Political Aspect of Puerto Rico

Brought to you by these fine folks:Carissa Pangelinan

Patti RodriguezMike CamachoJoesph Tenorio

Commonwealth, organized territory of US

Puerto Ricans…

are citizens of the United States

Puerto Ricans…

serve in the armed forces

Puerto Ricans…

are exempt from federal income taxes

Puerto Ricans…

are subject to all federal laws

Defense

Foreign RelationsTrade

Defense

Foreign RelationsTrade

Defense

Foreign RelationsTrade

Cooperate on joint programs

Citizens 18 yrs. of age & older Citizens 18 yrs. of age & older

Major political divisions in Puerto Rico

Reflect feeling about ties with the US

Major Political Parties

Popular Democratic Party

Partido Popular Democrático (PPD)

• Favors commonwealth status for island

• Traditionally drawn its support from rural areas

• Due to rapid urbanization in last half of 20th century much of PPD’s rural population support has declined

New Progressive Party

Partido Nuevo Progresista de Puerto Rico (PNP)

• Advocates statehood for Puerto Rico

• A means of gaining a larger share of federal funds and social programs than the island receives as a commonwealth

• Support comes from urban areas

Independence Party

Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (PIP)

• Seeks immediate independence

• Wants to create a socialist democratic republic

• Several other minor parties also support independence

Puerto Rico’s Political Status

by: Carissa Pangelinan

Patti Rodriguez

Mike Camacho

Joesph

Political Parties

• New Progressive Party (NPP)

Political Parties

• Popular Democratic Party (PDP)

1967 Plebiscite

• Total No. of Votes: 707, 293

• 60 % Commonwealth

• 39% Statehood

• 1% Independence

1993 Plebiscite

• Total No. of Votes: 1,700,990

• 48.6 % Commonwealth

• 46.3% Statehood

• 4.4% Independence

1998 Plebiscite

• Total No. of Votes: 1,566,270

• 0.06 % Commonwealth

• 46.49% Statehood

• 2.54% Independence

• 0.29% Free-Association

• 50.30% None of the Above

Group Activity

•If you were a member of Congress, how would you define the options on the ballot differently, in order to prevent what happened in the 1998 plebiscite from happening again?

Political Status Movements Today

•HR Bill 900 introduced by Jose Serrano

•‘Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2007’

•The Puerto Rico State Elections Commission shall conduct a plebiscite in Puerto Rico not later than December 31, 2009

Section 2 (a)

• SEC. 2. PUERTO RICAN DECISION ON PRESENT STATUS.(a) Plebiscite- The Puerto Rico State

Elections Commission shall conduct a plebiscite in Puerto Rico not later than December 31, 2009. The two options set forth on the ballot shall be preceded by the following statement: Instructions: Mark one of the following two options:

(1) Puerto Rico should continue to have its present form of territorial status and relationship with the United States. If you agree, mark here XXXXXXXXXX.

(2) Puerto Rico should pursue a constitutionally-viable permanent non-territorial status. If you agree, mark here XXXXXXXXXX.

SECTION 2 (b)

• (b) Recommendations- If a majority of the validly-cast ballots in the plebiscite favors Option 2, Congress recognizes the inherent authority of the People of Puerto Rico to--

• (1) call a Constitutional Convention, constituted by a number of delegates to be determined in accordance to legislation approved by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, for the purpose of proposing to the People of Puerto Rico a self-determination option which, if approved by the People of Puerto Rico in a referendum, would be presented to Congress by the Constitutional Convention; or

• (2) conduct a plebiscite administered by the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission to consider a self-determination option with the results presented to Congress.

SecTion 3 (C)

• (c) Eligibility; Ballot- Persons eligible to vote under this subsection shall, upon timely request submitted to the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission in compliance with any terms imposed by the Electoral Law of Puerto Rico, be entitled to receive an absentee ballot for the plebiscite. Each of the following shall be eligible to vote in the plebiscite held under this Act:

• (1) All eligible voters under the electoral laws in effect in Puerto Rico at the time the plebiscite is held.

• (2) All United States citizens born in Puerto Rico who comply, to the satisfaction of the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission, with all Puerto Rico State Elections Commission requirements (other than the residency requirement) applicable to eligibility to vote in a general election.

Group Activity

•If you were a member of Congress, would you support this bill? Why or why not?

•Has your territory lobbied with Congress to request for a plebiscite in order for your territory’s inhabitants to exercise self-determination? If not, why do you think that is?