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Country name:
conventional long form:
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form: Puerto Rico
Data code: RQ
Dependency status:
commonwealth associated with the US
Government type:
commonwealth
National capital:
San Juan
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
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
of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice
President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
head of government: Governor Pedro ROSSELLO (since 2 January
1993)
cabinet: NA
elections: governor of Puerto Rico elected by popular vote
for a four-year term; election last held 5 November 1996 (next
to be held 7 November 2000)
election results: Pedro ROSSELLO reelected governor of
Puerto Rico; percent of vote - NA
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 5 November 1996 (next to be
held 7 November 2000); House of Representatives last held 5 November
1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000)
election results: Senate percent of vote by party NA; seats
by party PNP 19, PPD 8, PIP 1; House of Representatives—percent
of vote by party NA; seats by party PNP 37, PPD 16, PIP 1
note: Puerto Rico elects one representative to the US House
of Representatives; elections last held 5 November 1996 (next
to be held 7 November 2000); results - percent of vote by party
NA; seats by party PNP 1 (Carlos Romero BARCELO)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court, justices appointed by the governor with the consent
of the Senate; Superior Courts, justices appointed by the governor
with the consent of the Senate; Municipal Courts, justices appointed
by the governor with the consent of the Senate
Political parties
and leaders: National Republican Party of Puerto
Rico, Luis FERRE; Popular Democratic Party (PPD), Hector ACEVEDO;
New Progressive Party (PNP), Pedro ROSSELLO; Puerto Rican Independence
Party (PIP), Ruben BERRIOS Martinez; Puerto Rican Communist Party
(PCP), leader(s) unknown
Political pressure
groups and leaders: Armed Forces for National
Liberation (FALN); Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution;
Boricua Popular Army (also known as the Macheteros); Armed Forces
of Popular Resistance
International organization
participation: Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate),
FAO (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, WCL, WFTU,
WHO (associate), WToO (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 ©
CIA 1999
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