Does the US Constitution apply in Puerto Rico?

The constitution, approved by the U.S. congress, went into effect in 1952. U.S. federal law applies to Puerto Rico, even though Puerto Rico is not a state of the American Union and their residents have no voting representation in the U.S. Congress.

Does the US Constitution apply to territories?

Supreme Court of the United States The Constitution does not necessarily apply to territories. Instead, Congress has jurisdiction to create law within territories in certain circumstances, particularly those dealing with revenue, which would not be allowed by the Constitution for states within the union.

Are you an American citizen if born in Puerto Rico?

All persons born in Puerto Rico on or after January 13, 1941, and subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, are citizens of the United States at birth.

Does Puerto Rico have the same rights as a state?

As such, the island of Puerto Rico is neither a sovereign nation nor a U.S. state. Because of that ambiguity, the territory, as a polity, lacks certain rights but enjoys certain benefits that other polities have or lack.

Are Puerto Ricans American citizens?

In 1898, following the Spanish–American War, the United States acquired Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since 1917, and can move freely between the island and the mainland. The U.S. Congress approved a local constitution in 1952, allowing U.S. citizens residing on the Island to elect a governor.

What constitutional rights does Puerto Rico have?

Puerto Rico has a constitution that provides for self-government in most local matters and includes the right to elect a governor and two-house legislature. Puerto Ricans are exempt from the federal income tax, but pay into Social Security.

What powers do territories have?

In the territories, Congress has the entire dominion and sovereignty, national and local, and has full legislative power over all subjects upon which a state legislature might act.

Do federal laws apply to Puerto Rico?

Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States. Most but not all federal laws apply to Puerto Rico. In addition to the U.S. Constitution, which is the supreme law of the U.S., federal laws include statutes that are periodically codified in the U.S. Code.

Only 43 percent answered that Puerto Ricans were U.S. citizens. Today, being born in Puerto Rico is tantamount to being born in the United States. But it wasn’t always that way, and a lot of ambiguity still remains.

What does the Constitution of the United States apply to Puerto Rico?

It means that as a U.S. territory, the Constitution of the United States applies to certain areas of life in Puerto Rico – such as interstate trade, immigration, commerce and foreign relations, among other areas.

Is Puerto Rico a country or a state?

Although Puerto Rico has been governed under its own constitution since 1952, it is not a sovereign county. As a U.S. territory, it operates under U.S. sovereignty, meaning that the laws of the United States still apply within Puerto Rico.

How is the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico constituted?

The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is hereby constituted. Its political power emanates from the people and shall be exercised in accordance with their will, within the terms of the compact agreed upon between the people of Puerto Rico and the United States of America. Section 2.