The issue revolves around whether Puerto Rico should remain a U.S. territory, become a U.S. state, or become an independent country.
Ultimately the U.S. Congress is the only body empowered to decide the political status of Puerto Rico, as stated under the Territorial Clause.
The drafting of the Constitution of Puerto Rico by its residents was authorized by Congress in 1951, and the result approved in 1952.
[6][7] The unusually high percentage of votes for statehood was attributed to a boycott led by the pro-status quo Popular Democrats, leading to a very low turnout of 22.93%, mainly made up of pro-statehood voters.
Puerto Rico has sports sovereignty, with its own national team at the Olympics and at other international competitions.
[11] In 1976, Congress approved the mutually negotiated Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) in Political Union with the United States.
[a] Transition to U.S. Immigration Law began November 28, 2009 in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).
[14][15] U.S. insular areas are not afforded direct representation in the federal legislature, either in the Senate or in the House of Representatives.
The United States recognized the then-future independence of the Philippines in 1934 but called for a ten-year transitional period.