The Puerto Rico Federal Relations Act of 1950 () was an
Act of Congress
An Act of Congress is a statute enacted by the United States Congress. Acts may apply only to individual entities (called private laws), or to the general public ( public laws). For a bill to become an act, the text must pass through both house ...
of the
81st United States Congress
The 81st United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 19 ...
. The
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and po ...
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
passed it with one dissenting vote, from
Vito Marcantonio
Vito is an Italian name that is derived from the Latin word "''vita''", meaning "life".
It is a modern form of the Latin name Vitus, meaning "life-giver," as in San Vito or Saint Vitus, the patron saint of dogs and a heroic figure in southern I ...
who preferred full independence. President
Harry Truman
Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. A leader of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 34th vice president from January to April 1945 under Franklin ...
signed it into law on July 3, 1950. The act was enacted in order to enable the
people of Puerto Rico
Puerto Ricans ( es, Puertorriqueños; or boricuas) are the people of Puerto Rico, the inhabitants, and citizens of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and their descendants.
Overview
The culture held in common by most Puerto Ricans is referred t ...
to organize a local government pursuant to a constitution of their own, comparable to those of states and other territories of the United States. From its enactment until this day, the act has served as the
organic law
An organic law is a law, or system of laws, that form the foundation of a government, corporation or any other organization's body of rules. A constitution is a particular form of organic law for a sovereign state.
By country France
Under Articl ...
The US Congress submitted the act for rejection or approval by the people of Puerto Rico in a referendum held in 1951, where it was approved by voters. As enacted by the act, such approval automatically authorized the
Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico
The Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico ( es, Asamblea Legislativa de Puerto Rico) is the territorial legislature of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, responsible for the legislative branch of the government of Puerto Rico. The Assembly is a bic ...
to call for a constitutional convention in order to draft a constitution for Puerto Rico. Once assembled, this convention prepared a draft for a new constitution that was ultimately approved in a new referendum held on March 3, 1952. That constitution was then ratified by the
82nd United States Congress
The 82nd United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 19 ...
with a few amendments. This amended constitution was then officially proclaimed on July 25, 1952, immediately going into effect until this very day.
Once the constitution came into effect, the Puerto Rico Federal Relations Act automatically continued in force and effect the
Jones–Shafroth Act
The Jones–Shafroth Act () —also known as the Jones Act of Puerto Rico, Jones Law of Puerto Rico, or as the Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act of 1917— was an Act of the United States Congress, signed by President Woodrow Wilson on March ...
, while repealing some of its provisions. These two acts, along with , form the basis for Puerto Rico's government today.