Short facts about the government of Puerto Rico
| Country
name: |
conventional long
form: Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico
conventional short form: Puerto
Rico |
| Dependency
status: |
commonwealth associated with the
US |
| Government
type: |
commonwealth |
| Administrative divisions: |
none (commonwealth associated with the
US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular - municipio)
at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito,
Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas,
Camuy, Canovanas, Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio,
Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama, Guayanilla,
Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao, Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz,
Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Las Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao,
Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca, Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas,
Penuelas, Ponce, Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San
German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Toa Alta, Toa Baja,
Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja, Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa,
Yauco |
| Independence: |
none (commonwealth associated with the
US) |
| National
holiday: |
US Independence Day, 4 July
(1776) |
| Constitution: |
ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US
Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952 |
| Legal
system: |
based on Spanish civil
code |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal; indigenous
inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential
elections |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of state:
President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice
President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
head of
government: Governor Sila M. CALDERON (since NA January
2001)
cabinet: appointed by the governor with the consent of the
legislature
elections: US president and vice president elected on
the same ticket for four-year terms; governor elected by popular vote for a
four-year term; election last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November
2004)
election results: Sila M. CALDERON (PDP) elected governor;
percent of vote - 48.8% |
| Legislative
branch: |
bicameral Legislative Assembly consists
of the Senate (28 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (54 seats; members are
directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms)
elections: Senate - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be
held NA November 2004); House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2000
(next to be held NA November 2004)
election results: Senate -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PNP 19, PPD 7, PIP 1, other 1;
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PNP
30, PPD 20, PIP 1, other 3
note: Puerto Rico elects one nonvoting
representative to the US House of Representatives; elections last held 7
November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004); results - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - PPD 1 (Anibal
ACEVEDO-VILA) |
| Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court; Superior Courts;
Municipal Courts (justices for all these courts appointed by the governor with
the consent of the Senate) |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
National Democratic Party [Celeste
BENITEZ]; National Republican Party of Puerto Rico [Luis FERRE]; New Progressive
Party or PNP [Pedro ROSSELLO]; Popular Democratic Party or PPD [Hector Luis
ACEVEDO]; Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP [Ruben BERRIOS
Martinez] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
Armed Forces for National Liberation or
FALN; Armed Forces of Popular Resistance; Boricua Popular Army (also known as
the Macheteros); Volunteers of the Puerto Rican
Revolution |
| International organization participation: |
Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate),
FAO (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, WCL, WFTU, WHO
(associate) |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
none (commonwealth associated with the
US) |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
none (commonwealth associated with the
US) |
| Flag
description: |
five equal horizontal bands of red (top
and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist
side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; design based on the
US flag | Source: World Factbook |
