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Languages
Spanish is the native language of Puerto Rico, but is is a distinctive Spanish, differing from that of Spain and other Spanish-speaking areas of the New World, because of having suffered long physical separation combined with the incorporation into its vocabulary of a great many English words and Americanisms, including slang expres- sions and literal translations. The result is often called Spanglish by both Spanish- and English-speaking purists. Most Puerto Ricans speak some English, but the great majority have no real facility in that tongue. Many Puerto Ricans engaged in industry, commerce, tourism, and government do know English, thus, although a know- ledge of Spanish is not essential, it is a considerable asset to those conducting business or residing in the island.
Religion
The Constitution of Puerto Rico guarantees religious freedom, but the Roman Catholic Church, which until 1898 was the only church permitted to function in Puerto Rico, except for two Anglican congregations, is still the largest, claiming about 80 per cent of the population. Some Roman Catholic churches in the San Juan metropolitan area have services in both English and Spanish.
His Eminence Luis Cardinal Aponte-Martinez is Archbishop of San Juan. Msgr. Juan Fremiot Torres Oliver is Bishop of Ponce, Msgr. Rafael Grovas is Bishop of Caguas, Msgr. Miguel Rodriguez, C.SS.R., is Bishop of Arecibo, Msgr. Ulises Casiano is Bishop of Mayaguez, Msgr. Juan de Dios Lopez de Victoria is Auxiliary Bishop of San Juan, Msgr. Ricardo Surinach, N.A.C.H., is Auxiliary Bishop of Ponce, and Msgr. Antulio Parilla Bonilla, S.J., is Titular Bishop of Ucres.
The Episcopal Church has a number of Spanish-speaking congre- gations, and also holds English-language services in San Juan. Bishop: The Rt. Rev. Francisco Reus Froylan.
Protestant denominations claim about 30 per cent of the popula- tion. Inter-denominational churches located San Juan, Ponce, Dorado, Guaynabo and Levittown and some other island urban areas serve English-speaking communities. Baptist, Brethren, Christian Science, Church of Christ, Lutheran, Methodist, Nazarene and Presbyterian congregations hold English services in metropolitan San Juan and a few other cities, as do Bahai, Mormon and Unitarian congregations. In San Juan Jewish Conservative and Reform congre- gations each have a synagogue with services for the English- speaking.
Other non-Christian faiths and a number of Christian denomina- tions are represented.
Since the combined claims of the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches amount to 110 per cent, independent estimates by religion observers are of interest. These estimates generally put Roman Catholics at from 65 to 75 per cent, Protestants at 20 to 25 per cent, and all others at 5 to 10 per cent.
GOVERNMENT
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Constitution
Puerto Rico's relationship with the U.S.A. has no exact parallel in the American system. It is neither a state nor a territory, al- though it possesses some attributes of both. It enjoys a unique status system, agreed to by the 81st Congress of the U.S.A. in 1950, subject to approval by Puerto Ricans. On June 4, 1951, island voters approved, by a vote of more than four to one, a law to draft a constitution for Puerto Rico. On March 3, 1952, the proposed constitution was adopted by a majority of 375,000 to 83,000 and that constitution, creating the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, went into effect on July 25, 1952.
The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is a sui generis constitutional status seeking to achieve a maximum of autonomy within its guarantee of permanent association with the United States. In this fashion the people of Puerto Rico have sought to retain their cultural and ethnic identity and at the same time retain the mu- tually favorable and inter-dependent relationship with the United States.
This free associated state or commonwealth status operates under the constitution adopted by the people of Puerto Rico and ratified
CARIBBEAN YEAR BOOK
subsequently by Congress. Under this constitution the Legislature and the Senate of the island control the individual states. The Commonwealth therefore completely controls its schools, police, courts, public works, internal communications, such as telephone and telegraph, etc. Puerto Ricans are citizens of the U.S.A., and have all the rights, privileges and obligations of any other citizen, except as noted below.
The constitution is in complete harmony with that of the U.S.A., providing for the checks and balances of legislative, executive and judicial branches of the government. However, in some respects it is even broader, guaranteeing for example, representa- tion of minority parties in the House and Senate.
As with the case with former U.S. territories, such as Alaska and Hawaii, Puerto Ricans have no vote in Presidential elections. However, Puerto Rico does have a voice, but not a vote, in the U.S. Congress through a Resident Commissioner, who is elected by the people to a four year term. He has all other privileges of a congressman except the right to vote on the floor, although he may cast a vote in certain committees of which he is a member. In keeping with the traditional U.S. prinicple of "No taxation without representation" Puerto Rico is not subject to U.S. Federal Taxes. It enjoys fiscal autonomy within a customs union which allows free trade anywhere in the world, and trade without payment of duty with any other part of the U.S.A.
The Federal Government, however, does retain control of all areas in which it normally exercises it in the States, such as Customs, Inter-state Trade, operation of the Post Office, Coast Guard, Lighthouse Service, licensing of radio and TV stations and so forth. Federal Courts are maintained to adjudicate civil and criminal matters which are in the province of the U.S. Government.
The constitution cannot be changed without the consent of both the U.S. Congress and the people of Puerto Rico through their elected representatives.
The "Commonwealth "constitution, adopted by the people and ratified by the U.S. Congress in 1952, provides for a republican form of government with executive, judicial and legislative branches.
It provides for the exercise of government through a Governor. elected by a direct referendum to the people, based on universe! adult suffrage, for a term of 4 years and advised by a Cabinet of 14 Secretaries appointed by the Governor and ratified by the Senate.
The Legislature is becameral and consists of a Senate comprisin 27 members and a House of Representatives comprising 51 men bers. Election is based on Proportional Representation.
Administration
The operation of the executive branch of the Government i through separate departments responsible for major activities. each headed by a secretary who as a group form the Governor's Council of Secretaries or Cabinet and who are appointed by the Governor subject to Senate approval. In addition, Puerto Rico makes substantial use of public corporations or agencies which are largely autonomous in their operations in providing specific services. Each is headed by an executive director or president who reports to a board of directors which in turn is appointed by the Governor.
The departments are the Department of State, whose Secretary becomes acting Governor or succeeds to the governership in the absence or death of the elected Governor, and the departments of Treasury, Justice, Education, Public Works & Transportation.. Public Health, Commerce, Labour, Agriculture, Social Services. Housing, Consumer Affairs, Natural Resources, and Services Agains! Addiction. All activities of the departments are financed out of the General Fund of the Commonwealth Treasury, in accordance with an annual budget prepared under the direction of the Governo: and approved by the Legislature. The staff agencies of the office the Governor include the Bureau of the Budget, the Planning Board and the Office of Personnel.
Among the public corporations are the Water Resources Authority (the provision of all electric power), the Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (water and sewage services), the Ports Authority (seaport and airport facilities) and the Highway Authority (major road and highway construction), all of whose borrowings are secured by revenues produced by the entities, or by gasoline taxes
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