WHEN the United States took over Porto Rico a system of government was established under an Act popularly known by the name of its sponsor, Senator J. B. Foraker. This was planned to cover the administration of affairs until such a time when the United States Congress would provide a permanent constitution for the island. According to the original act, all the inhabitants of Porto Rico who were Spanish subjects on September 11, 1899 – except those, of course, who wanted to keep their allegiance to Spain – together with the United States citizens that were residing in Porto Rico, were comprehended under a general body known as the People of Porto Rico. The Government of Porto Rico held jurisdiction over the island itself and the three adjoining islands, Vieques, Culebra and Mona, which were included in the surrender of territory by Spain.

The Government was framed, of course, after that of the United States, and it was divided into similar departments, the three great heads being the Executive, Legislative and the Judicial. The Executive authority is vested in a Governor, who is appointed by the President of the United States, and who holds office for a term of four years. The officers appointed by the Governor also hold office for four years.

According to the Organic Act of 1900, the Legislative power was vested in a Legislative Assembly, which was made up of the Executive Council and a House of Delegates. These two bodies corresponded respectively to the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States. The Executive Council consisted of eleven members, at least five of which had to be native inhabitants of Porto Rico. Under the New Organic Act of March 2, 1917, the legislative power in Porto Rico is now vested in a Legislature consisting of two houses: The Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Governor has the right to veto any bill passed by the Legislature, and a vote of two-thirds of the members of each house is necessary to pass over his veto. All laws, however, enacted by the Legislature of Porto Rico must be submitted for approval to the Congress of the United States. All franchises – railways, telegraph, telephone, and so on – can be granted only by the Executive Council, with the approval of the Governor, but none of these franchises can become operative until approved by the President of the United States. There are about seventy municipalities in Porto Rico, the principal town in each district being the seat of administration and ruled by a mayor. He has associated with him for local administration an assembly known as the Municipal Council.

For seventeen years previous to March 2, 1917, Porto Ricans occupied the position of being attached to a republic, without enjoying any form of citizenship. Up to this time they were a people without a country – neither aliens nor citizens. All residents twenty-one years of age or over may now have the franchise. The great majority have elected to become citizens.