Why does puerto rico want to remain a commonwealth

On June 4, , , persons, On August 27, , ninety-two delegates were elected to a constitutional convention, representing the Popular Democratic, the Statehood and the Socialist parties.

The convention met in September and concluded its painstaking work in February An official English and an official Spanish version of the constitution were adopted, and the text was published in the four daily newspapers of Puerto Rico in both languages.

Copies of the document were distributed throughout the Island. On March 3, , the constitution was submitted for adoption or rejection. Of the , qualified voters, , participated in the referendum.

Of these, , voted to adopt the constitution; only 82, disapproved it. On April 22, , the President transmitted the constitution to the Congress, with his approval, and the Congress approved it by Public Law , 82d Cong. On July 25, , after final ratification by the constitutional convention to accept the constitution as approved by the Congress, the Governor of Puerto Rico proclaimed the establishment of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico under the new constitution.

The constitution of the Commonwealth is markedly similar to that of a State. It establishes a tri-partite form of government, with a popularly elected governor, a popularly elected bi-cameral legislature and a judicial branch. The heads of all executive departments will be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Puerto Rican Senate; appointment of the Secretary of State will also require the consent of the House of Representatives.

The President will no longer appoint any member of the executive branch, and the United [Page ] States Senate will not participate in the appointment of any official of the government of the Commonwealth. The Legislative Assembly, which will be elected by free, universal and secret suffrage of the people of Puerto Rico, has full legislative authority in respect to local matters.

The Commonwealth has the power to impose and collect taxes, and to contract debts. Acts of the Legislative Assembly will become law upon approval of the Governor, or, in the event that an act is vetoed by the Governor, upon its re-enactment by two-thirds of the total number of members of which each house is composed. The protection of a bill of rights is extended to persons in Puerto Rico.

All public officials must take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and the constitution and laws of the Commonwealth. Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city Caracals have learned to hunt around the urban edges of Cape Town, though the predator faces many threats, such as getting hit by cars. India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big.

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Environment As the EU targets emissions cuts, this country has a coal problem. Paid Content How Hong Kong protects its sea sanctuaries. History Magazine These 3,year-old giants watched over the cemeteries of Sardinia. Statehood proponents viewed the results as proof that most Puerto Ricans want the territory to be admitted, but opponents questioned the validity of the votes as referendums are unbinding, often promoted solely by the pro-statehood party and include the opinions of only half of Puerto Ricans.

Some people oppose statehood based on the argument that Puerto Rico will assimilate to the United States if it becomes a state. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Twice a week we compile our most fascinating features and deliver them straight to you. Live TV. This Day In History.

History Vault. Spanish Colonialism. Recommended for you. How the Troubles Began in Northern Ireland. Puerto Rico. Why Isn't Washington, D. Puerto Rico is asking to become the 51st US state. Trump just said no. Puerto Rican leaders are pushing for statehood harder than ever. Even though all Puerto Ricans are US citizens, the 3.

Their lack of political power made it easy for Trump to dismiss the human suffering that unfolded on the island. It meant the administration feared no political backlash for its failed response to the disaster, or its role in the 2, deaths linked to the hurricane.

The question of whether or not Puerto Rico should become a state has been the most divisive issue on the island for decades. Political leaders on the island have been asking for a clear path to statehood since the s. Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama did. So did Trump , during his presidential campaign.

Support for statehood was even enshrined in the Republican Party platform. But there has never been a clear consensus in Puerto Rico on the issue. Since then, Puerto Rican leaders have tried various strategies to get lawmakers in Washington to address the issue.

Lawmakers have mostly ignored them. In June , after the pro-statehood party swept into power, Puerto Ricans on the island voted to join the United States as the 51st state.

It was the fifth time the island has held a referendum on whether to join the republic. The vast majority voted in favor of statehood: 97 percent — the largest number yet. The problem is that fewer than a quarter of registered voters turned out to the polls.

That was mostly the result of a boycott from the anti-statehood political groups, who were upset with the wording of the referendum.