The Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico (Spanish: Asamblea Legislativa de Puerto Rico) is the territorial legislature of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico responsible for the legislative branch of the government of Puerto Rico. The structure and responsibilities of the Legislative Assembly are defined in Article III of the Constitution of Puerto Rico.
The Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico is a bicameral legislature consisting of the upper house Senate of Puerto Rico (Senado de Puerto Rico), with 31 senators, and the lower House of Representatives of Puerto Rico (Camara de Representantes), with 53 representatives. 11 members of each house are elected at-large, and not from any specific legislative district. All members of the Legislative Assembly are elected for a four-year term without term limits. The constitution vests all legislative power to the Legislative Assembly. As all laws must be passed by both houses in order to reach the governor's desk, each has its unique powers. Also the constitution states in the Article III, Section 9 that "...each house shall be the unique judge on the legal capacity of its members...". The Constitution also grants all elected members of the Legislative Assembly with parliamentary immunity.
The Legislative Assembly convenes at the capitol building in San Juan.
Read more about Legislative Assembly Of Puerto Rico: History, Powers, Qualifications, Moves To Unicameralism
Famous quotes containing the words legislative and/or assembly:
“The legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, ... thus building a wall of separation between Church and State.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
“Our assembly being now formed not by ourselves but by the goodwill and sprightly imagination of our readers, we have nothing to do but to draw up the curtain ... and to discover our chief personage on the stage.”
—Sarah Fielding (1710–1768)