{ "id": "R44721", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R44721", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 461947, "date": "2017-06-12", "retrieved": "2017-08-22T14:23:15.328792", "title": "Political Status of Puerto Rico: Brief Background and Recent Developments for Congress", "summary": "Puerto Rico lies approximately 1,000 miles southeast of Miami and 1,500 miles from Washington, DC. Despite being far outside the continental United States, the island has played a significant role in American politics and policy since the United States acquired Puerto Rico from Spain in 1898.\nPuerto Rico\u2019s political status\u2014referring to the relationship between the federal government and a territorial one\u2014is an undercurrent in virtually every policy matter on the island. In a June 11, 2017, plebiscite (popular vote), 97.2% of voters chose statehood when presented with three options on the ballot. Turnout for the plebiscite was 23.0% of eligible voters. Some parties and other groups opposing the plebiscite had urged their bases to boycott the vote. (These data are based on 99.5% of precincts reporting results.) After initially including only statehood and free association/independence options, an amended territorial law ultimately permitted three options on the plebiscite ballot: statehood, free association/independence, or current territorial status. \nBefore the latest plebiscite, Puerto Ricans most recently reconsidered their status through a 2012 plebiscite. On that occasion, voters were asked two questions: whether to maintain the status quo, and if a change were selected, whether to pursue statehood, independence, or status as a \u201csovereign free associated state.\u201d Majorities chose a change in the status quo in answering the first question, and statehood in answering the second. The results have been controversial. If Congress chose to alter Puerto Rico\u2019s political status, it could do so through statute. Ultimately, the Territory Clause of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress broad discretion over Puerto Rico and other territories.\nCongress has not enacted any recent legislation devoted specifically to status. Two bills have been introduced during the 115th Congress. H.R. 260 proposes to admit Puerto Rico as a state if residents choose statehood in a plebiscite. H.R. 900 proposes a popular vote between independence and free association (which entails an ongoing relationship between independent countries). In the 114th Congress, H.R. 727, which did not advance beyond introduction, would have authorized a plebiscite on statehood. \nEven in seemingly unrelated federal policy debates, Puerto Rico status often arises at least tangentially. In the foreseeable future, oversight of Puerto Rico is likely to be relevant for Congress as the House and Senate monitor the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA; P.L. 114-187; 48 U.S.C. \u00a72101 et seq.) enacted during the 114th Congress. Status also shaped the policy context surrounding the U.S. Supreme Court\u2019s decision in the 2016 Sanchez Valle case. This report does not provide an economic or legal analysis of these topics; instead, it provides policy and historical background for understanding status and its current relevance for Congress.\nThis report will be updated in the event of significant legislative or status developments.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44721", "sha1": "d1b25c0b3e26d0bf31ad680e17f66aca8289c9f7", "filename": "files/20170612_R44721_d1b25c0b3e26d0bf31ad680e17f66aca8289c9f7.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44721_files&id=/1.png": "files/20170612_R44721_images_2ccbedf02f69263270d7cf449a69296b1be42954.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44721_files&id=/0.png": "files/20170612_R44721_images_fce8b406c3ce4c811fe0fdd50de8fde052b3ffc1.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44721_files&id=/2.png": "files/20170612_R44721_images_178f760f5054a873898024c2d33ec1a7fe8af4fb.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44721", "sha1": "75f22b189dd9a74a02c61edb05e79d1a8fb85407", "filename": "files/20170612_R44721_75f22b189dd9a74a02c61edb05e79d1a8fb85407.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 457901, "date": "2016-12-28", "retrieved": "2017-01-03T22:37:28.364289", "title": "Political Status of Puerto Rico: Brief Background and Recent Developments for Congress", "summary": "Puerto Rico lies approximately 1,000 miles southeast of Miami and 1,500 miles from Washington, DC. Despite being far outside the continental United States, the island has played a significant role in American politics and policy since the United States acquired Puerto Rico from Spain in 1898.\nPuerto Rico\u2019s political status\u2014a term of art referring to the relationship between the federal government and a territorial one\u2014is an undercurrent in virtually every policy matter on the island. Even in seemingly unrelated federal policy debates, Puerto Rico status often arises at least tangentially. In the foreseeable future, oversight of Puerto Rico is likely to be relevant for Congress as the House and Senate monitor the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA; P.L. 114-187) enacted during the 114th Congress. Status also shaped the policy context surrounding the U.S. Supreme Court\u2019s decision in the 2016 Sanchez Valle case. This report does not provide an economic or legal analysis of these topics; instead, it provides policy and historical background for understanding status and its current relevance for Congress.\nIn 2016, Puerto Rico voters elected a Governor, Resident Commissioner, and majorities in the territorial legislature affiliated with the pro-statehood New Progressive Party (NPP). This choice represents a departure from the previous four years. Consequently, if the 115th Congress chooses to reexamine the island\u2019s relationship with the United States, the House and Senate could encounter more agreement among the island\u2019s political leaders than in the recent past. Congress has not enacted any recent legislation devoted specifically to status. In the 114th Congress, H.R. 727, which did not advance beyond introduction, would have authorized a plebiscite (popular vote) on the statehood question. \nPuerto Rican voters most recently reconsidered their status through a 2012 plebiscite. On that occasion, a majority chose a change in the status quo through statehood, although interpreting the results has been controversial. If Congress chose to alter Puerto Rico\u2019s political status, it could do so through statute. Ultimately, the Territory Clause of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress broad discretion over Puerto Rico and other territories.\nThis report will be updated in the event of significant legislative or status developments.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44721", "sha1": "3b2fe948aec8a1005813e8a8d2bbf7b74f1cc571", "filename": "files/20161228_R44721_3b2fe948aec8a1005813e8a8d2bbf7b74f1cc571.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44721", "sha1": "0247c5c8e11355f44ba41db82b4f8bf7ee33b364", "filename": "files/20161228_R44721_0247c5c8e11355f44ba41db82b4f8bf7ee33b364.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [] } ], "topics": [ "American Law" ] }