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 Puerto Rico
Country Profile
Area: 8,959 sq km (3,459 sq miles)
Population: 3.9 million (UN, 2006)
Capital City: San Juan
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Overview
Government Type Commonwealth
Independence None (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Constitution Ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952
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
Executive Branch

Head of state: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2017); Vice President Michael R. PENCE (since 20 January 2017)

Head of government: Governor Alejandro GARCIA Padilla (since 2 January 2013)

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; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held in November 2020)

Election results: Ricardo ROSSELLO elected governor; percent of vote - Ricardo ROSSELLO (PNP) 41.8%, David BERNIER (PPD) 38.9%, Alexandra LUGARO (independent) 11.1%, Manuel CIDRE (independent) 5.7%

Legislative Branch

Bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (51 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

Elections: Senate - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016); House of Representatives - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016)

Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPD 18, PNP 8, PIP 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPD 28, PNP 23

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, he enjoys all the rights of a member of Congress; elections last held 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 1

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)
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