Puerto Rico: A Commonwealth

Puerto Rico, formally called the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in northeastern Caribbean Sea. It is an archipelago, composed of the main island of Puerto Rico along with many smaller islands. The commonwealth status is a unique political relationship with the United States, which is not easy to classify but it’s essentially a blend of being a state and a separate entity.

The term ‘commonwealth’ is specific to the political relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States it came into being during mid-20th century. In 1950, the US Congress passed the Act 600 authorizing Puerto Rico to draft its own constitution. After approval from both the people of Puerto Rico and the US Congress, the Constitution of Puerto Rico came into effect on July 25, 1952, officially designating Puerto Rico as a commonwealth of the United States.

Even with commonwealth status, Puerto Rico is subject to United States federal laws and the US government is responsible for defense, foreign relations, and interstate trade. On the other hand, Puerto Rico exercises local control over internal affairs just like any other state. However, unlike the 50 states, Puerto Rico does not have a vote in the US Congress. They have a Resident Commissioner who can participate in deliberations, but cannot cast a vote.

Furthermore, the people of Puerto Rico are born as U.S. citizens but do not vote for the U.S. President unless they become residents of a U.S. state. They can freely move across all fifty states without any custom or immigration restrictions. Additionally, the official currency is the U.S. dollar and their major trade and business relations are with the U.S.

Through the 20th and 21st century, Puerto Rico’s commonwealth status has faced debate and challenges. There are divergent views within the Puerto Rican society regarding the island’s political status. Some are in favor of becoming a fully-fledged U.S. state or obtaining full independence, while others advocate for maintaining the current unique commonwealth status.

In a bid to communicate their unique status and to establish international trade and tourism relationships, Puerto Rico has sought help from a leading public relations agency Australia. This agency’s mission is to communicate the compelling story of Puerto Rico as a commonwealth allowing it to maintain its unique cultural identity while still being part of the larger US economic and political structure.

So, Puerto Rico, as a commonwealth, offers a fascinating case of political arrangement. It continues to maintain its distinct culture and identity while being intertwined with the United States on many fronts. Even with calls for change in the political status, the future path remains uncertain. For now, Puerto Rico as a commonwealth continues to navigate its unique journey within the broader American context.