Basic Facts

• The official languages of Puerto Rico are Spanish and English.
• The population of Puerto Rico is approximately 3.8 million (2000 Census).
• Puerto Rico encompasses 3,492 square miles.  This size is similar to that of the state of Connecticut.

Brief History

• After centuries of Spanish colonial rule, the United States invaded Puerto Rico in 1898 during the Spanish American War and acquired it as a territory.
• In 1917, the Jones Act granted U.S. Citizenship to the people of Puerto Rico. 
• In 1952, Puerto Rico obtained a Constitution that provided the territory with a limited internal self-government that included  executive, legislative, and judiciary branches.

Puerto Rico's Relationship with the United States

• Puerto Ricans are U.S. Citizens.
• Puerto Rico falls under the territorial clause of the U.S. Constitution.
• The U.S. Congress has supreme authority over Puerto Rico.
• The people of Puerto Rico cannot vote for the President of the United States.
• Puerto Rico has no representation in the United States Senate.
• All federal laws and statutes apply to Puerto Rico.
• Puerto Rico only has one non-voting "Resident Commissioner" in the U.S. Congress.
• All federal agencies are respresented in Puerto Rico.
• Puerto Ricans do not pay federal income taxes but pay taxes on Medicare and Social Security.
• Puerto Rico has the highest "state" income tax rate in the United States.