Puerto Rico Has Its Own Constitution—But Who Holds the Power? | Part 1 of 2 — Puerto Rico Open Your Eyes

Puerto Rico has a Constitution, elected officials, and its own courts. But how much authority does its government actually exercise—and who has the final say?

Join Edwin Ortiz, host of Puerto Rico, Open Your Eyes, as we examine three powerful examples of the limits of Commonwealth self-government: Congress’s conditions on the 1952 Constitution, the blocking of Puerto Rico’s 2014 Recovery Act, and the nullification of its 2022 labor reform under PROMESA.

We explain why Puerto Rico could not authorize Chapter Nine bankruptcy filings for its public entities—and why the Supreme Court also blocked its local restructuring alternative. We distinguish Congress’s direct actions from decisions made by federal courts and the Financial Oversight and Management Board.

This is the first of a two-part series. In our upcoming second episode, we will explore Puerto Rico as a proposed eighteenth autonomous community of Spain: its regional president, parliament, governing powers, and representation in Spain’s national parliament in Madrid. The Canary Islands will provide a concrete comparison.

Do these examples change how you understand Puerto Rico’s political status? Share your thoughts in the comments, subscribe, and share this conversation.

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