Article VI of the Puerto Rico Constitution is entitled General Provisions and consists of 19 sections.
Section 1
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Text of Section 1:
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The Legislature shall have the power to create, abolish, consolidate and Municipalities reorganize, change their boundaries and determine as to their and functions; and may also authorize them to develop wellness programs ORGANISMS general and create those that are necessary for that purpose.
No law abolishing or consolidating municipalities shall take effect until it ratified in a referendum by a majority of the qualified electors voting on the same in each of the municipalities to be abolished or consolidated. Shape referendum shall be determined by law, which shall include the applicable procedures the electoral law in force on the date of the adoption of the law.[1]
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Section 2
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Text of Section 2:
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The power of the Commonwealth to impose and collect taxes and authorize their imposition and collection by municipalities is exercised as determined by the Legislative Assembly, and shall never be surrendered or suspended. The Power of Free State Associated of Puerto Rico to contract debts and authorize exercised as determined by the Legislature, but no direct obligation of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico by money borrowed directly by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico evidenced by bonds or notes for the payment of which the good faith credit and taxing power of the Free State.
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico be pledged shall be issued by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico if the total of (i) the amount of principal of and interest on said bonds and notes, together with the amount of principal of and interest on all such bonds and notes theretofore issued by the Land.
Associate and outstanding, payable in any fiscal year and (ii) any amounts paid by the Commonwealth in the fiscal year immediately preceding the current fiscal year in principal and interest to any obligations evidenced by bonds or notes guaranteed by the Commonwealth, exceeds 15% of the average total amount of income Annual obtained in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the State Commonwealth and deposited in the Treasury of Puerto Rico in the two fiscal years immediately preceding the current fiscal year; and any such bonds or notes issued by the Commonwealth for any purpose which is not a facility housing will expire after a term of 30 years from the date of issue and any bond or note issued for housing purposes will expire after to a term of 30 years from the date of issue; and the Commonwealth does not guarantee obligation was evidenced by bonds or notes if the total amount payable in any fiscal year in principal and interest on all of the aforementioned direct obligations previously issued by the Commonwealth and outstanding and the amounts referred to in clause (ii) exceeds 15 percent of the average total amount of such income annual.
The Legislature set limits for the emission of direct obligations any municipality in Puerto Rico for money borrowed directly by the municipality evidenced by bonds or notes for the payment of which the full faith, credit and taxing power of the municipality be pledged; provided, however, that no such bonds or notes shall be issued by any municipality in an amount which, together with the amount of all such bonds and notes theretofore issued by the municipality and outstanding, exceed by percent determined by the Legislature, which shall not be less than five percent (5%) nor more than ten percent (10%) of the total assessed valuation of the property located in the municipality.
The Secretary of the Treasury may be required to allocate the available resources including surplus to pay interest on the public debt and the amortization of the same in any case in which he is applicable Section 8 of this Article VI By application filed by any holder of bonds or notes issued in Evidence of the same.[1]
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Section 3
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Text of Section 3:
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The rule of taxation shall be uniform throughout Puerto Rico.[1]
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Section 4
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Text of Section 4:
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General elections are held every four years on the day of November determined by the Legislature. In these elections will be elected the Governor, members of the Legislature and other officials whose election on that date provided by law.
Elector shall any person who has attained 18 years of age and meets other conditions determined by law. No one shall be deprived of the right to vote not knowing read or write or does not own property.
Everything concerning the electoral registration process and will be available by law voters, as well as on political parties and candidates.
