Politically, Puerto Rico has been a U.S. territory since Spain lost its posessions during the Spanish-American War (1898). It is now "self-governing commonwealth in association with the United States. " They are permitted to elect a governor, however the President of the U.S is their Chief of State. Moreover, the government of Puerto Rico only has control of internal affairs on the island. In other words the "United States controls: interstate trade, foreign relations and commerce, customs administration, control of air, land and sea, immigration and emigration, nationality and citizenship, currency, maritime laws, military service, military bases, army, navy and air force, declaration of war, constitutionality of laws, jurisdictions and legal procedures, treaties, radio and television--communications, agriculture, mining and minerals, highways, postal system; Social Security, and other areas generally controlled by the federal government in the United States (Welcome to P.R)." Therefore, Puerto Rico is also included in NAFTA.
Puerto Rico is separated into 78 municipalties
Internally the Island has three major parties:
Popular Democratic Party (PPD)- Status Quo
New Progressive Party (PNP) Pro-Statehood
Independence Party (PIP) Independence
Source:
http://welcome.topuertorico.org/history.shtml
