes of the insular and municipal governments, respectively, as may be provided and defined by the Legislature of Puerto Rico; and when necessary to anticipate taxes and revenues, bonds and other obligations may be issued by Puerto Rico or any municipal government therein as may be provided by law, and to protect the public credit.

§ 741a. Internal-revenue taxes; levy and collection; discrimination
The internal-revenue taxes levied by the Legislature of Puerto Rico in pursuance of the authority granted by this chapter on articles, goods, wares, or merchandise may be levied and collected as such legislature may direct, on the articles subject to said tax, as soon as the same are manufactured, sold, used, or brought into the island: Provided, That no discrimination be made between the articles imported from the United States or foreign countries and similar articles produced or manufactured in Puerto Rico. The officials of the Customs and Postal Services of the United States are directed to assist the appropriate officials of the Puerto Rican government in the collection of these taxes.

§ 742. Acknowledgment of deeds
Deeds and other instruments affecting land situate in the District of Columbia, or any other territory or possession of the United States, may be acknowledged in Puerto Rico before any notary public appointed therein by proper authority, or any officer therein who has ex officio the powers of a notary public. The certificate by such notary shall be accompanied by the certificate of the executive secretary of Puerto Rico to the effect that the notary taking such acknowledgment is in fact such notarial officer.

§ 744. Coasting trade laws
The coasting trade between Puerto Rico and the United States shall be regulated in accordance with the provisions of law applicable to such trade between any two great coasting districts of the United States.

§ 745. Tax exempt bonds
All bonds issued by the Government of Puerto Rico, or by its authority, shall be exempt from taxation by the Government of the United States, or by the Government of Puerto Rico or of any political or municipal subdivision thereof, or by any State, Territory, or possession, or by any county, municipality, or other municipal subdivision of any State, Territory, or possession of the United States, or by the  District of Columbia.

§ 745a. Public improvement bonds sold to the United   States or agency thereof excluded from public indebtedness

Bonds or other obligations of Puerto Rico or any municipal government therein, payable solely from revenues derived from any public improvement or undertaking (which revenues may include transfers by agreement or otherwise from the regular funds of the issuer in respect of the use by it of the facilities afforded by such improvement or undertaking), and issued and sold to the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof, shall not be considered public indebtedness of the issuer within the meaning of section 745 of this title.

§ 745b. Refunding bonds excluded temporarily in computing indebtedness
Any bonds or other obligations of Puerto Rico issued after August 3, 1935, for the purpose of retiring previously outstanding bonds or obligations shall not be included in computing the public indebtedness of Puerto Rico under section 745 of this title, until six months after their issue.

§ 746. Public lands and buildings; reservations; rights prior to July 1, 1902
All public lands and buildings, not including harbor areas and navigable streams and bodies of water and the submerged lands underlying the same, owned by the United States in the island of Puerto Rico and not reserved by the President of the United States prior to July 1, 1903, pursuant to authority vested in him by law, are granted to the government of Puerto Rico, to be held or disposed of for the use and benefit of the people of said island. Said grant is upon the express condition that the government of
Puerto Rico, by proper authority, release to the United States any interest or claim it may have in or upon the lands or buildings reserved by the President as mentioned herein. Nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to affect any legal or equitable rights acquired by the government of Puerto Rico or by any other party, under any contract, lease, or license made by the United   States authorities prior to the 1st day of May 1900.

§ 747. Public property transferred; “control” defined
All property which may have been acquired in Puerto Rico by the United States under the cession of Spain in the treaty of peace entered into on the 10th day of December 1898, in any public bridges, road houses, water powers, highways, unnavigable streams and the beds thereof, subterranean waters, mines or minerals under the surface of private lands, all property which at the time of the cession belonged, under the laws of Spain then in force, to the various harbor works boards of Puerto Rico, all the harbor shores, docks, slips, reclaimed lands, and all public lands and buildings not reserved by the United States for public purposes prior to March 2, 1917, is placed under the control of the government of Puerto Rico, to be administered for the benefit of the people of Puerto Rico; and the Legislature of Puerto Rico shall have authority, subject to the limitations imposed upon all its acts, to legislate with respect to all matters, as it may deem advisable. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, as used in this section “control” includes all right, title, and interest in and to and jurisdiction and authority over the aforesaid property and includes proprietary rights of ownership, and the rights of management, administration, leasing, use, and development of such property.

