Government and Politics

Government and Politics of Puerto Rico

Government structure, leadership, capital, military, and national symbols of Puerto Rico.

Government Structure

Constitutional foundations, branches, parties, and leadership.

Government Type: commonwealth
Administrative Divisions: none (commonwealth associated with the US); 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
Legal System: based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system of justice
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Citizenship: see United States
Executive Branch: chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP of the US (since 20 January 2025) and Vice President JD VANCE (since 20 January 2025) head of government: Governor Pedro PIERLUISI (since 2 January 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the legislature elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Puerto Rico, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; governor elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 3 November 2020 (next to be held November 2024) election results: Pedro PIERLUISI (PNP) elected governor; percent of vote - 32.9%
Legislative Branch: Bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27 seats — currently 27; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (51 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms). Elections: Senate — last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2026); House of Representatives — last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2026). Election results: Senate — percent of vote by party — PNP 41.8%, PPD 32.5%, MVC 13.8%, PIP 5.6%, other 6.3%; seats by party — PNP 19, PPD 6, MVC 1, PIP 1; House of Representatives — percent of vote by party — PNP 38.9%, PPD 31.7%, MVC 13.5%, PIP 6.4%, other 9.5%; seats by party — PNP 26, PPD 14, MVC 7, PIP 2, independent 2. Note: Puerto Rico elects, by popular vote, a resident commissioner to serve a four-year term as a nonvoting representative in the US House of Representatives. Aside from not voting on the House floor, the resident commissioner enjoys most of the rights of a full member of Congress, including the ability to vote in committee. Elections last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2026); Jenniffer González-Colón of the PNP currently serves as resident commissioner, having been reelected to the position in 2022.
Judicial Branch: Supreme Court; Appellate Court; Court of First Instance composed of two sections: a Superior Court and a Municipal Court (justices for all these courts appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate)
Political Parties: National Democratic Party [Celeste BENITEZ]; National Republican Party of Puerto Rico [Dr. Tiody FERRE]; New Progressive Party or PNP (pro-US statehood) [Pedro ROSSELLO]; Popular Democratic Party or PPD (pro-commonwealth) [Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA]; Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP (pro-independence) [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez]
Head of Government: Luis FORTUNO
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the legislature
Elections: Senate — last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2026); House of Representatives — last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2026).
Election Results: Senate — percent of vote by party — PNP 41.8%, PPD 32.5%, MVC 13.8%, PIP 5.6%, other 6.3%; seats by party — PNP 19, PPD 6, MVC 1, PIP 1; House of Representatives — percent of vote by party — PNP 38.9%, PPD 31.7%, MVC 13.5%, PIP 6.4%, other 9.5%; seats by party — PNP 26, PPD 14, MVC 7, PIP 2, independent 2. Note: Puerto Rico elects, by popular vote, a resident commissioner to serve a four-year term as a nonvoting representative in the US House of Representatives. Aside from not voting on the House floor, the resident commissioner enjoys most of the rights of a full member of Congress, including the ability to vote in committee. Elections last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2026); Jenniffer González-Colón of the PNP currently serves as resident commissioner, having been reelected to the position in 2022. However, following her election as Governor of Puerto Rico in November 2024, González-Colón vacated the resident commissioner seat. Pablo José Hernández Rivera of the PPD was subsequently elected to fill the vacancy and began serving as resident commissioner in 2025.
Constitution: ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952
Independence: none (commonwealth associated with the US)
National Holiday: US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)
International Organization Participation: Caricom (observer), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, WCL, WFTU, WHO (associate), WToO (associate)
Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.: none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
U.S. Diplomatic Representation: none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

Capital City

Seat of government and political history.

Capital City: San Juan
Location: 18 28 N, 66 07 W
Time Difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
History: the name dates to 1521 and the founding of the city under the name "Ciudad de San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico" (City of Saint John the Baptist of Puerto Rico)

Military

Branches, service obligations, expenditures, and manpower.

Military Branches: no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard, Police Force

National Symbols

Flag, anthem, and other symbols of national identity.

five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed

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