Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory with a long history that spans Spanish colonial rule, American sovereignty after 1898, and continuing debate over status, representation, and self-government. Today its government is centered in San Juan and operates through an elected governor and a bicameral Legislative Assembly, with territorial status remaining one of the defining questions of public life.
Government & Representation
Use this section to understand how the state organizes executive authority, legislative power, and federal representation.
Puerto Rico’s territorial government is organized around an elected governor and a bicameral Legislative Assembly composed of a Senate and a House of Representatives. Its local constitutional order operates within the broader territorial relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States.