§ 748. Conveyance by President to people of lands, buildings, etc.
The President may, from time to time, in his discretion, convey to the people of Puerto Rico, such lands, buildings, or interests in lands, or other property now owned by the United States, and within the territorial limits of Puerto Rico as in his opinion are no longer needed for purposes of the United States. And he may from time to time accept by legislative grant from Puerto Rico any lands, buildings, or other interests or property which may be needed for public purposes by the United States.

§ 749. Harbors and navigable waters transferred; definitions
The harbor areas and navigable streams and bodies of water and submerged lands underlying the same in and around the island of Puerto Rico and the adjacent islands and waters, owned by the United States on March 2, 1917, and not reserved by the United States for public purposes, are placed under the control of the government of Puerto Rico, to be administered in the same manner and subject to the same limitations as the property enumerated in sections  747 and 748 of this title. All laws of the United States for the protection and improvement of the navigable waters of the United States and the preservation of the interests of navigation and commerce, except so far as the same may be locally inapplicable, shall apply to said island and waters and to its adjacent islands and waters. Nothing in this chapter contained shall be construed so as to affect or impair in any manner the terms or conditions of any authorizations, permits, or other powers lawfully granted or exercised or in respect of said waters and submerged lands in and surrounding said island and its adjacent islands by the Secretary of the Army or other authorized officer or agent of the United States prior to March 2, 1917. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, as used in this section (1) “submerged lands underlying navigable bodies of water” include lands permanently or periodically covered by tidal waters up to but not above the line of mean high tide, all lands underlying the navigable bodies of water in and around the island of Puerto Rico and the adjacent islands, and all artificially made, filled in, or reclaimed lands which formerly were lands beneath navigable bodies of water; (2) “navigable bodies of water and submerged lands underlying the same in and around the island of Puerto Rico and the adjacent islands and waters” extend from the coastline of the island of Puerto Rico and the adjacent islands as heretofore or hereafter modified by accretion, erosion, or reliction, seaward to a distance of three marine leagues; (3) “control” includes all right, title, and interest in and to and jurisdiction and authority over the submerged lands underlying the harbor areas and navigable streams and bodies of water in and around the island of Puerto Rico and the adjacent islands and waters, and the natural resources underlying such submerged lands and waters, and includes proprietary rights of ownership, and the rights of management, administration, leasing, use, and development of such natural resources and submerged lands beneath such waters.

§ 752. Corporate real estate holdings
No corporation shall be authorized to conduct the business of buying and selling real estate or be permitted to hold or own real estate except such as may be reasonably necessary to enable it to carry out the purposes for which it was created, and every corporation authorized after May 1, 1900, to engage in agriculture shall by its charter be restricted to the ownership and control of not to exceed five hundred acres of land; and this provision shall be held to prevent any member of a corporation engaged in agriculture from being in any wise interested in any other corporation engaged in agriculture. Corporations, however, may loan funds upon real estate security, and purchase real estate when necessary for the collection of loans, but they shall dispose of real estate so obtained within five years after receiving the title. Corporations not organized in Puerto Rico, and doing business therein, shall be bound by the provisions of this section so far as they are applicable.

Constitution of Puerto Rico

We, the people of Puerto Rico, in order to organize ourselves politically on a fully democratic basis, to promote the general welfare, and to secure for ourselves and our posterity the complete enjoyment of human rights, placing our trust in Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the commonwealth which, in the exercise of our natural rights, we now create within our union with the United States of America.

In so doing, we declare:

The democratic system is fundamental to the life of the Puerto Rican community;

We understand that the democratic system of government is one in which the will of the people is the source of public power, the political order is subordinate to the rights of man, and the free participation of the citizen in collective decisions is assured;

We consider as determining factors in our life our citizenship of the United States of America and our aspiration continually to enrich our democratic heritage in the individual and collective enjoyment of its rights and privileges; our loyalty to the principles of the Federal Constitution; the co-existence in Puerto Rico of the two great cultures of the American Hemisphere; our fervor for education; our faith in justice; our devotion to the courageous, industrious, and peaceful way of life; our fidelity to individual human values above and beyond social position, racial differences, and economic interests; and our hope for a better world based on these principles.

ARTICLE I
THE COMMONWEALTH

Section 1.  The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is hereby constituted. Its political power emanates from the people and shall be exercised in accordance with their will, within the terms of the compact agreed upon between the people of Puerto Rico and the United States of America.

Section 2. The government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall be republican in form and its legislative, judicial and executive branches as established by this Constitution shall be equally subordinate to the sovereignty of the people of Puerto Rico.

Section 3. The political authority of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall extend to the Island of Puerto Rico and to the adjacent islands within its jurisdiction.

