Governor of Puerto Rico

The Governor of Puerto Rico is the head of government of Puerto Rico and by its nature constitutes the executive branch of the government of Puerto Rico. He is also the commander-in-chief of the commonwealth's military forces, the Puerto Rico National Guard.

The Governor has a duty to enforce state laws, to convene the Legislative Assembly, the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Legislative Assembly, to appoint government officers, to appoint Justices, and to grant pardons. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico. Prior to that, the Governor was appointed either by the King of Spain (1510-1898) or the President of the United States (1898–1948).

Article IV of the Constitution of Puerto Rico vests the executive power on the Governor and empowers him with the faculty to appoint officers. Law No. 104 of 1956 empowers him with the faculty to delegate functions. These two faculties in conjunction allow the Governor to delegate most of his functions while continuing to be the maximum officer and head of government.

Most of the Governor's function are delegated to the Secretary of Government, who is charged with managing and overseeing all the executive departments and almost all executive agencies. The budget is delegated to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget while centralized planning is delegated to the President of the Planning Board. This effectively makes the Governor a political figure rather than an administrative one, allowing him to set the vision for what the island should be and where it should go rather than having to be involved in its day-to-day operations. Historically, however, Governors tend to be heavily involved in the day-to-day operations of the government in both internal and external affairs.

Read more about Governor Of Puerto Rico:  History, Powers, Eligibility, Elections, Succession, Former Governors

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    Three years ago, also, when the Sims tragedy was acted, I said to myself, There is such an officer, if not such a man, as the Governor of Massachusetts,—what has he been about the last fortnight? Has he had as much as he could do to keep on the fence during this moral earthquake?... He could at least have resigned himself into fame.
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    Three years ago, also, when the Sims tragedy was acted, I said to myself, There is such an officer, if not such a man, as the Governor of Massachusetts,—what has he been about the last fortnight? Has he had as much as he could do to keep on the fence during this moral earthquake?... He could at least have resigned himself into fame.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)