Constitutional Convention of Puerto Rico

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On June 8, 1950, the United States government approved Public Law 600, authorizing Puerto Rico to draft its own constitution in 1951. The Constitutional Assembly (Spanish : Asamblea Constituyente) or Constitutional Convention of Puerto Rico met for a period of several months between 1951 and 1952 in which the document was written. The framers had to follow only two basic requirements established under Public Law 600. The first was the document must establish a republican form of government for the island. The second was the inclusion of a Bill of Rights.

Contents

The Constitution of Puerto Rico renamed the body politic until then known as the "People of Puerto Rico", and henceforth known as the "Commonwealth of Puerto Rico" (Estado Libre Asociado).

Members of the Constitutional Assembly

# [a] [1] Delegate PartyConstituencyResidence [2] Committee assignments [b] [3] Cmtes.Signing order [4] [5] Notes [c]
73 Manuel Acevedo Rosario PPD Aguadilla Camuy Transitory Provisions and General Affairs132
79 Juan Alemany Silva PEP Guayama Guayama Drafting, Style and Enrolling133 [d]
29 Arcilio Alvarado Alvarado PPD San Juan ISan Juan (Santurce)Bill of Rights

Judicial Branch

Drafting, Style and Enrolling [e] [f]

334
92 Enrique Álvarez Vicente PSO Arecibo Utuado Accounting and Publications135
42 Francisco L. Anselmi Rodríguez PPD Ponce Coamo Legislative Branch [e]

Transitory Provisions and General Affairs

226
37 Francisco A. Arrillaga Gaztambide PPD San Juan ISan Juan (Hato Rey)Accounting and Publications136
74 Carmelo Ávila Medina PPD Humacao Naguabo Transitory Provisions and General Affairs137
77 José Bartolo Barceló Oliver PPD Ponce Adjuntas Transitory Provisions and General Affairs138Mayor of Adjuntas (1944,1948,1957-1968)
39 Ramón Barreto Pérez PPD San Juan ISan Juan (Hato Rey)Legislative Branch139
32 Ramón Barrios Sánchez PSO At-large Bayamón Rules and Bylaws

Scheduling

140
28 Jaime Benítez Rexach PPD At-largeSan Juan (Río Piedras)Bill of Rights [g]

Drafting, Style and Enrolling

210
55 Francisco Berio Suárez PPD Guayama Comerío Scheduling141
59 Virgilio Brunet Maldonado PPD At-largeSan Juan (Hato Rey)Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures

Bill of Rights

242
53 Agustín Burgos Rivera PPD Ponce Villalba Accounting and Publications143
41 Mario Canales Torresola PPD Ponce Jayuya Legislative Branch144Former-mayor of Jayuya
61 Ángel M. Candelario Arce PPD Mayagüez Peñuelas Judicial Branch145
01 Ernesto Carrasquillo Quiñones PPD Humacao Yabucoa Bill of Rights [h] 119Former-mayor of Yabucao
17 Dionisio Casillas Casillas PPD Humacao Humacao Accounting and Publications146
68 José A. Cintrón Rivera PPD At-largeSan Juan (Santurce)Bill of Rights147
25 Luis Alfredo Colón Velázquez PPD Aguadilla Moca Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures

Rules and Bylaws [e]

Executive Branch [i]

330
89 Ramiro L. Colón Castaño PEP Ponce Ponce Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures1— [j] Only delegate not to sign the Constitution. [k] Then-general manager of the Cooperative of Coffee Growers of Puerto Rico. [7]
04 Juan Dávila Díaz PPD Arecibo Manatí Accounting and Publications [e] 131
51 José M. Dávila Monsanto PPD Guayama Guayama Judicial Branch [e] 125
58 Lionel Fernández Méndez PPD Guayama Cayey Rules and Bylaws

Drafting, Style and Enrolling

248
— [l] Antonio Fernós Isern PPD At-largeSan Juan (Santurce)—001 Then-Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico
30 Luis A. Ferré Aguayo PEP Ponce Ponce Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures

Transitory Provisions and General Affairs

249 [d]
75 Alcides Figueroa Oliva PPD Aguadilla Añasco Transitory Provisions and General Affairs150
13 Leopoldo Figueroa Carreras PEP At-large Cataño Scheduling

Bill of Rights

251
18 Ernesto Juan Fonfrías Rivera PPD San Juan II Toa Baja (Carr. 2 K-19)Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures

Judicial Branch

252
23 Jorge Font Saldaña PPD At-largeSan Juan (Santurce)Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures [e]

Drafting, Style and Enrolling [f]

