The Question of the Compact and the Call for Self-Determination
1961-1988
In some ways, bills addressing the status of Puerto Rico during this period can be divided in two camps. Some bills focused on amending various aspects of the post-Constitution relationship between Puerto Rico and the U.S., including clarifying the nature of the so-called “compact” relationship. In addition, debates over the exclusion of Puerto Rico from the decolonization committee were also intertwined the exponential emergence of new countries who shed their colonial bonds. In a sense, calls for self-determination echoed a global anti-imperialist wave and sought to insert Puerto Rico in the ensuing decolonial debates.
The Question of the Compact
During this period, a significant number of bills were introduced in Congress seeking to amend various dimensions of the relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico. Central to these amendments was a legal confusion. The language of the Puerto Rican Constitution and the language used by the United States in various international forums affirmed the idea that Puerto Rico became a Commonwealth and that the United States had established a compact relationship with the archipelago. This language suggested that Congress had authorized the change in Puerto Rico’s territorial status. Simultaneously, this legislation did not include any express language changing Puerto Rico’s territorial status or incorporating it, a precondition of the Balzac precedent. In addition, the legislative history of the 1950-1952 legislation unequivocally contends that Congress did not incorporate or change Puerto Rico’s territorial status in this process. Some bills, primarily introduced by Puerto Rican Resident Commissioners sought to clarify this tension or build on the idea that the U.S. had in fact established a compact with a Puerto Rican Commonwealth.
Calls for Self-Determination
As previously noted, this period was rife with anti-colonial struggles throughout the world. Colonies were fighting to shed their imperial shackles and demand a right to self-determination. A significant amount of bills, and one Resolution that was approved in Congress, namely S.Con.Res. 35 sought to affirm Puerto Rico’s right to self-determination and the pursuit of independence.
Political Parties and Ideologies in Puerto Rico
The political landscape during this period was largely dominated by three political parties representing three distinct political ideologies. The more traditional autonomist position was championed by the Partido Popular Democratico (PPD). A new pro-statehood party, the Partido Nuevo Progresista (PNP) entered the fray and became the second dominant political party. Although various political parties championed independence, the Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (PIP) became the dominant party in the electoral process. While other independence party help significant power in the past, it is possible to argue that the PIP’s influence during this period concretized the idea of a third political party and ideology in the Puerto Rican political landscape.
Congress and the Question of Puerto Rico’s Political Status
88th Congress (1963-1964)
Ten bills were introduced in the 88th Congress. Eight of these bills, H.R. 5945, H.R. 5946, H.R. 5947, H.R. 5948, H.R. 5991, H.R. 6047, H.R. 6076, and H.R. 6083 were plebiscitary bills linked to the creation of a status commission and included multiple status options. They were copies of the same bill but submitted by different lawmakers. One of the remaining bills, H.Res. 549 was a resolution bill. The tenth bill, became Pub. L. 88-271 and affirmed the Commonwealth status.
See 88th Bills89th Congress (1965-1966)
Seven status bills were introduced in the 89th Congress. All of the bills, namely H.R. 17917, H.R. 17920, H.R. 17944, H.R. 17971, H.R. 18009, H.R. 18096, and H.R. 18277 advocated for statehood. The 89th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.
See 89th Bills90th Congress (1967-1968)
Only one bill was introduced in the 90th Congress. This status legislation, H.R. 9691 contained a provision for Statehood. The 90th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.
See 90th Bills91st Congress (1969-1970)
Two bills were introduced in the 91st Congress. One status bill H.R. 4999 provided for the admission of Puerto Rico as a state. The other bill, H.R. 2699, was a referendum bill on statehood. The 91st Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.
See 91st Bills94th Congress (1975-1976)
Four bills were introduced in the 94th Congress. Three bills, H.R. 11200, H.R. 11201, and S.J. Res 215 were amendments providing for the enhancement of the Puerto Rican Commonwealth. The remaining bill H.J. Res 1010, is a status bill with a provision for independence. The 94th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.
See 94th Bills95th Congress (1977-1978)
Three status bills were introduced in the 95th Congress. Two bills, H.J. Res 54 and H.J. Res 367 provided for independence. One bill, H.R. 2201 included a provision for statehood. The 95th Congress did not enact any legislation changing Puerto Rico’s political status.
See 95th Bills96th Congress (1979-1980)
Three bills were introduced in the 96th Congress. Two of the bills, S. Con. Res. 35 and H. Con. Res. 165, are resolutions that include a provision for independence. The third bill, H.J.Res. 592, provided for the creation of a constituent assembly tasked with decolonizing Puerto Rico through independence or some form of alternative free association. The 96th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.
See 96th Bills97th Congress (1981-1982)
Two status bills were introduced in the 97th Congress. One bill H.J. Res 215 for the creation of a constituent assembly tasked with decolonizing Puerto Rico through independence or some form of alternative free association. The other bill, H. Res 585, provided for statehood. The 97th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.
See 97th Bills98th Congress (1983-1984)
Only one bill was introduced in the 98th Congress. This bill, H.J. Res. 232 provided for the creation of a constituent assembly tasked with decolonizing Puerto Rico through independence or some form of alternative free association. The 98th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.
See 98th Bills99th Congress (1985-1986)
Only one bill was introduced in the 99th Congress. The status bill, H.J. Res. 120, provided for the creation of a constituent assembly tasked with decolonizing Puerto Rico through independence or some form of alternative free association. The 99th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.
See 99th Bills100th Congress (1987-1988)
Three bills were introduced in the 100th Congress. All three bills were status legislation, but two contained provisions for Statehood, namely S.1182 and H.R. 2849. The remaining status bill, H. J. Res 215, provided for the creation of a constituent assembly tasked with decolonizing Puerto Rico through independence or some form of alternative free association. The 100th Congress did not enact any status changing legislation for Puerto Rico.
See 100th Bills