Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico - History

History

The House of Representatives is the oldest legislative body in Puerto Rico. It was formed on November 25, 1897, when the Spanish government of Prime Minister Práxedes Mateo Sagasta granted autonomy to the island, creating a House that was composed of 32 members. Beside the House there was also an Administrative Council of 15 members, eight of whom were elected by a "Colegio de Compromisarios" and the other seven were named by the Governor General in representation of the Spanish monarch.

After the island's invasion by the United States on July 25, 1898 as part of the Spanish American War, a military government took over the island. This was until April 12, 1900 when the U.S. Congress approved the first civil government for Puerto Rico under the federal Foraker Act. The act granted the island with a civil governor (named by the U.S. President) and a House of Delegates composed of 35 members elected by the people of Puerto Rico, as well as an Executive Council of 11 members, designated all by the U.S. President, and six sitting members consisting of the governor's cabinet.

The political arrangement under the Foraker Act continued until 1917. On March 2 of that year, president Woodrow Wilson approved the Jones-Shafroth Act, which provided for the creation of an independent legislative branch for Puerto Rico, establishing a House of Representatives with 39 members and a Senate of 19 members, all elected directly by the people of the Island. Puerto Rico was then divided into 7 senatorial districts and 35 representative districts. The first Puerto Rican Senate was elected in July 1917.

With the approval by U.S. Congress in July 1950 of Public Law 600, the island was divided into 8 senatorial districts and 40 representatives. Two years later on July 25, 1952 the Constitution of Puerto Rico was formally adopted, establishing the modern House of Representantes and Senate as the bicameral houses of the Legislative Assembly (as stated in Article III).