Puerto Rican unicameralism referendum, 2005
Encyclopedia
In a referendum held on July 10, 2005, Puerto Rican voters approved the change to a unicameral legislature
by 456,267 votes in favor, versus 88,720 against. (Voter turnout
was 22.6% of the electorate.) However, another referendum would have to be held to approve the specific amendments
to the Constitution of Puerto Rico
that are required for the change. The House of Representatives let the bill die, though, so the changes were not realised. Had the changes been approved, the legislature would have become unicameral from 2009 onwards.
The Puerto Rican Independence Party
supported the victorious Yes vote in favor of one chamber for the Puerto Rico Legislature. The Popular Democratic Party
did not take an official stance on the matter and various of its leaders varyingly supported or opposed the measure. The New Progressive Party
opposed the constitutional amendment under electoral review but, nevertheless, supported abstention from the vote.
Unicameralism
In government, unicameralism is the practice of having one legislative or parliamentary chamber. Thus, a unicameral parliament or unicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of one chamber or house...
by 456,267 votes in favor, versus 88,720 against. (Voter turnout
Voter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
was 22.6% of the electorate.) However, another referendum would have to be held to approve the specific amendments
Constitutional amendment
A constitutional amendment is a formal change to the text of the written constitution of a nation or state.Most constitutions require that amendments cannot be enacted unless they have passed a special procedure that is more stringent than that required of ordinary legislation...
to the Constitution of Puerto Rico
Constitution of Puerto Rico
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is the controlling government document of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It is composed of nine articles detailing the structure of the government as well as the function of several of its institutions. The document also contains an extensive...
that are required for the change. The House of Representatives let the bill die, though, so the changes were not realised. Had the changes been approved, the legislature would have become unicameral from 2009 onwards.
The Puerto Rican Independence Party
Puerto Rican Independence Party
The Puerto Rican Independence Party is a Puerto Rican political party that campaigns for the independence of Puerto Rico from United States suzerainty....
supported the victorious Yes vote in favor of one chamber for the Puerto Rico Legislature. The Popular Democratic Party
Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth....
did not take an official stance on the matter and various of its leaders varyingly supported or opposed the measure. The New Progressive Party
New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico
The New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that advocates for Puerto Rico's admission to the United States of America as the 51st state...
opposed the constitutional amendment under electoral review but, nevertheless, supported abstention from the vote.
External links
- State Commission of Elections of Puerto Rico - official site (in SpanishSpanish languageSpanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
)