Government of Puerto Rico
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The government of the Puerto Rico, established by the Constitution, is a commonwealth in republican form consisting of 78 municipalities. The national government consists of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The chief of state is the President of the United States, while the head of the executive branch is the Governor of Puerto Rico. The legislative branch consists of the Legislative Assembly, while the Supreme Court is the head of the judicial branch.
The legal system of Puerto Rico is based on the Spanish civil code and within the U.S. federal system of justice.
Legislative branch
Article III of the Constitution grants all legislative powers of the national government to the Legislative Assembly, which is divided into two chambers, a Senate and a House of Representatives.
The Senate is composed of by 27 members and the House of Representatives by 51, except as these numbers may be increased respectively when one political party has a majority of seats in one of the chambers. The current membership of the Senate is 29 members.
Executive branch
Article IV of the Constitution establishes the executive branch of government. The President of the United States is the chief of state, being George W. Bush since January 20, 2001.
The head of government and commander-in-chief of the military is the Governor of Puerto Rico. The current governor is Aníbal Acevedo Vilá since January 2, 2005.
Departments
The day-to-day enforcement and administration of national laws is in the hands of the various executive departments, created by the Legislative Assembly to deal with specific areas of national and international affairs. The heads of the 12 departments, chosen by the governor and approved by the Senate, form a council of advisers generally known as the Governor's Cabinet.
The Constitution provides for the creation of at least 8 departments, being these the departments of State, Justice, Education, Health, Treasury, Labor, Agriculture and Commerce, and Public Works. However, the establishment of high-level executive departments by the Legislative Assembly and the need for the governor to solicit advice, make necessary the creation of more departments not specified in the Constitution.
Cabinet members are the heads of all cabinet-level agencies, which are created by statute. Section 7 and 8 of the Constitution empowers the Secretary of State to act as Governor, should the governor become temporarily disabled or unable to discharge his duties.
Each department has thousands of employees, with offices throughout the country but majorly in San Juan. The departments are divided into divisions, bureaus, offices, and services, each with specific duties.
Department of Agriculture
The Department of Agriculture of Puerto Rico (DAPR) supports agricultural production, commercial fishing, and aquaculture to ensure fair prices and stable markets for producers and consumers, works to improve and maintain farm income, and helps to develop and expand markets abroad for agricultural products.
DAPR administers rural development, credit, and conservation programs that are designed to implement national growth policies, and it conducts scientific and technological research in all areas of agriculture. Through its inspection and grading services, DAPR ensures standards of quality in food offered for sale.
Department of Consumer Affairs
The Department of Consumer Affairs of Puerto Rico —or "Departamento de Asuntos al Consumidor" (DACO) in Spanish— vindicates and implements consumer rights, restrains inflations, and establishes and fiscalizes price controls over items and public goods.
DACO protects and defends consumers and mantains a balance on prices according to supply and demand.
Department of Correction and Rehabilitation
The Department of Correction and Rehabilitation of Puerto Rico (DCRPR) structures, developes, and coordinates the public policies of Puerto Rico over its correctional system and the rehabilitation of its adult and young population. DCRPR was appointed the following agencies:
- Administration of Juvenile Institutions
- Administration of Correction
- Parole Board
- Office of Services with Advance of Trial (wtf? Spanish name is: "Oficina de Servicios con Antelación al Juicio", IANAL)
- Corporation of Companies of Training and Job (Spanish: "Corporación de Empresas de Adiestramiento y Trabajo")
Department of Economical Development and Commerce
Department of Education
Department of Health
Department of Housing
Department of Justice
Department of Labor
Department of State
Department of Transportation and Public Works
Department of Treasury
Judicial branch
The Judicial branch of the government of Puerto Rico is headed by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. It is composed by seven justices appointed by the Governor. The justices end their term on the date they become seventy (70) years old. The current Chief Justice is Federico Hernández Denton(since 2004).
The judicial branch also has courts on every municipality of the island and several Court of Appeals.
Related topics
- Cabinet of the Government of Puerto Rico
- Independent agencies of the Government of Puerto Rico
- Law of Puerto Rico
- List of agencies of the Government of Puerto Rico
- Politics of Puerto Rico
External links
- gobierno.pr (http://www.gobierno.pr) - official portal of the government of Puerto Rico, in Spanish.