This act would provide for plebiscites to be held in Puerto Rico to determine the island's ultimate political status.

Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea.

900) was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on February 7, 2007 by Congressman José Serrano (D-New York).

For those who believe that direct democracy is the best method for readdressing the status issue, the plebiscite approach could be preferred.

Plebiscites, however, necessarily include pre-determined questions and answers (i.e., the options listed on the ballot).

110-1230) suggest a more grassroots-oriented approach involving constitutional conventions without preconditions on the issues to be considered or options to be proposed.

By contrast, although conventions have the potential advantage of allowing for wide-ranging debate, they rely on delegates to represent popular will and might or might not be able to reach a politically viable status choice.

Proposals to allow those living outside Puerto Rico to vote in plebiscites do not appear to have generated substantial controversy, according to a Congressional Research Service analysis.

"[8] "Sovereignty in association with the United States" is not a term of art typically used in status discussions.

The proposed ballot language suggests that Puerto Rico would become an independent nation but maintain a close relationship with the U.S., perhaps akin to a concept known as "free association."

Free association generally implies negotiated legal, economic, or defense ties between two independent nations.

Generally, "enhanced commonwealth" suggests a relationship that is, essentially, something between territorial status and statehood.

Recent presidential task force reports have concluded that such an option would be unconstitutional because land under United States sovereignty must either be a State or a territory,[9] but some in Puerto Rico maintain that such a political status could be negotiated between Puerto Rico and the U.S.[8] These are two possible interpretations of option No.

The first, proposed by Virginia Foxx, stated that it "would allow supporters of the commonwealth status quo the option of voting their preference during the second stage of the plebiscite."