Section 4. The seat of the government shall be the city of San Juan.

ARTICLE II
BILL OF RIGHTS

Section 1. The dignity of the human being is inviolable. All men are equal before the law. No discrimination shall be made on account of race, color, sex, birth, social origin or condition, or political or religious ideas. Both the laws and the system of public education shall embody these principles of essential human equality.

Section 2. The laws shall guarantee the expression of the will of the people by means of equal, direct and secret universal suffrage and shall protect the citizen against any coercion in the exercise of the electoral franchise.

Section 3. No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. There shall be complete separation of church and state.

Section 4. No law shall be made abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Section 5. Every person has the right to an education which shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. There shall be a system of free and wholly non-sectarian public education. Instruction in the elementary and secondary schools shall be free and shall be compulsory in the elementary schools to the extent permitted by the facilities of the state. No public property or public funds shall be used for the support of schools or educational institutions other than those of the state. Nothing contained in this provision shall prevent the state from furnishing.to any child non-educational services established by law for the protection or welfare of children.*

* By Resolution number 34, approved by the Constitutional Convention and ratified in the Referendum held on November 4, 1952, section 5 of article II was amended, adding to such section the following declaration: "Compulsory attendance at elementary public schools to the extent permitted by the facilities of the state as herein provided shall not be construed as applicable to those who receive elementary education in schools established under non-governmental auspices."

Section 6. Persons may join with each other and organize freely for any lawful purpose, except in military or quasi-military organizations.

Section 7. The right to life, liberty and the enjoyment of property is recognized as a fundamental right of man. The death penalty shall not exist. No person shall be deprived of his liberty or property without due process of law. No person in Puerto Rico shall be denied the equal protection of the laws. No laws impairing the obligation of contracts shall be enacted. A minimum amount of property and possessions shall be exempt from attachment as provided by law.

Section 8. Every person has the right to the protection of law against abusive attacks on his honor, reputation and private or family life.

Section 9. Private property shall not be taken or damaged for public use except upon payment of just compensation and in the manner provided by law. No law shall be enacted authorizing condemnation of printing presses, machinery or material devoted to publications of any kind. The buildings in which these objects are located may be condemned only after a judicial finding of public convenience and necessity pursuant to procedure that shall be provided by law, and may be taken before such ajudicial finding only when there is placed at the disposition of the publication an adequate site in which it can be installed and continue to operate for a reasonable time.

Section 10. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated.

Wire-tapping is prohibited.

No warrant for arrest or search and seizure shall issue except by judicial authority and only upon probable cause supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons to be arrested or the things to be seized.

Evidence obtained in violation of this section shall be inadmissible in the courts.

Section 11. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to have a speedy and public trial, to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation and to have a copy thereof, to be confronted with the witnesses against him, to have assistance of counsel, and to be presumed innocent.

In all prosecutions for a felony the accused shall have the right of trial by an impartial jury composed of twelve residents of the district, who may render their verdict by a majority vote which in no case may be less than nine.

No person shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself and the failure of the accused to testify may be neither taken into consideration nor commented upon against him.

No person shall be twice put in jeopardy of punishment for the same offense.

Before conviction every accused shall be entitled to be admitted to bail.

Incarceration prior to trial shall not exceed six months nor shall bail or fines be excessive. No person shall be imprisoned for debt.

Section 12. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist except in the latter case as a punishment for crime after the accused has been duly convicted. Cruel and unusual punishments shall not be inflicted. Suspension of civil rights including the right to vote shall cease upon service of the term of imprisonment imposed.

No ex post facto law or bill of attainder shall be passed.

Section 13. The writ of habeas corpus shall be granted without delay and free of costs. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless the public safety requires it in case of rebellion, insurrection or invasion. Only the Legislative Assembly shall have the power to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus and the laws regulating its issuance. The military authority shall always be subordinate to civil authority.

Section 14. No titles of nobility or other hereditary honors shall be granted. No officer or employee of the Commonwealth shall accept gifts, donations, decorations or offices from any foreign country or officer without prior authorization by the Legislative Assembly.

Section 15. The employment of children less than fourteen years of age in any occupation which is prejudicial to their health or morals or which places them in jeopardy of life or limb is prohibited.

No child less than sixteen years of age shall be kept in custody in a jail or penitentiary.