224
78 Juan R. García Delgado PEP Aguadilla Hatillo Rules and Bylaws

Accounting and Publications [m]

253
12 Miguel Ángel García Méndez PEP Mayagüez Mayagüez Scheduling

Judicial Branch

254
34 Genaro Antonio Gautier Dapena PPD San Juan I Caguas (La Muda)Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures155Then-first spouse of San Juan
38 Rubén Gaztambide Arrillaga PPD San Juan ISan Juan (Río Piedras)Bill of Rights

Legislative Branch [h]

218
90 Fernando José Géigel Sabat PEP San Juan ISan Juan (Santurce)Legislative Branch156
62 José Rosario Gelpí Bosch PEP Mayagüez Mayagüez Rules and Bylaws

Executive Branch

257
35 Darío Goitía Montalvo PPD Arecibo Arecibo Executive Branch158
10 María Libertad Gómez Garriga PPD At-large Utuado Drafting, Style and Enrolling [h] 102Only female member.
46 Héctor González Blanes PEP San Juan ISan Juan (Santurce)Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures

Bill of Rights

259
02 Andrés Grillasca Salas PPD Ponce Ponce Transitory Provisions and General Affairs160 Then-mayor of Ponce
26 Víctor Gutiérrez Franqui PPD At-largeSan Juan (Santurce)Judicial Branch

Drafting, Style and Enrolling [g]

203
14 Celestino Iriarte Miró PEP At-largeCataño (Carr. Cataño)Accounting and Publications [m]

Legislative Branch

Judicial Branch

305
69 Jesús Izcoa Moure PPD San Juan II Naranjito Drafting, Style and Enrolling161 [d]
21 Lorenzo Lagarde Garcés PPD Ponce Ponce Judicial Branch162
91 Ramón Llobet Díaz, Jr. PEP San Juan II Guaynabo Transitory Provisions and General Affairs163
80 Ramiro Martínez Sandín PSO Arecibo Vega Baja Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures

Transitory Provisions and General Affairs

264
43 Juan Meléndez Báez PPD San Juan I San Juan Bill of Rights165
60 Ramón Mellado Parsons PPD San Juan IISan Juan (Río Piedras)Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures166
56 Bernardo Méndez Jiménez PPD Aguadilla San Sebastián Bill of Rights [e] 127
72 Armando Mignucci Calder PPD Mayagüez Yauco Scheduling167
22 José Mimoso Raspaldo PPD Guayama Caguas Rules and Bylaws [h] 122
45 Pablo Morales Otero PPD San Juan IISan Juan (Santurce)Executive Branch168
09 Luis Muñoz Marín PPD At-large San Juan Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures [g] 104Then-Governor of Puerto Rico
81 Luis Muñoz Rivera PPD San Juan ISan Juan (Hato Rey)Accounting and Publications169
76 Eduardo Negrón Benítez PPD Aguadilla San Sebastián Rules and Bylaws170
07 Luis A. Negrón López PPD Mayagüez Sabana Grande Legislative Branch [g]

Executive Branch [e]

209
84 Abraham Nieves Negrón PPD Guayama Guayama Accounting and Publications171 [d]
48 Mario Orsini Martínez PSO Humacao Juncos Judicial Branch

Drafting, Style and Enrolling

272
06 Benjamín Ortiz Ortiz PPD At-large Guaynabo Scheduling [g]

Drafting, Style and Enrolling

212
24 Cruz Ortiz Stella PPD Humacao Humacao Rules and Bylaws [g]

Bill of Rights

113
15 Lino Padrón Rivera PSO At-large Vega Baja Bill of Rights

Legislative Branch

Judicial Branch

306
03 Santiago R. Palmer Díaz PPD Mayagüez San Germán Accounting and Publications [g] 114
47 Norman E. Parkhurst PEP San Juan II Bayamón Accounting and Publications173 [d]
86 Francisco Paz Granela PPD At-largeSan Juan (Santurce)Bill of Rights174
20 Santiago Polanco Abreu PPD Arecibo Isabela Judicial Branch

Transitory Provisions and General Affairs [h]

220
11 Samuel R. Quiñones Quiñones PPD At-large Carolina (Carr. Isla Verde)Executive Branch [g]

Drafting, Style and Enrolling

207President, Senate
49 Ubaldino Ramírez de Arellano PPD Mayagüez San Germán Legislative Branch175
08 Ernesto Ramos Antonini PPD At-largeSan Juan (Hato Rey)Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures

Judicial Branch [g]

208President, House of Representatives
88 Ramón María Ramos de Jesús PEP Guayama Aibonito Drafting, Style and Enrolling176
16 Antonio Reyes Delgado PSO At-large Arecibo Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures

