Long-form name: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

Type: commonwealth associated with the US

Capital: San Juan

Administrative divisions: none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Independence: none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Constitution: ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952

National holiday: Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)

Legal system: based on Spanish civil code

Executive branch: US president, US vice president, governor

Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders: Chief of State--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989); Vice President Dan QUAYLE (since 20 January 1989); Head of Government Governor Rafael HERNANDEZ Colon (since 2 January 1989)

Political parties and leaders: Popular Democratic Party (PPD), Rafael HERNANDEZ Colon; New Progressive Party (PNP), Carlos ROMERO Barcelo; Puerto Rican Socialist Party (PSP), Juan MARI Bras and Carlos GALLISA; Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), Ruben BERRIOS Martinez; Puerto Rican Communist Party (PCP), leader(s) unknown

Suffrage: universal at age 18; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections

Elections: Governor--last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held 3 November 1992); results--Rafael HERNANDEZ Colon (PPD) 48.7%, Baltasar CORRADA Del Rio (PNP) 45.8%, Ruben BERRIOS Martinez (PIP) 5.5%; Senate--last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held 3 November 1992); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(27 total) PPD 18, PNP 8, PIP 1; House of Representatives--last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held 3 November 1992); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(53 total) PPD 36, PNP 15, PIP 2; US House of Representatives--last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held 3 November 1992); results--Puerto Rico elects one nonvoting representative

Other political or pressure groups: all have engaged in terrorist activities--Armed Forces for National Liberation (FALN), Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution, Boricua Popular Army (also known as the Macheteros), Armed Forces of Popular Resistance

Member of: ECLAC, ICFTU, IOC, WCL, WFTU, WTO (associate)

Diplomatic representation: none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Flag: 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 based on the US flag

NOTE: The information regarding Puerto Rico on this page is re-published from the 1991 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Puerto Rico Government 1991 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Puerto Rico Government 1991 should be addressed to the CIA.