Section 16. The right of every employee to choose his occupation freely and to resign therefrom is recognized, as is his right to equal pay for equal work, to a reasonable minimum salary, to protection against risks to his health or person in his work or employment, and to an ordinary-workday which shall not exceed eight hours. An employee may work in excess of this daily limit only if he is paid extra compensation as provided by law, at a rate never less than one and one-half times the regular rate at which he is employed.

Section 17. Persons employed by private businesses, enterprises and individual employers and by agencies or instrumentalities of the government operating as private businesses or enterprises, shall have the right to organize and to bargain collectively with their employers through representatives of their own free choosing in order to promote their welfare.

Section 18. In order to assure their right to organize and to bargain collectively, persons employed by private businesses, enterprises and individual employers and by agencies, enterprises and individual employers and by agencies or instrumentalities of the government operating as private businesses or enterprises, in their direct relations with their own employers shall have the right to strike, to picket and to engage in other legal concerted activities.

Nothing herein contained shall impair the authority of the Legislative Assembly to enact laws to deal with grave emergencies that clearly imperil the public health or safety or essential public services.

Section 19. The foregoing enumeration of rights shall not be construed restrictively nor does it contemplate the exclusion of other rights not specifically mentioned which belong to the people in a democracy. The power of the Legislative Assembly to enact laws for the protection of the life, health and general welfare of the people shall likewise not be construed restrictively.

Section 20. The Commonwealth also recognizes the existence of the following human rights:

The right of every person to receive free elementary and secondary education.

The right of every person to obtain work.

The right of every person to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, and especially to food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services.

The right of every person to social protection in the event of unemployment, sickness, old age or disability.

The right of motherhood and childhood to special care and assistance.

The rights set forth in this section are closely connected with the progressive development of the economy of the Commonwealth and require, for their full effectiveness, sufficient resources and an agricultural and industrial development not yet attained by the Puerto Rican community.

In the light of their duty to achieve the full liberty of the citizen, the people and the government of Puerto Rico shall do everything in their power to promote the greatest possible expansion of the system of production, to assure the fairest distribution of economic output, and to obtain the maximum understanding between individual initiative and collective cooperation. The executive and judicial branches shall bear in mind this duty and shall construe the laws that tend to fulfill it in the most favorable manner possible.

* By Resolution number 34, approved by the Constitutional Convention and ratified in the Referendum held on November 4, 1962, section 20 of article II was eliminated.

ARTICLE III
THE LEGISLATURE

Section 1. The legislative power shall be vested in a Legislative Assembly, which shall consist of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives, whose members shall be elected by direct vote at each general election.

Section 2, The Senate shall be composed of twenty-seven Senators and the House of Representatives of fifty-one Representatives, except as these numbers may be increased.in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 of this Article.

Section 3. For the purpose of election of members of the Legislative Assembly, Puerto Rico shall be divided into eight senatorial districts and forty representative districts. Each senatorial district shall elect two Senators and each representative district one Representative.

There shall also be eleven Senators and eleven Representatives elected at large. No elector may vote for more than one candidate for Senator at Large or for more than one candidate for Representative at Large.

Section 4. In the first and subsequent elections under this Constitution the division of senatorial and representative districts as provided in Article VIII shall be in effect. After each decennial census beginning with the year 1960, said division shall be revised by a Board composed of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court as Chairman and of two additional members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The two additional members shall not belong to the same political party. Any revision shall maintain the number of senatorial and representative districts here created, which shall be composed of contiguous and compact territory and shall be organized, insofar as practicable, upon the basis of population and means of communication. Each senatorial district shall always include five representative districts.

The decisions of the Board shall be made by majority vote and shall take effect in the general elections next following each revision. The Board shall cease to exist after the completion of each revision.

Section 5. No person shall be a member of the Legislative Assembly unless he is able to read and write the Spanish or English language and unless he is a citizen of the United States and of Puerto Rico and has resided in Puerto Rico at least two years immediately prior to the date of his election or appointment. No person shall be a member of the Senate who is not over thirty years of age, and no person shall be a member of the House of Representatives who is not over twenty-five years of age.

Section 6. No person shall be eligible to election or appointment as Senator or Representative for a district unless he has resided therein at least one year immediately prior to his election or appointment. When there is more than one representative district in a municipality, residence in the municipality shall satisfy this requirement.

