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Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly

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Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly

Seal of Puerto Rico Legislature.svg.png
General information
Type:   Bicameral
Term limits:   None
Leadership
Senate President:   José Dalmau Santiago (PPD)
House Speaker:  Rafael Hernández Montañez (PPD)
Structure
Members:  27+ (Senate), 51 (House)
Length of term:   4 years (Senate), 4 years (House)
Authority:   Article III, Puerto Rico Constitution
Salary:   $73,775/year
Elections
Last election:  November 3, 2020
Next election:  November 5, 2024
Meeting place:
Puerto Rico Capitol.jpg


The Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly is the legislature of Puerto Rico. Article III of the Puerto Rico Constitution mandates a bicameral legislature with an upper house, the Puerto Rico Senate, and a lower house, the Puerto Rico House of Representatives.

Article III, Section 2 of the Puerto Rico Constitution provides that the Puerto Rico Senate shall be composed of 27 members and the Puerto Rico House of Representatives shall be composed of 51 representatives, except in accordance with Section 7.[1]

Section 7 stipulates that if one political party wins at least two-thirds of the seats in a general election, the number of total senators can increase by up to but not more than nine members. The total number of representatives can increase by up to but not more than 17 members. Additional members are selected from the minority party or parties, first beginning with at-large candidates in order of obtained votes, followed by district candidates who obtained the highest proportion of total votes in their district. Any district candidates elected in this way are considered at large members of the chamber.[2]

The Legislature meets in the Capitol of Puerto Rico in the city of San Juan (officially designated as such by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of Puerto Rico).[3]

Senate

The Puerto Rico Senate is the upper chamber of the Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly. There body is composed of 27 members, with 16 members representing eight senatorial districts, and 11 members elected at large, except as provided by Article III, Section 7 of the Puerto Rico Constitution. Click here for more information. Out of the members that represent individual districts, each member represents an average of 205,367 citizens, as of the 2020 Census.[4]Senators are elected every four years in even-numbered years. They are not subject to term limits.[5]

Like other upper houses of state and territorial legislatures and the U.S. Senate, the Senate can confirm or reject gubernatorial appointments to the governor's advisory council, judges, and justices of the Supreme Court.[6][7]

Leadership

The Senate president in Puerto Rico is the presiding officer of the Senate, established by the Puerto Rico Constitution. The position is held by a member of the Senate and is selected by the chamber's members.[8] In his or her absence, the president pro tempore presides over the Senate and is the second-highest officer of the Senate. Each party in the chamber also elects floor leaders designated as "majority leader," "minority leader," "majority whip," and "minority whip." These floor leaders act as party spokespeople.

Partisan composition

See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Party As of September 2025
Popular Democratic Party (PPD) 5
New Progressive Party (PNP) 19
Citizen Victory Movement 0
Puerto Rican Independence (PIP) 2
Project Dignity 1
Independent 1
Vacant 0
Total 28

Click here for a list of members of this chamber.

House of Representatives

The Puerto Rico House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly. There are 51 members, with 40 members representing one district each, and 11 members elected at large, except as provided by Article III, Section 7 of the Puerto Rico Constitution.[5]Out of the members that represent individual districts, each member represents an average of 82,146 citizens, as of the 2020 Census.[4]Representatives are elected every four years in even-numbered years. They are not subject to term limits.

Puerto Rico joins lower house officials in five states (Alabama, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, and North Dakota) with four-year terms. The majority of state legislatures abide by the model set in place by the U.S. House of Representatives, which are two-year terms.

Leadership

The speaker of the House presides over the House of Representatives.[9] The speaker is selected by House members. The speaker pro tempore is the second-ranking officer of the House and fulfills the duties of the speaker in case of his or her absence.

Partisan composition

See also: Partisan composition of state houses
Party As of September 2025
Popular Democratic Party (PPD) 13
New Progressive Party (PNP) 35
Citizen Victory Movement 0
Puerto Rican Independence (PIP) 3
Project Dignity 1
Independent 0
Vacant 1
Total 53

Click here for a list of members of this chamber.

Elections

2024

See also: Puerto Rico Senate elections, 2024 and Puerto Rico House of Representatives elections, 2024

Elections for the office of Puerto Rico Senate took place in 2024. The general election was held on November 3, 2024. The primary was June 2, 2024. Candidates had to submit 50% of their signatures by January 31, 2024, and 100% of their signatures by February 15, 2024.

