History and Government
History
The Taino Indians were the first Puerto Rican inhabitants. The island was ‘discovered’ by Columbus in 1493 on his second voyage to the New World and was governed by Ponce de Leon from 1508. Puerto Rico (Rich Port) was eventually ceded to the USA in 1898 at the end of the Spanish-American War. In 1917 Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship and in 1952 the island became a self-governing ‘Commonwealth in association with the USA’. Many people regard this situation as a compromise between full membership to the USA and full independence. In practice, this gives Puerto Ricans an American passport and makes them eligible for military draft but they do not pay US federal taxes and cannot vote in US elections. Of the main political parties, the Partido Popular Democrático (PPD) is broadly in favour of the existing Commonwealth status, while the Partido Neuvo Progresista (PNP) supports full state membership. In December 1998, the third referendum in 30 years was held on the issue: voters were asked whether they wished Puerto Rico to become the 51st state of the USA, become independent, enter a compact of Free Association (similar to that which operates in a number of Pacific micro-territories) or retain the status quo. By a narrow majority, they voted for the status quo. There is still a strong lobby for full independence for Puerto Rico, and the issue remains a sensitive issue on the island: its advocates received a boost in 2003 when the US military ended its use of the island of Vieques for military exercises after 60 years.
Puerto Rico has a representative in the US House of Representatives; the inhabitants of the island are US citizens, but they may not vote in presidential elections. The latest election for Governor, held in November 2000, was a three-way fight between PNP candidate Carlos Pesquera, Sila Maria Caldero of the PPD and Ruben Berrios Martine of the small Partido Independentista. Calderon won with just under half the total poll. Elections to the Senate and the House of Representatives on the same day gave the PPD a small majority in both houses.
Government
Executive power is held by the Governor, who is elected by universal adult suffrage for a four-year term, assisted by a 15-member Cabinet staffed by appointees. A bicameral assembly, a scaled-down version of the US Congress, is responsible for legislation. The House of Representatives has 54 members; the Senate has 28.
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