Section 7. If in a general election more than two-thirds of the members of either house are elected from one political party or from a single ticket, as both are defined by law, the number of members shall be increased in the following cases:

(a) If the party or ticket which elected more than two-thirds of the members of either or both houses shall have obtained less than two-thirds of the total number of votes cast for the office of Governor, the number of members of the Senate or of the House of Representatives or of both bodies, whichever may be the case, shall be increased by declaring elected a sufficient number of candidates of the minority party or parties to bring the total number of members of the minority party or parties to nine in the Senate and to seventeen in the House of Representatives. When there is more than one minority party, said additional members shall be declared elected from among the candidates of each minority party in the proportion that the number of votes cast for the candidate of each of said parties for the office of Governor bears to the total number of votes cast for the candidates of all the minority parties for the office of Governor.

When one or more minority parties shall have obtained representation in a proportion equal to or greater than the proportion of votes received by their respective candidates for Governor, such party or parties shall not be entitled to additional members until the representation established for each of the other minority parties under these provisions shall have been completed.

(b) If the party or ticket which elected more than two-thirds of the members of either or both houses shall have obtained more than two-thirds of the total number of votes cast for the office of Governor, and one or more minority parties shall not have elected the number of members in the Senate or in the House of Representatives or in both houses, whichever may be the case, which corresponds to the proportion of votes cast by each of them for the office of Governor, such additional number of their candidates shall be declared elected as is necessary in order to complete said proportion as nearly as possible, but the number of Senators of all the minority parties shall never, under this provision, be more than nine or that of Representatives more than seventeen.

In order to select additional members of the Legislative Assembly from a minority party in accordance with these provisions, its candidates at large who have not been elected shall be the first to be declared elected in the order of the votes that they have obtained, and thereafter its district candidates who; not having been elected, have obtained in their respective districts the highest proportion of the total number of votes cast as compared to the proportion of votes cast in favor of other candidates of the same party not elected to an equal office in the other districts.

The additional Senators and Representatives whose election is declared under this section shall be considered for all purposes as Senators at Large or Representatives at Large.

The measures necessary to implement these guarantees, the method of adjudicating fractions that may result from the application of the rules contained in this section, and the minimum number of votes that a minority party must cast in favor of its candidate for Governor in order to have the right to the representation provided herein shall be determined by the Legislative Assembly.

Section 8. The term of office of Senators and Representatives shall begin on the second day of January immediately following the date of the general election in which they shall have been elected. If, prior to the fifteen months immediately preceding the date of the next general election, a vacancy occurs in the office of Senator or Representative for a district, the Governor shall call a special election in said district within thirty days following the date on which the vacancy occurs. This election shall be held not later than ninety days after the call, and the person elected shall hold office for the rest of the unexpired term of his predecessor. When said vacancy occurs during a legislative session, or when the Legislative Assembly or the Senate has been called for a date prior to the certification of the results of the special election, the presiding officer of the appropriate house shall fill said vacancy by appointing the person recommended by the central committee of the political party of which his predecessor in office was a member. Such person shall hold the office until certification of the election of the candidate who was elected. When the vacancy occurs within fifteen months prior to a general election, or when it occurs in the office of a Senator at Large or a Representative at Large, the presiding officer of the appropriate house shall fill it, upon the recommendation of the political party of which the previous holder of the office was a member, by appointing a person selected in the same manner as that in which his predecessor was selected. A vacancy in the office of a Senator at Large or a Representative at Large elected as an independent candidate shall be filled by an election in all districts.

Section 9. Each house shall be the sole judge of the election, returns and qualifications of its members; shall choose its own officers; shall adopt rules for its own proceedings appropriate to legislative bodies; and, with the concurrence of three-fourths of the total number of members of which it is composed, may expel any member for the causes established in Section 21 of this Article, authorizing impeachments. The Senate shall elect a President and the House of Representatives a Speaker from among their respective members.

Section 10. The Legislative Assembly shall be deemed a continuous body during the term for which its members are elected and shall meet in regular session each year commencing on the second Monday in January. The duration of regular sessions and the periods of time for introduction and consideration of bills shall be prescribed by law. When the Governor calls the Legislative Assembly into special session it may consider only those matters specified in the call or in any special message sent to it by him during the session. No special session shall continue longer than twenty calendar days.

Section 11. The sessions of each house shall be open.

Section 12. A majority of the total number of members of which each house is composed shall constitute a quorum, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day and shall have authority to compel the attendance of absent members.

Section 13. The two houses shall meet in the capitol of Puerto Rico and neither of them may adjourn for more than three consecutive days without the consent of the other.

Section 14. No member of the Legislative Assembly shall be arrested while the house of which he is a member is in session, or during the fifteen days before or after such session, except for treason, felony or breach of the peace. The members of the Legislative Assembly shall not be questioned in any other place for any speech, debate or vote in either house or in any committee.

