The Council of Secretaries of Puerto Rico ( es, Consejo de Secretarios) is the group composed by the
heads
A head is the part of an organism which usually includes the ears, brain, forehead, cheeks, chin, eyes, nose, and mouth, each of which aid in various sensory functions such as sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Some very simple animals may no ...
of the
executive departments of the government of Puerto Rico. The Council is charged with leading the different sectors of
public administration within the government and does not constitute an agency by itself.
The Council, together with the
Cabinet-level officers, compose the
Cabinet of Puerto Rico
The executive branch of the government of Puerto Rico is responsible for executing the laws of Puerto Rico, as well as causing them to be executed. Article IV of the Constitution of Puerto Rico vests the executive power on the Governor&mdas ...
.
Background
The establishment of the Council is proclaimed by
Article IV
Article Four may refer to the 4th article of any regulatory document, such as:
* Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights
* Article Four (political party), political party in Sicily, Italy
* Article Four of the United States Constitu ...
of the
Constitution of Puerto Rico which establishes that the Governor shall be assisted by
Secretaries whom shall collectively constitute the Governor's
advisory council and be designated as the ''Council of Secretaries''.
Each Secretary is nominated by the
Governor and then presented to the
Senate
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
for
advice and consent by a
simple majorityexcept for the
Secretary of State who requires the advice and consent of both the Senate and the
House of Representatives.
If the Secretaries are confirmed they are sworn in and begin their duties immediately afterwards. However, Secretaries appointed during a legislative recess may begin serving immediately under a recess appointment until the end of the following regular session of the
Legislative Assembly, or rejected by the Senate, whichever occurs first, should they not be confirmed.
The
Constitution of Puerto Rico established eight Secretaries, namely: the Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce,
Education,
Health,
Justice, Labor, Public Works,
State, and
Treasury.
The Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce evolved into two different posts: the
Secretary of Agriculture
The United States secretary of agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The position carries similar responsibilities to those of agriculture ministers in other governments.
The department includes several organi ...
and the
Secretary of Economic Development and Commerce,
while the Secretary of Labor evolved into the
Secretary of Labor and Human Resources,
and the Secretary of Public Works into the
Secretary of Transportation and Public Works.
The creation of more executive departments by
Puerto Rican law established more Secretaries, namely: the
Secretary of Consumer Affairs,
,
,
,
,
and
Sports and Recreation.
Current posts
References
{{reflist, 2, refs=
[{{cite constitution , article=IV , section=5 , url=http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_Commonwealth_of_Puerto_Rico#ARTICLE_IV_THE_EXECUTIVE , country=Puerto Rico , ratified=July 25, 1952 , accessdate=December 28, 2012 ]
[{{cite constitution , article=IV , section=6 , url=http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_Commonwealth_of_Puerto_Rico#ARTICLE_IV_THE_EXECUTIVE , country=Puerto Rico , ratified=July 25, 1952 , accessdate=December 28, 2012 ]
[{{cite act , url=http://www.presupuesto.gobierno.pr/PresupuestosAnteriores/af2009_2010/Tomo_II/suppdocs/baselegal/055/ley60.pdf , number=60 , date=1940 , language=Spanish , accessdate=December 29, 2012 , title=Department of Agriculture Act]
[{{citation, url=http://www2.pr.gov/agencias/ddec/concealdepartamento/Documents/LeyOrgnanica.pdf, title=Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1994 , language=Spanish , accessdate=December 29, 2012 ]
[{{cite act , url=http://www2.pr.gov/presupuestos/presupuesto2012-2013/PresupuestoRecomendado2013/suppdocs/baselegal/067/067b.pdf , number=100 , date=1977 , language=Spanish , accessdate=December 29, 2012 ]
[{{citation, url=http://www.presupuesto.gobierno.pr/PresupuestosAnteriores/af2009_2010/Tomo_II/suppdocs/baselegal/049/049-plan.pdf, title=Reorganization Plan No. 6 of1971 , language=Spanish , accessdate=December 29, 2012 ]
[{{cite act , url=http://www.presupuesto.gobierno.pr/PresupuestosAnteriores/AF99/BASLEGAL/069/Ley5.htm , number=5 , date=1973 , language=Spanish , accessdate=December 29, 2012 , title=Department of Consumer Affairs Organic Law ]
[{{citation, url=http://www.presupuesto.gobierno.pr/PresupuestosAnteriores/af2008_2009/Tomo_II/suppdocs/baselegal/137/137.pdf, title=Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1993 , language=Spanish , accessdate=December 29, 2012 ]
[{{cite act , url=http://www2.pr.gov/agencias/secretariado/Documents/Base%20Legal/Ley171DepartamentoFamilia.pdf , number=171 , date=1968 , language=Spanish , accessdate=December 29, 2012 , title=Department of Family Affairs Organic Law ]
[{{cite act , url=http://www.presupuesto.gobierno.pr/PresupuestosAnteriores/af2003/baseLegal/BASE%20LEGAL/078/Ley97.htm , number=10 , date=1972 , language=Spanish , accessdate=December 29, 2012 , title=Department of Housing Organic Law ]
[{{cite act , url=http://www.presupuesto.gobierno.pr/PresupuestosAnteriores/af2009_2010/Tomo_II/suppdocs/baselegal/050/050.pdf , number=23 , date=1972 , language=Spanish , accessdate=December 29, 2012 , title=Department of Natural and Environmental Resources Organic Law ]
[{{cite act , url=http://www.presupuesto.gobierno.pr/PresupuestosAnteriores/af2008_2009/Tomo_II/suppdocs/baselegal/087/087.pdf , number=8 , date=2004 , language=Spanish , accessdate=December 29, 2012 , title=Department of Sports and Recreation Organic Law ]
Members of the Cabinet of Puerto Rico