Puerto Rico Civil Rights Commission
Encyclopedia
The Puerto Rico Civil Rights Commission is an official entity within the Legislative Assembly
of the government of Puerto Rico
, charged with investigating violations of citizens' civil rights
. Its five members are appointed by the Governor of Puerto Rico
, subject to the advice and consent
of the Senate of Puerto Rico
. Created in 1965 under Governor Roberto Sánchez Vilella
, it was originally an independent agency under the Puerto Rico Department of Justice
. In 1996, during former governor Pedro Rosselló
's administration, it was made a part of the Legislative Branch.
It is empowered to educate citizens about their civil rights, investigate alleged civil rights violations, and carry out studies and investigations. The 1996 amendments to its organic law also empowers it to appear as amicus curiae
in court cases that it deems may have an important effect on civil rights in Puerto Rico.
It also annually selects the recipients of the Thurgood Marshall
Award, an initiative of current Senate President Kenneth McClintock
, which recognizes the commitment to civil rights of one law student from each of Puerto Rico's four law schools.
Many prominent Puerto Ricans have served over the years as members of the Commission, including former Sen. Luis Muñoz Rivera (senator)
, newspaper publisher Antonio Luis Ferré
and former Resident Commissioner
Baltasar Corrada del Río
.
Its current members, appointed to a six-year term, include its Chair, Dr. Palmira N. Ríos González, attorneys Héctor Pérez, José Irizarry Yordán and René Pinto Lugo and Dr. Nelson Colón Tarrats.
In spite of complaints that it is chronically underfunded, the Puerto Rico Civil Rights Commission has had a significant influence in Puerto Rico's government operations.
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....
of the government of Puerto Rico
Government of Puerto Rico
The Government of Puerto Rico is a republican form of government subject to U.S. jurisdiction and sovereignty. Its current powers are all delegated by the United States Congress and lack full protection under the United States Constitution...
, charged with investigating violations of citizens' civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
. Its five members are appointed by the Governor of Puerto Rico
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...
, subject to the advice and consent
Advice and consent
Advice and consent is an English phrase frequently used in enacting formulae of bills and in other legal or constitutional contexts, describing a situation in which the executive branch of a government enacts something previously approved of by the legislative branch.-General:The expression is...
of the Senate of Puerto Rico
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...
. Created in 1965 under Governor Roberto Sánchez Vilella
Roberto Sánchez Vilella
Roberto Sánchez Vilella was the second Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1965 to 1969. He was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...
, it was originally an independent agency under the Puerto Rico Department of Justice
Puerto Rico Department of Justice
The Puerto Rico Department of Justice, headed by the Attorney General, has been in existence, in one form or another since Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony...
. In 1996, during former governor Pedro Rosselló
Pedro Rosselló
Pedro Juan Rosselló González, M.D., , is a Puerto Rican physician and politician who served as the sixth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001...
's administration, it was made a part of the Legislative Branch.
It is empowered to educate citizens about their civil rights, investigate alleged civil rights violations, and carry out studies and investigations. The 1996 amendments to its organic law also empowers it to appear as amicus curiae
Amicus curiae
An amicus curiae is someone, not a party to a case, who volunteers to offer information to assist a court in deciding a matter before it...
in court cases that it deems may have an important effect on civil rights in Puerto Rico.
It also annually selects the recipients of the Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, serving from October 1967 until October 1991...
Award, an initiative of current Senate President Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth D. McClintock-Hernández is the current Secretary of State of Puerto Rico. Mr. McClintock served as co-chair of Hillary Clinton presidential campaign's National Hispanic Leadership Council in 2008, co-chaired Clinton's successful Puerto Rico primary campaign that year and served as the...
, which recognizes the commitment to civil rights of one law student from each of Puerto Rico's four law schools.
Many prominent Puerto Ricans have served over the years as members of the Commission, including former Sen. Luis Muñoz Rivera (senator)
Luis Muñoz Rivera (senator)
Luis Muñoz Rivera was born the same year in which his more famous namesake, Resident Commissioner Luis Muñoz Rivera, died. Former senator Luis Muñoz Rivera was the last surviving delegate of Puerto Rico's Constitutional Convention, which met in 1951 and 1952.- Public life :Muñoz Rivera entered...
, newspaper publisher Antonio Luis Ferré
Antonio Luis Ferré
Antonio Luis Ferré is the Chairman of the Board of the Ferré-Rangel business emporium which owns Puerto Rico's largest newspaper, El Nuevo Día, as well as Primera Hora newspaper....
and former Resident Commissioner
Resident Commissioner
Resident Commissioner is the title of several, quite different types of Commissioner in overseas possession or protectorate of the British Crown or of the United States.-British English:...
Baltasar Corrada del Río
Baltasar Corrada del Río
Baltasar Corrada del Río is a former politician from Puerto Rico. He held various high political offices in the island, including President of the Puerto Rico Civil Rights Commission, Resident Commissioner , Mayor of the capital city of San Juan , Puerto Rico's 15th Secretary of State and...
.
Its current members, appointed to a six-year term, include its Chair, Dr. Palmira N. Ríos González, attorneys Héctor Pérez, José Irizarry Yordán and René Pinto Lugo and Dr. Nelson Colón Tarrats.
In spite of complaints that it is chronically underfunded, the Puerto Rico Civil Rights Commission has had a significant influence in Puerto Rico's government operations.