Bill of Rights

Executive Branch

377
85 Dolores Rivera Candelaria PPD Arecibo Utuado Transitory Provisions and General Affairs178Then-mayor of Utuado
44 Heraclio H. Rivera Colón PPD San Juan II Toa Alta Scheduling [h]

Legislative Branch

221
64 Alejo Rivera Morales PSO Humacao Ceiba Transitory Provisions and General Affairs179
33 Álvaro Rivera Reyes PPD Humacao Río Grande Bill of Rights

Executive Branch [h]

216
71 Carmelo Rodríguez García PPD Arecibo Arecibo Executive Branch180
70 Carlos Román Benítez PPD San Juan IISan Juan (Santurce)Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures

Scheduling

281
36 Alfonso Román García PPD Humacao Fajardo Accounting and Publications [h] 123
50 Joaquín Rosa Gómez PPD Arecibo Manatí Rules and Bylaws182Then-mayor of Manatí (1945-1952, 1961-1968) Senator at-large (1953-1956)
54 Alberto E. Sánchez Nazario PPD At-largeSan Juan (Santurce)Bill of Rights183
83 Ángel Sandín Martínez PPD Arecibo Vega Baja Transitory Provisions and General Affairs [e] 128Then-mayor of Vega Baja
52 Luis Santaliz Capestany PPD Aguadilla Las Marías Rules and Bylaws184 [n]
05 Yldefonso Solá Morales PPD Guayama Caguas Executive Branch [i]

Transitory Provisions and General Affairs [g]

211
31 Juan Bautista Soto González PEP At-large Gurabo Bill of Rights

Judicial Branch

285 [n]
67 Rafael Torrech Genovés PPD San Juan II Bayamón Executive Branch186 Mayor of Bayamón
40 Lucas Torres Santos PPD Ponce Orocovis Scheduling187Former-mayor of Orocovis
82 Pedro Torres Díaz PPD Humacao Gurabo Scheduling188
27 José Trías Monge PPD At-large Guaynabo Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures [h]

Judicial Branch

215
65 Augusto Valentín Vizcarrondo PPD Mayagüez Mayagüez Legislative Branch189
66 Baudilio Vega Berríos PPD Mayagüez Mayagüez Rules and Bylaws190 Then-mayor of Mayagüez
19 Sigfredo Vélez González PPD Arecibo Arecibo Scheduling [e] 129Former-mayor of Arecibo
63 José Veray, Jr. Hernández PEP Aguadilla Aguadilla Executive Branch

Transitory Provisions and General Affairs

291
87 José Villares Rodríguez PPD Guayama Caguas Judicial Branch [h] 117

Committees

Ten permanent committees and their officers and members were designated by the body's president, Antonio Fernós Isern, during the 25 September 1951 session, [3] [8] which was followed by the naming of additional delegates and several substations on 27 September. [9] All presidents, vice presidents and secretaries were from the PPD. [9] These committees were grouped by their purposes as follows: [8]

Functions committees (3):

Constitutional committees (7):

Committee [b] MembershipPresidentVice PresidentSecretaryMembers [o] [3] [8] [9]
Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures [p] 15 Luis Muñoz Marín José Trías Monge Jorge Font Saldaña
Rules and Bylaws [r] 11 Cruz Ortiz Stella José Mimoso Raspaldo Luis Alfredo Colón Velázquez
Accounting and Publications [s] 11 (12) [m] Santiago R. Palmer Díaz Alfonso Román García Juan Dávila Díaz
Scheduling [t] 11 Benjamín Ortiz Ortiz Heraclio H. Rivera Colón Sigfredo Vélez González
Bill of Rights [u] 17 Jaime Benítez Rexach Ernesto Carrasquillo Quiñones Bernardo Méndez Jiménez
Legislative Branch [v] 11 Luis A. Negrón López Rubén Gaztambide Arrillaga Francisco L. Anselmi Rodríguez
Executive Branch [w] 11 (12) [i] Samuel R. Quiñones Quiñones Álvaro Rivera Reyes Luis A. Negrón López
Judicial Branch [o] 15 Ernesto Ramos Antonini José Villares Rodríguez José M. Dávila Monsanto
Transitory Provisions and General Affairs [x] 15 Yldefonso Solá Morales Santiago Polanco Abreu Ángel Sandín Martínez
Drafting, Style and Enrolling [y] 11 (12) [f] Víctor Gutiérrez Franqui María Libertad Gómez Garriga

