What is the capital of Puerto Rico?
Country Name | Puerto Rico |
Full Country Name | Commonwealth of Puerto Rico |
Etymology- history of name | Christopher COLUMBUS named the island San Juan Bautista (Saint John the Baptist) and the capital city and main port Cuidad de Puerto Rico (Rich Port City); over time, however, the names were shortened and transposed and the island came to be called Puerto Rico and its capital San Juan |
Government Type | presidential democracy; a self-governing commonwealth in political association with the US |
Capital Name | San Juan |
Capital - geographic coordinate | 18 28 N, 66 07 W |
Capital Time Difference | UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) |
Independence | none (territory of the US with commonwealth status) |
National Holiday | US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952) |
Constitution | previous 1900 (Organic Act, or Foraker Act); latest ratified 3 March 1952, approved 3 July 1952, effective 25 July 1952 |
Dependency Status | unincorporated, organized territory of the US with commonwealth status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President |
Who is the president of Puerto Rico?
Executive Branch: |
chief of state: President Joseph R BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala HARRIS (since 20 January 2021); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Joseph R Biden (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala HARRIS (since 20 January 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, approved by the Senate elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by the Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 November 2020 election results: Joseph R BIDEN (Democrat) elected president; electoral vote - 306, Donald J. TRUMP (Republican Party) 232, |
Citizenship Criteria: | see United States |
Legal System: | civil law system based on the Spanish civil code and within the framework of the US federal system |
Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections |
Legislative Branch: |
description: bicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa consists of: Senate or Senado (30 seats; 16 members directly elected in 8 2-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 14 at-large members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (51 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held on 3 November 2020) House of Representatives - last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held on 3 November 2020) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 21, PPD 7, PIP 1, Independent 1; composition - men 23, women 7, percent of women 23.3% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 34, PPD 16, PIP 1; composition - men 11, women 4, percent of women 26.7%; total Legislative Assembly percent of women 16% note: Puerto Rico directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 4-year term as a commissioner to the US House of Representatives; the commissioner can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House but not when legislation is submitted for a 'full floor' House vote; election of commissioner last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2022) |
Judicial Branch: |
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 8 associate justices) judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by majority Senate vote; judges serve until compulsory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; First Instance Court comprised of superior and municipal courts |
Regions or States: | none (territory of the US with commonwealth status); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular - municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas, Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio, Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama, Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao, Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Las Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca, Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce, Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja, Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco |
Political Parties and Leaders: |
National Democratic Party [Roberto PRATS] National Republican Party of Puerto Rico [Carlos MENDEZ] New Progressive Party or PNP [Pedro PIERLUISI] (pro-US statehood) Popular Democratic Party or PPD [Alejandro Garcia PADILLA] (pro-commonwealth) Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez] (pro-independence) |
International Organization Participation: | AOSIS (observer), Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WFTU (NGOs) |
Diplomatic Representation in the US: | none (territory of the US) |
Diplomatic Representation from US: | none (territory of the US with commonwealth status) |