Elections in Puerto Rico
Encyclopedia
Elections in Puerto Rico gives information on election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
and election results in Puerto Rico
Politics of Puerto Rico
The politics of Puerto Rico take place in the framework of a republican democratic form of government that is under the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the United States of America as an organized unincorporated territory....
.
Puerto Rico elects on state level a governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
and a legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
. The island's governor
Governor of Puerto Rico
The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico...
is elected for a four year term by the people.
The Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico
The Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico is the territorial legislature of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The structure and responsibilities of the Legislative Assembly are defined in Article III of the Constitution of Puerto Rico....
(Asamblea Legislativa in Spanish) has two chambers
Bicameralism
In the government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. Thus, a bicameral parliament or bicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of two chambers or houses....
. The first chamber, the Chamber of Representatives
House of Representatives of Puerto Rico
The House of Representatives of Puerto Rico is the lower house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, the territorial legislature of Puerto Rico...
(Cámara de Representantes in Spanish), has now 51 members each elected for a four year term and 40 elected in single-seat constituencies, 11 at large by proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
and 3 to allow the opposition to have one third of the seats. The second chamber, the Senate
Senate of Puerto Rico
The Senate of Puerto Rico is the upper house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, the territorial legislature of Puerto Rico. The Senate is composed of 27 senators, representing eight constituent senatorial districts across the commonwealth, with two senators elected per district; an...
(Senado in Spanish), has 28 members, elected for a four year term, 16 members elected in two-seat constituencies and 11 at large by proportional representation and 1 to allow the opposition to have one-third of the seats.
Although Puerto Rico has a three-party system, the two parties that wish to maintain ties with the US government dominate; the third party, favoring independence, obtains only a small percentage of votes.
Latest elections
Municipalities (Mayors)
| PPD | PNP | PIP | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 47 | 0 | 78 |
See also
- Electoral calendar
- Electoral system
- Political party strength in Puerto RicoPolitical party strength in Puerto RicoThe following table indicates the party of elected officials in the United States insular area of Puerto Rico after 1898:*GovernorThe table also indicates the historical party composition in the territorial or Commonwealth:*Senate*House of Representatives...