Elections for the office of Puerto Rico House of Representatives took place in 2024. The general election was held on November 5, 2024. The primary was June 2, 2024. Candidates had to submit 50% of their signatures by January 31, 2024, and 100% of their signatures by February 15, 2024.

2022

See also: Puerto Rico legislative special elections, 2022

A special election for Puerto Rico Senate District 1 was called for September 11, 2022. The candidate filing deadline was July 15, 2022.[10]

A special election for Puerto Rico House of Representatives District 3 was called for December 4, 2022. The candidate filing deadline was October 15, 2022.[11][12]

2020

See also: Puerto Rico Senate elections, 2020 and Puerto Rico House of Representatives elections, 2020

Elections for the office of Puerto Rico Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for August 9, 2020. The filing deadline was December 30, 2019.

Elections for the office of Puerto Rico House of Representatives took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for August 9, 2020. The filing deadline was December 30, 2019.

Members

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

As of 2023, members of the Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly received an annual salary of $73,775. However, the Vice Presidents of each House received $84,841, the Presidents of each Chamber received $110,663, the Speakers of all political parties received $84,841, and the Presidents of the Finance and Government Committees of the Senate and House received $84,841[13]

Swearing in dates

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Puerto Rico legislators assume office on the second day of January immediately following the date of the general election in which they were elected.[14]

Sessions

Article III, Section 10 of the Constitution of Puerto Rico stipulates that the duration of regular sessions are to be prescribed by law.[15]

The Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly convenes in regular sessions on the second Monday in January. The Legislative Assembly is considered a continuous body during the term for which its members are elected, and the periods of time for the introduction and consideration of bills are prescribed by law.[15]

The governor of Puerto Rico can call the Legislative Assembly into a special session when the governor judges the public interest requires it.[16] The session may only consider matters specified in the governor's call or special message sent to the Assembly by the governor during the session. Special sessions cannot continue longer than 20 calendar days.[15]

Role in Puerto Rico Constitution

The Constitution of Puerto Rico has been the current constitution since it was ratified in 1952.

The Legislative Assembly under the constitution (Article VII of the Puerto Rico Constitution) can propose amendments to the constitution with the consent of two-thirds of each chamber. The people of Puerto Rico then vote on the proposed constitutional amendments in a referendum.[17]

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ welcome.topuertorico.org, "Constitution of Puerto Rico," accessed August 9, 2023(Article III, Section 2)
  2. ↑ welcome.topuertorico.org, "Constitution of Puerto Rico," accessed August 9, 2023(Article III, Section 7)
  3. ↑ welcome.topuertorico.org, "Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico" accessed August 9, 2023(Article III, Section 11)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 U.S. Census Bureau, "Quick Fact Puerto Rico," accessed August 9, 2023
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 welcome.topuertorico.org, "Constitution of Puerto Rico," accessed August 9, 2023(Article III, Section 3)
  6. ↑ welcome.topuertorico.org, "Constitution of Puerto Rico," accessed August 9, 2023(Article V, Section 8)
  7. ↑ welcome.topuertorico.org, "Constitution of Puerto Rico," accessed August 9, 2023(Article IV, Section 5)
  8. ↑ welcome.topuertorico.org, "Constitution of Puerto Rico," accessed August 9, 2023(Article III, Section 9)
  9. ↑ welcome.topuertorico.org, "Constitution of Puerto Rico," accessed August 9, 2023(Article III, Section 9)
  10. ↑ Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico, "Elección Especial para cubrir la vacante de Senador por el Distrito I (San Juan)," accessed January 9, 2023
  11. ↑ Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico, "Elección Especial para cubrir la vacante de Representante Distrito Núm. 3," accessed October 14, 2022
  12. ↑ Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico, "Proclama de la Comisión Especial para cubrir la vacante de Representante por el Distrito Representativo de San Juan (3) del Partido Nuevo Progresista (PNP)," October 12, 2022
  13. ↑ lexjuris.com, "Act No. 24 of May 29, 2013," accessed August 9, 2023
  14. ↑ welcome.topuertorico.org, "Constitution of Puerto Rico," accessed August 9, 2023(Article III, Section 8)
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 welcome.topuertorico.org, "Constitution of Puerto Rico," accessed August 9, 2023
  16. ↑ welcome.topuertorico.org, "Constitution of Puerto Rico," accessed August 9, 2023(Article IV, Section 4)
  17. ↑ welcome.topuertorico.org, "Constitution of Puerto Rico," accessed August 9, 2023(Article VII, Sections 1 and 2)
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