• Background
• Debate

Background

• The United States occupied Puerto Rico from 1898, when the island was seized during the Spanish-American War, until 1952. In 1952, the Puerto Rican Constitution was drafted and established Puerto Rico as a "self governing, unincorporated territory of the United States with Commonwealth status."

• The first plebiscite to determine the status of Puerto Rico took place in 1967. In that election, 60.4% voted in favor of the Commonwealth, 39.0% in favor of statehood, and 0.6% in favor of independence.

• A second plebiscite took place in 1993, with 48.6% in favor of the Commonwealth, 46.3% in favor of statehood, and 4.4% in favor of independence.
• The most recent vote on the issue was in 1998, with the winner being "none of the above" with 50.3% of the vote. Of the other choices (Statehood, Independence, Free Association with the US, or continuation of the Commonwealth status), Statehood received the most votes (46.5%). (Source: Elections in Puerto Rico)

Debate

For Maintaining the Status quo, the Commonwealth

For Complete Statehood

• As an autonomous insular area, Puerto Rico has many of the rights of a state, but its citizens do not get to vote in federal elections.
• Puerto Rico would get two senators and several representatives in Congress as opposed to the current single non-voting member allowed by Puerto Rico's lack of status as a state.
• If a state, Puerto Ricans would be allowed to participate in presidential elections, and with a population of nearly four million, would wield 7 or 8 electoral votes. (Source: US Census Bureau)

For Complete Independence

• Those in favor of complete independence of Puerto Rico have usually been the most vocal and violent of these political movements.
• Actions taken by this group have included attempted revolts against the Spanish and US governments, as well as an attempted assassination of President Harry S. Truman in 1950. (Source: Third World Traveler)
• The Puerto Rican Independence Party is the largest pro-independence political group, but has not received significant support in elections or referendums seeking Puerto Rican independence.