President of the Senate of Puerto Rico

Last updated
President of the
Senate of Puerto Rico
Seal of the President of Puerto Rico Senate.svg
Jose Dalmau Presidente.jpg
Incumbent
Jose Luis Dalmau (PPD)

since January 2, 2021
Style The Honorable
diplomatic
Mister President
when presiding over the Senate
Nominatornominated internally by the Senate
Appointerelected internally by the Senate
Term length 4 years
Inaugural holder Antonio R. Barceló
August 13, 1917
FormationMarch 2, 1917
Jones–Shafroth Act
Article III of the Constitution of Puerto Rico
Deputy President pro tempore

The president of the Senate of Puerto Rico (Spanish : Presidente del Senado) is the highest-ranking officer and the presiding officer of the Senate of Puerto Rico. The president has voting powers as it is elected amongst the own members of the Senate as established by Article III of the Constitution of Puerto Rico. The Constitution, however, does not establish its functions and since the Senate is the only body authorized by the Constitution to regulate its own internal affairs, the functions of the president vary from session to session—save being called "President" as the Constitution establishes. [1] The president is typically elected during the Senate's inaugural session. [2]

Contents

When absent, the president is substituted by the president pro tempore. [2] Its counterpart in the House is the speaker.

The current president is Jose Luis Dalmau, senator at-large from the Popular Democratic Party

Background

The president traces its history back to more than 104 years ago when the Jones–Shafroth Act formally established the post on March 2, 1917. Said act was eventually superseded by another law, and the post was eventually established by the Constitution of Puerto Rico, specifically Article III, which establishes that, "The Senate shall elect a President [...] from among [its] members." The Constitution, however, does not establish what a "president" is nor what its function should be. [1] Internal rules adopted by the Senate through a simple resolution establish its definition, functions, responsibilities, and legal scope. [2]

Functions

Typically the president is responsible for the observance and compliance of the Senate's internal rules. He also typically: [2]

Presidents

   Union Party      Republican Party      New Progressive Party      Popular Democratic Party
#PortraitPresidentDate it took officeDate it left officePolitical partyPresident pro-tempore
1 Antonio Rafael Barcelo.jpg Antonio R. Barceló
(1868–1938)
19171929 Union Eduardo Georgetti
1917–1921

Juan Hernández López
1921–1924

Luis Sánchez Morales
1926–1929
2 Luis Sanchez Morales.jpg Luis Sánchez Morales
(1867–1934)
19291933 Republican Celestino Iriarte Miró
3 Rafael Martinez Nadal.jpg Rafael Martínez Nadal
(1877–1941)
19331941 Republican Bolívar Pagán
1933–1940

Luis Padrón Rivera
1940–1941
4 Luis Munoz Marin.jpg Luis Muñoz Marín
(1898–1980)
19411949 PPD Francisco M. Susoni Abreu
1941–1944

Samuel R. Quiñones
1945–1949
5 Samuel R. Quinones.jpg Samuel R. Quiñones
(1904–1976)
19491969 PPD Luis Negrón López
6 Rafael Hernandez Colon, Former Governor of Puerto Rico.jpg Rafael Hernández Colón
(1936–2019)
19691973 PPD Juan J. Cancel Ríos
7 SS Juan Cancel Rios.jpg Juan J. Cancel Ríos
(1925–1992)
19731977 PPD Miguel Hernández Agosto
8 Luis A. Ferre.jpg Luis A. Ferré Aguayo
(1904–2003)
19771981 PNP Manuel Ramos Barroso
9 SS Migeul Hernandez Agosto.jpg Miguel Hernández Agosto
(1927–2016)
19811993 PPD Sergio Peña Clos
1981–1988

Miguel Deynes Soto
1989–1993
10 Roberto Rexach Benitez.jpg Roberto Rexach Benítez
(1929–2012)
19931997 PNP Nicolás Nogueras Cartagena
1993–1995

Luisa Lebrón de Rivera
1995–1997
11 SS Charlie Rodriguez.jpg Charles A. Rodríguez Colón
(b. 1954)
19972001 PNP Aníbal Marrero Pérez
1997–2000

Luz Z. Arce Ferrer
2000–2001
12 Antonio Fas Alzamora.jpg Antonio Fas Alzamora
(b. 1948)
20012005 PPD Velda González de Modestti
13 Kenneth McClintock PR.jpg Kenneth D. McClintock Hernández
(b. 1957)
20052009 PNP Orlando Parga Figueroa
14 Sen. Thomas Rivera Schatz.jpg Thomas Rivera Schatz
(b. 1966)
20092013 PNP Margarita Nolasco Santiago
15 EBPR.jpg Eduardo Bhatia
(b. 1964)
20132017 PPD José Luis Dalmau
16 Sen. Thomas Rivera Schatz.jpg Thomas Rivera Schatz
(b. 1966)
20172021 PNP Larry Seilhamer Rodríguez
17 Jose Dalmau Presidente.jpg José Luis Dalmau

(b. 1966)

2021present PPD Marially González Huertas

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References

  1. 1 2 Article III, Section 9 of the Constitution of Puerto Rico  (July 25, 1952)
  2. 1 2 3 4 R. del S. 21 del 2013, "Reglamento del Senado de Puerto Rico" (in Spanish) Senate of Puerto Rico (January 15, 2013). Retrieved on August 9, 2013.