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List of governors of Puerto Rico

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List of governors of Puerto Rico
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This list of governors of Puerto Rico includes all persons who have held that post, either under Spanish or American rule. The governor of Puerto Rico is the head of government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The position was first established by the Spanish Empire during the 16th century following the archipelago's colonization.

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La Fortaleza in Old San Juan is the official residence of the governor of Puerto Rico. It was built between 1533 and 1540.

The first person to officially occupy the position was Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León in 1509.[1] At the time, the Spanish monarchy was responsible for appointing the functionary who would perform this office. The first native Puerto Rican to perform the function was Juan Ponce de León II, as interim governor in 1579. During this administration, all of those appointed to take the position had served another function within the empire's government or the Roman Catholic Church. In 1898, the United States invaded Puerto Rico and the Spanish government ceded control of the island to the United States. During the first two years, the entire government in Puerto Rico was appointed by the president of the United States. In 1900, the American government approved the establishment of the Foraker Act as a federal law, this act established a civilian government in the island. In 1947, the federal Elective Governor Act was enacted, which created a new system where, since 1948, the governor is elected through a democratic process every four years. The governor is in charge of Puerto Rico's executive branch and is responsible for appointing executive branch agency heads, including the Secretary of State, who fulfills the role of lieutenant governor, the legislative branch's ombudsman and comptroller and all judges in the judicial branch.

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Duties and succession

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The standard (flag) and seal of the governor of Puerto Rico
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Juan Ponce de León II, 28th governor of Puerto Rico, grandson of the first governor, and the first born in the island to become governor.

In the governor's absence, or if the governor dies or is unable to perform the executive duties, the Secretary of State of Puerto Rico takes control of the executive position, as acting governor during a temporary absence or inability, and as governor in case of death, resignation or impeachment and conviction.[2] The elected governor must designate a number of secretaries and other agency heads that will control the individual administrative agencies during his time in office, the selected secretaries are in charge of the island's health, natural resources, economy, correctional and judicial agencies and the department of consumer concerns, among others. The Governor's four-year term begins on January 2, the day after the New Year's Day holiday.

On July 24, 2019, Ricardo Rosselló became the first governor to resign his office. This happened after more than a week of protests due to a chain of corruption arrests and a leaked Telegram chat which contained offensive remarks made by the governor.

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List of governors of Puerto Rico

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Century
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Governors under Spanish Crown

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Governors under U.S. colonial administration

Military government

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Post-Foraker Act of 1900

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Governors under the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

  New Progressive Party (8)
  Popular Democratic Party (7)

US party affiliation

  Democratic Party (10)
  Republican Party (4)
  Independent (1)

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See also

Notes

  1. Trías Monge (1995) "Aunque se le percibía como Demócrata e influía decisivamente en las gestiones del Partido Demócrata de Puerto Rico, Muñoz Marín nunca se afilió formalmente a ese partido ni participó en actividad alguna de los partidos políticos estadounidenses."[42]
  2. Metro (2012) "Desde la presidencia de Lyndon B. Johnson y la gobernación de Roberto Sánchez Vilella, no teníamos un presidente demócrata en Washington y un gobernador demócrata en San Juan."[44]
  3. Fernós (2003) "[...]su dirigente Don Luis A. Ferré, presidente del Partido Republicano en Puerto Rico."[46]
  4. Montalvo (2012) "Carlos Romero Barceló y Rafael Hernández Colón son de partidos contrarios en la Isla, pero demócratas en la política estadounidense."[49]
  5. Castilla y León. "[Calderón] pertenece al Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico y al Partido Demócrata de Estados Unidos."[55]
  6. DARN (2011) "[Acevedo Vilá] was an active member of the National Governors Association, the Southern Governors Association and the Democratic Governors Association."[57]
  7. Varela (2013) "[...] Governor Alejandro Padilla, a Democrat [...]"[59]
  8. Rosselló resigned from office due to the Telegramgate scandal.
  9. As Secretary of State, succeeded to the office following the resignation of Ricardo Rosselló. Shortly thereafter, the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico ruled that his assumption of the office was unconstitutional because his nomination as Secretary of State was never confirmed by the Legislature.[61]
  10. As Secretary of Justice, Mrs. Vázquez Garced succeeded to the office following the resignation of Ricardo Rosselló and the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico's ruling that Pedro Pierluisi's succession was invalid because he was not confirmed by both chambers of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico as Secretary of State.[61]
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References

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