Notes

  1. ↑ Number in the Session Hall
  2. 1 2 While the official designation for the subordinate groups was commission these were in practice committees as they did not entail an external body.
  3. ↑ Employment at the time of their tenure as Delegates and position in the committee of the whole.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 While contemporary news reports do not include his signature, the Session Diary does include. The latter being the official source, it takes prevalence over the former.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Secretary of the commission.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Alvarado Alvarado was replaced by Font Saldaña on 27 September 1951.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 President of the commission.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Vice President of the Commission.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Colón Velázquez was replaced by Solá Morales on 27 September 1951.
  10. ↑ While contemporary news reports included his signature, the Session Diary reflects his decision not to sign the document by correctly omitting his name. His last recorded attendance to the Convention was on the fifty-fourth day (24 January 1952).
  11. ↑ Colón Castaño was opposed to signing the Constitution since it did not solve the political status of Puerto Rico, claiming that "if the United States Congress had the power to allow us to pass a constitution, it also had the power to take it away from us." [6]
  12. ↑ President of the Convention
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Iriarte Miró was replaced by García Delgado on 27 September 1951.
  14. 1 2 While contemporary news reports places Santaliz Capestany after Soto González, the Session Diary has them in alphabetical order. The latter being the official source, it takes prevalence over the former.
  15. 1 2 El Mundo erroneously names José Veray, Jr. Hernández and Antonio Reyes Delgado, as it repeats the Executive branch list under the Judicial and then states the correct Judicial list. The Session Diary names Miguel Angel García Méndez and Mario Orsini Martínez.
  16. ↑ Spanish: Preámbulo, Procedimientos de Enmiendas y Procedimientos
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Named on 27 September.
  18. ↑ Spanish: Reglas y Reglamentos
  19. ↑ Spanish: Contabilidad y Publicaciones
  20. ↑ Spanish: Agenda
  21. ↑ Spanish: Carta de Derechos
  22. ↑ Spanish: Rama Legislativa
  23. ↑ Spanish: Rama Ejecutiva
  24. ↑ Spanish: Disposiciones Transitorias y Asuntos Generales
  25. ↑ Spanish: Redacción, Estilo y Enrolado

References

  1. ↑ "Lista de delegados divididos por partidos políticos" [List of Delegates Divided by Political Parties]. Proposiciones y resoluciones de la Convención Constituyente de Puerto Rico 1951-1952 [Proposals and resolutions of the Constitutional Convention of Puerto Rico 1951-1952] (in Spanish). San Juan, Puerto Rico: Academia Puertorriqueña de Jurisprudencia y Legislación. 1992. ISBN   978-0-9907566-0-6.
  2. ↑ "Delegados a la Convención Constituyente de Puerto Rico 1951–1952" [Delegates to the Constitutional Convention of Puerto Rico 1951–1952]. Festival de la juventud puertorriqueña [Puerto Rican Youth Festival](PDF) (in Spanish). Popular Democratic Party. 1970. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 October 2021 – via Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.
  3. 1 2 3 "Nombran 10 Presidentes Comisiones" [10 Commission Chairpersons Appointed](PDF). El Mundo (in Spanish). 26 September 1952. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021– via Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.
  4. ↑ Gálvez Maturana, S. (7 February 1952). "Constitucion de Pto. Rico Fué Firmada Ayer Tarde Ante Jueces del Supremo" [Constitution of Puerto Rico Signed Yesterday Afternoon Before Supreme Court Justices](PDF). El Mundo (in Spanish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021– via Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.
  5. ↑ "Firmas que aparecen en el documento de la nueva Constitución para P. Rico" [Signatures that Appear in the Document of the New Constitution for P. Rico](PDF). La Prensa (in Spanish). 11 February 1952. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021– via Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.
  6. ↑ Colón Muñoz, Wendell W. (13 November 2016). "Por qué mi padre no firmó la Constitución" [Why My Father Didn't Sign the Constitution]. El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). San Juan, Puerto Rico: GFR Media. p. 52-52. ISSN   1043-7614. Archived from the original on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021– via PressReader.
  7. ↑ "Ramiro L. Colon". MoreBooks. Archived from the original on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 "Día 3 de Sesión" [Session Day 3](PDF). Diario de Sesiones: Procedimientos y debates de la Convención Constituyente de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). 1 (3): 33–34. 25 September 1951. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2021 – via Senate of Puerto Rico.
  9. 1 2 3 "Día 4 de Sesión" [Session Day 4](PDF). Diario de Sesiones: Procedimientos y Debates de la Convención Constituyente de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). 1 (4): 41. 27 September 1952. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2021 – via Senate of Puerto Rico.
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