Any elected official shall be elected by direct vote and shall be declared elected one candidate for an office to obtain a greater number of votes than by any of the other candidates for the same office.[1]
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Section 5
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Text of Section 5:
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Laws shall be promulgated in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law and shall specify the terms of validity.[1]
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Section 6
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Text of Section 6:
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When the end of any fiscal year had not been approved allocations necessary for ordinary operating expenses of the government and payment of interest and repayment of public debt over the next year economic, will continue sums appropriated in the last laws passed for the same purposes and purposes, as far as they are applicable, and the Governor authorize disbursements necessary for such purposes until appropriations are made corresponding.[1]
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Section 7
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Text of Section 7:
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The appropriations made for any fiscal year shall not exceed the total revenues, for that fiscal year, unless otherwise provided by law for the imposition of taxes sufficient to cover such assignments.[1]
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Section 8
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Text of Section 8:
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When resources available for a fiscal year are insufficient to cover the appropriations made for that year, shall first, to pay interest and amortization of the public debt, and then make other disbursements According to the order of priorities established by law.[1]
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Section 9
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Text of Section 9:
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Shall only be disposed of property and public funds for public purposes and for maintenance and operation of state institutions, and in any event by authority of law.[1]
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Section 10
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Text of Section 10:
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No law shall give additional compensation to an officer, employee, agent or contractor for services to the government, after the services have been rendered or after the contract has been concluded. No law shall extend the term of any public officer or diminish his salary or emoluments after his election or appointment. No person may receive a salary for more than one office or employment in the government of Puerto Rico.[1]
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Section 11
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Text of Section 11:
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Salaries of the Governor, the Secretaries of Government of Member of the Legislative Assembly, the Comptroller and judges shall be fixed by law special and, except for the salaries of the members of the Legislature, not may be decreased during the terms for which they were elected or appointed. The Governor and the Comptroller may not be increased during the term. No increase in the salaries of members of the Legislative Assembly shall take effect until expiry of the term of the Legislative Assembly for adoption. Any reduction the salaries of the members of the Legislative Assembly shall be effective only during the term of the Legislature to approve it.[1]
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Section 12
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Text of Section 12:
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Buildings and property belonging to the Commonwealth that have so far been used and occupied by the Governor as chief executive and those who'll take care usare and in the same capacity, will not accrue income.[1]
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Section 13
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Text of Section 13:
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The procedure for granting franchises, rights, privileges and concessions of public or quasi-public will be determined by law, but all grant of this kind to a private person or entity must be approved by the Governor or executive officer delegated by him. Every franchise, right, privilege or grant of public or quasi-public nature shall be subject to amendment, alteration or repeal as determined by law.[1]
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Section 14
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Text of Section 14:
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No corporation is authorized to conduct the business of buying and sale of real estate; or permitted to possess or have this kind of goods except of those who may be reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes to which it was created; and the ownership and control of land every corporation authorized to engage in agriculture will be limited by its charter to an entity that does not exceed five hundred acres; and this provision shall be construed to prevent any member of an agricultural corporation that has an interest in any kind in another corporation engaged.
They may, however, corporations make loans with guarantees on goods roots and when they will need to acquire for the collection of loans; but must dispose of real estate so obtained within five years of receiving the title thereof. Corporations not organized in Puerto Rico, but doing business in Puerto Rico, will be required to comply provisions of this section, to the extent applicable.
These provisions do not prevent the ownership, possession or use of land excess of five hundred acres by the Commonwealth and its agencies or instrumentalities.[1]
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Section 15
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Text of Section 15:
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The Legislature shall determine all matters concerning the flag, the Shield and Anthem of the Commonwealth. Once well established, any law the change not take effect until one year after the elections held general following the date of approval of this Act.[1]
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Section 16
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Text of Section 16:
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All officers and employees of the Commonwealth, its agencies, instrumentalities and political subdivisions, before assuming the functions of office, oath of allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America and to the Constitution and the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.[1]
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Section 17
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Text of Section 17:
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In case of invasion, rebellion, epidemic or any other event giving rise a state of emergency, the Governor may call the Legislature for meet offsite having their seat in the chambers, subject always to the approval or disapproval of the Legislature. Also you can sort the shipment and installation of the provisional government, its agencies, instrumentalities and bodies outside the seat of government for the duration of the emergency.[1]
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Section 18
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Text of Section 18:
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All criminal actions in the courts of the Commonwealth shall be conducted the name and by the authority of "The People of Puerto Rico" until otherwise not provided by law.[1]
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Section 19
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Text of Section 19:
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Shall be the public policy of the Commonwealth more effective conservation of its natural resources as well as the further development and use thereof for the general benefit of the community; conservation and maintenance of buildings and places that are declared of historical or artistic value by the Assembly Legislative; regulate penal institutions to serve their purposes in effectively and to provide, within available resources, appropriate treatment of offenders to enable their moral and social rehabilitation.[1]
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See also
External links
