Governor of Puerto Rico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of Puerto Rico |
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Standard of the governor
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Seal of the governor
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| Executive branch of the government of Puerto Rico Office of the Governor of Puerto Rico |
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| Style | His/Her Excellency (diplomatic) Governor (when presiding) First Executive (third person) |
| Residence | La Fortaleza |
| Term length | Four years, no term limit |
| Inaugural holder | Juan Ponce de León (Spanish colonial government) Luis Muñoz Marín (Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) |
| Formation | 1508 (Spanish colonial government) 1952 (Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) |
| Salary | US$70,000 (2013) |
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The governor of Puerto Rico (Spanish: gobernador de Puerto Rico) is the main leader of the government in Puerto Rico. They are like the president or prime minister of a country, but for Puerto Rico, which is a Commonwealth of the United States. The governor is also the boss of the Puerto Rico National Guard, which is like a local military force.
The governor makes sure that local laws are followed. They can call meetings of the Legislative Assembly, which makes laws. The governor can also approve or reject (veto) new laws. They choose people for government jobs, including judges, and can grant pardons, which means forgiving someone for a crime. Since 1948, the people of Puerto Rico have voted for their governor. Before that, the king of Spain or the president of the United States chose the governor.
The Constitution of Puerto Rico gives the governor the power to lead the government. This means they can assign many tasks to other officials. But the governor always remains the top leader.
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History of Puerto Rico's Leaders
The first known leaders in history of Puerto Rico were the caciques. These were the chiefs of the native Taínos people. The Taínos lived on the island before the Spanish arrived. It is thought that caciques were chosen by their people. Their importance depended on the size of their tribe. The Taínos were mostly peaceful. Agüeybaná I was a very famous cacique. He was the main leader when the Spanish first came in 1493.
Spanish Rule and Early Governors
When the Spanish Empire took over Puerto Rico in the 1500s, the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León became the island's first governor. He was chosen by the Spanish monarchy. The governor was in charge of developing the island and reporting back to Spain.
The first person born in Puerto Rico to be governor was Juan Ponce de León II. He was the grandson of the explorer. He served as a temporary governor in 1579. After 1580, Puerto Rico's government was called the Captaincy General of Puerto Rico. Governors also held the title of Captain General.
Under United States Control
On July 25, 1898, during the Spanish–American War, the United States took control of Puerto Rico. After the war, Spain gave Puerto Rico to the U.S. This was part of the 1898 Treaty of Paris. For a while, the U.S. military ruled Puerto Rico. The U.S. President appointed the governor.
In 1900, the Foraker Act was passed by the U.S. This law created a civilian government in Puerto Rico. The U.S. President still appointed the governor and an executive council. But there was also a House of Representatives with elected members. The first civilian governor under this act was Charles Herbert Allen. This system continued until 1948.
In 1947, President Harry S. Truman approved a law that allowed Puerto Ricans to elect their own governor. So, since 1948, the governor has been chosen by the people. Luis Muñoz Marín became the first governor elected this way.
The way Puerto Rico's government works today was set up by the Constitution of Puerto Rico. This constitution was approved in 1952. Luis Muñoz Marín was re-elected as the first governor under this new constitution. The governor is still elected every four years by the people. They lead the government's executive branch. The new governor takes office on January 2nd after their election.
What the Governor Can Do
The governor is the leader of the government of Puerto Rico. They can stop laws passed by the Puerto Rican legislature using their veto power. The governor also chooses the people who will be part of their cabinet. These choices must be approved by the Legislature. The governor also picks judges for the Supreme Court and other courts.
Every year, the governor gives two important speeches to the legislature. One is about the "State of the Commonwealth," which means how Puerto Rico is doing. The other speech presents the "Recommended Budget" for the next year. This budget suggests how the government should spend money. The governor is also the commander-in-chief of the Puerto Rico National Guard. This means they are the top military leader for Puerto Rico's local forces. They also act as the chief diplomat for Puerto Rico.
Who Can Be Governor?
To become governor, a person must be a citizen of the United States. They must also have lived in Puerto Rico for five years in a row before the election. And they must be at least 35 years old when they are elected.
A governor serves for four years. Their term starts on January 2nd after their election. There is no limit to how many times a person can be governor. Luis Muñoz Marín, the first elected governor, served for four terms. Rafael Hernández Colón served three terms, but not all in a row.
How Governors Are Elected
The people of Puerto Rico vote directly for their governor. Candidates usually belong to a political party. So far, every elected governor has been from either the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico or the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico. To win, a candidate just needs to get more votes than any other candidate. They don't need to get more than half of all the votes.
If the difference in votes between the top two candidates is very small (less than 0.5%), a full recount of the votes must happen. This has only happened twice, in the elections of 1980 and 2004.
What Happens if a Governor Leaves Office?
If a governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office, the secretary of state becomes the new governor. They serve for the rest of the four-year term. If the secretary of state cannot take the job, then the secretary of justice becomes governor. After that, there is a specific order of other cabinet members who would take over. If none of these people can become governor, the Legislative Assembly chooses a new governor.
Sometimes, the governor might be away from Puerto Rico for a short time. In this case, the secretary of state or another high-ranking cabinet member becomes the acting governor. They fill in until the governor returns. This happens more often now because travel is easier.
Changes in Leadership in 2019
In 2019, Governor Ricardo Rosselló announced he would resign after many protests. He was the first elected governor to resign. His resignation became official on August 2, 2019. Before leaving, Rosselló nominated Pedro Pierluisi to be the secretary of state. He hoped Pierluisi would become the next governor. However, the legislature did not fully approve Pierluisi before Rosselló left office.
Even without full approval, Pierluisi was sworn in as governor. This led to a legal challenge. Less than a week later, the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico decided that Pierluisi had become governor in a way that was not allowed by the constitution. So, they removed him from office on August 7. After that, Wanda Vázquez Garced, who was the Secretary of Justice, became governor. She followed the original order of succession.
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