Section 15. No Senator or Representative may, during the term for which he was elected or chosen, be appointed to any civil office in the Government of Puerto Rico, its municipalities or instrumentalities, which shall have been created or the salary of which shall have been increased during said term. No person may hold office in the Government of Puerto Rico, its municipalities or instrumentalities and be a Senator or Representative at the same time. These provisions shall not prevent a member of the Legislative Assembly from being designated to perform functions ad honorem.

Section 16. The Legislative Assembly shall have the power to create, consolidate or reorganize executive departments and to define their functions.

Section 17. No bill shall become a law unless it has been printed, read, referred to a committee and returned therefrom with a written report, but either house may discharge a committee from the study and report of any bill and proceed to the consideration thereof. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings and of the voters cast for and against bills. The legislative proceedings shall be published in a daily record in the form determined by law. Every bill, except general appropriation bills, shall be confined to one subject, which shall be clearly expressed in its title, and any part of an act whose subject has not been expressed in the title shall be void. The general appropriation act shall contain only appropriations and rules for their disbursement. No bill shall be amended in a manner that changes its original purpose or incorporates matters extraneous to it.

In amending any article or section of a law, said article or section shall be promulgated in its entirety as amended. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives, but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other bills,

Section 18. The subjects which may be dealt with by means of joint resolution shall be determined by law, but every joint resolution shall follow the same legislative process as that of a bill.

Section 19. Every bill which is approved by a majority of the total number of members of which each house is composed shall be submitted to the Governor and shall become law if he signs it or if he does not return it, with his objections, to the house in which it originated within ten days (Sundays excepted) counted from the date on which he shall have received it.

When the Governor returns a bill the house that receives it shall enter his objections on its journal and both houses may reconsider it. If approved by two-thirds of the total number of members of which each house is composed, said bill shall become law.

If the Legislative Assembly adjourns sine die before the Governor has acted on a bill that has been presented to him less than ten days before, he is relieved of the obligation of returning it with his objections and the bill shall become law only if the Governor signs it within thirty days after receiving it.

Every final passage or reconsideration of a bill shall be by a roll-call vote.

Section 20. In approving any appropriation bill that contains more than one item, the Governor may eliminate one or more of such items or reduce their amounts, at the same time reducing the total amounts involved.

Section 21. The House of Representatives shall have exclusive power to initiate impeachment proceedings and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of the total number of members of which it is composed, to bring an indictment. The Senate shall have exclusive power to try and to decide impeachment cases, and in meeting for such purposes the Senators shall act in the name of the people and under oath or affirmation. No judgment of conviction in an impeachment trial shall be pronounced without the concurrence of three-fourths of the total number of members of which the Senate is composed, and the judgment shall be limited to removal from office. The person impeached, however, may be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment according to law. The causes of impeachment shall be treason, bribery, other felonies, and misdemeanors involving moral turpitude. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside at the impeachment trial of the Governor.

The two houses may conduct impeachment proceedings in their regular or special sessions. The presiding officers of the two houses, upon written request of two-thirds of the total number of members of which the House of Representatives is composed, must convene them to deal with such proceedings.

Section 22. The Governor shall appoint a Controller with the advice and consent of a majority of the total number of members of which each house is composed. The Controller shall meet the requirements prescribed by law and shall hold office for a term of ten years and until his successor has been appointed and qualifies. The Controller shall audit all the revenues, accounts and expenditures of the Commonwealth, of its agencies and instrumentalities and of its municipalities, in order to determine whether they have been made in accordance with law. He shall render annual reports and any special reports that may be required of him by the Legislative Assembly or by the Governor.

In the performance of his duties the Controller shall be authorized to administer oaths, take evidence and compel under pain of contempt, the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, letters, documents, papers, records and all other articles deemed essential to a full understanding of the matter under investigation.

The Controller may be removed for the causes and pursuant to the procedure established in the preceding section.

ARTICLE IV
THE EXECUTIVE

Section 1. The executive power shall be vested in a Governor, who shall be elected by direct vote in each general election.

Section 2. The Governor shall hold office for the term of four years from the second day of January of the year following his election and until his successor has been elected and qualifies. He shall reside in Puerto Rico and maintain his office in its capital city.

Section 3. No person shall be Governor unless, on the date of the election, he is at least thirty-five years of age, and is and has been during the preceding five years a citizen of the United States and a citizen and bona fide resident of Puerto Rico.

Section 4. The Governor shall execute the laws and cause them to be execute