Proposed political status for Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island that was a colony of the Spanish Empire for about four centuries until it was ceded in the Treaty of Paris to the United States in 1898.

The power to change its status lies in the United States Congress; a majority in both houses and the president signing it into law would make it possible.

However, the changes would be dramatic, with Puerto Rico becoming fully integrated into the United States; it would gain two senators and several representatives and would vote in the presidential election.

Free association would result in independence also, but various economic benefits like visas, monetary aid, defense, or currency agreements would be negotiated between the two nations.

The debate over Puerto Rico has also been discussed at various UN hearings where it was declared a colony of the United States by the UN Special Committee on Decolonization at certain points but not others.

Before 1898 Puerto Rico was a colonial possession of Spain; the main focus of this background is the 20th and 21st century in relation to the United States of America.

Puerto Rico became an American territory in 1898 when, as per the terms of the Treaty of Paris which concluded the Spanish–American War, Spain ceded the island (and several other possessions) to the United States.

The act divided governmental powers into three branches: executive (appointed by the President of the United States), legislative (consisting of a 19-member senate and a 39-member house of representatives, all elected by the Puerto Rican people), and judicial.

The act also allowed conscription to be extended to the island, and over 20,000 Puerto Rican soldiers were sent to the United States Army during the First World War.

[7] In the years after World War II, social, political and economic changes began to take place that have continued to shape the island's character today.

The late 1940s brought the beginning of a major migration to the continental United States, mainly to New York City, for work, and to remit money back to their families.

The main reasons for this were an undesirable economic situation brought by the Great Depression, as well as heavy recruitment made by the U.S. armed forces and U.S. companies.

Political changes began in 1946 when President Harry Truman designated the first Puerto Rican, Commissioner Resident Jesús T. Piñero, to serve as the island's governor.

The new law made it illegal to display the Puerto Rican flag, sing a patriotic song, talk of independence or to fight for the liberation of the island.

Luis Muñoz Marín, president of the Puerto Rican Senate, successfully campaigned and became the first democratically elected Governor of the island on January 2, 1949.

In 1950, Washington introduced Operation Bootstrap, an attempt to transform Puerto Rico's economy to an industrialized and developed one, which greatly stimulated economic growth from 1950 until the 1970s.

The industrialization was in part fueled by generous local incentives and freedom from federal taxation, while providing access to continental US markets without import duties.

Several U.S. presidents have signed executive orders to define, study, and initiate activities regarding the political status of Puerto Rico.

The U.S. Constitution allows no other options.” [As an Enhanced Commonwealth] Ceding territory to another nation only means giving Puerto Rico away or selling it, as happened in 1898 from Spain to the United States.

[12] On the other hand, the Task Force of President Barack Obama, 2011, provides the same, but adds the parameters for Free Association: "Free Association would provide for an independent Puerto Rico with a close relationship to the United States, similar in status to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.

The first question was whether voters want to maintain the current commonwealth status under the territorial clause of the U.S. Constitution or whether they prefer a non-territorial option.

"[18] President Barack Obama had also supported the referendum, writing, "I am firmly committed to the principle that the question of political status is a matter of self-determination for the people of Puerto Rico.

[31] At approximately the same time as the referendum, Puerto Rico's legislators are also expected to vote on a bill that would allow the Governor to draft a state constitution and hold elections to choose senators and representatives to the federal Congress.

The combination of House and Senate, in turn, effects the electoral college, which would have an increased number depending on whether the seats were replaced or added.

[42] Admission to statehood in the United States of America is controlled by the U.S. Congress, requiring a bill to pass a majority vote in the House and Senate and be signed into law by the President.

This could give Puerto Rico a similar status to Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau, countries which currently have a Compact of Free Association with the United States.

[citation needed] Ron Lauder suggested to Donald Trump that the United States purchase[broken anchor] Greenland which was discussed in the White House Situation Room as a trade involving Puerto Rico according to Elizabeth Neumann.

[52][53][54] Most recently, in a June 2016 report, the Special Committee called for the United States to expedite the process to allow self-determination in Puerto Rico.

More specifically, the group called on the United States to expedite a process that would allow the people of Puerto Rico to exercise fully their right to self-determination and independence.

... [and] allow the Puerto Rican people to take decisions in a sovereign manner and to address their urgent economic and social needs, including unemployment, marginalization, insolvency and poverty".