Name_______________________
To Be or Not to Be…Should Puerto Rico become the 51st state?
The “51st state” Question refers to territories that have been seriously considered
as potential candidates for U.S. statehood joining the 50 states that already
make up the United States of America.
Puerto Rico: History
Since 1898, Puerto Rico has had limited representation in the Congress. Even
though they have been considered citizens since 1917, Puerto Ricans are not
represented in the Electoral College, and ultimately have no voice in electing
the next President or Congressman. The island’s ultimate status is still up for
debate, in terms of their form of government; Puerto Rico is organized officially
as the “Commonwealth of Puerto Rico” a republican form of government, with
an organized constitution and bill of rights adopted by its people.
Despite limitations on political rights, residents of Puerto Rico are still expected to
pay taxes to the United States. Puerto Ricans may also enlist in the U.S. military
and have for years fought to defend America. In particular, since 2012, 52
Puerto Ricans have been killed in the Iraq War and War in Afghanistan.
Puerto Rico has been under U.S. control for over a century when it was given to
the U.S. by Spain following the end of the Spanish-American War.
1. What is one right Puerto Ricans do not share with citizens of the United
States?
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2. Why would you argue this is unfair?
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3. Puerto Rico is officially recognized as what form of government?
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4. When was Puerto Rico given to the United States? State one fact you learned
from the clip about that war.
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Steps to becoming a state…
Legally, under Article IV, Section Three of the United States Constitution, which
outlines the relationship among states, Congress has the power to admit new
states to the union. The states are required to give “full faith and credit” to the
acts of each other’s legislatures and courts. This generally includes recognition
of legal contracts, marriages, and criminal judgments. The states are
guaranteed military and civil defense by the federal government, which is also
obliged by Article IV, Section Four, to “guarantee to every state in this union a
republican form of government”.
5. Who has the right to admit new states to the union? ______________________ .
Puerto Rico has been discussed as a potential 51st state of the United States. On
February 12, 2014, Senator Martin Heinrich introduced a bill in the US Senate. The
bill would require a binding referendum to be held in Puerto Rico asking whether
the territory wants to be admitted as a state. In the event of a yes vote, the
president would be asked to submit legislation to Congress to admit Puerto Rico
as a state.[28]
(Referendum- a general vote on a single political question that has been
referred to them for a direct decision)
In a 2012 referendum, a majority of voters, 54%, expressed dissatisfaction with
the current political relationship. 61% of voters supported statehood (this percent
does not consider the percent of people who did not vote either way). On
December 2012, Puerto Rico’s legislature requested the President and Congress
end the current form of territorial status and begin the process of admitting
Puerto Rico to the Union as a state. Congressman José Enrique Serrano
commented
"I was particularly impressed with the outcome of the 'status' referendum
in Puerto Rico. A majority of those voting signaled the desire to change
the current territorial status. In a second question an even larger majority
asked to become a state. This is an earthquake in Puerto Rican politics. It
will demand the attention of Congress, and a definitive answer to the
Puerto Rican request for change. This is a history-making moment where
voters asked to move forward."[23]
6. A majority of Puerto Ricans in 2012 voted in a referendum to _______________
statehood for the first time.
Those supporting Puerto Rico as a State

61% of Puerto Rican voters decided to vote in
favor of statehood.

Puerto Ricans are legal US citizens, but have no
voting rights, no federal tax return rights, and no
federal medicaid/medicare rights. It is not right for
them to continue to be looked at as second-rate
citizens.


Those opposing Puerto Rico as a State

Puerto Rico has a corrupt government and high
crime rate. In comparison to the national
standard of 4.7 homicides per 100K inhabitants,
Puerto Rico is at 26. We don’t need more
problems to deal with.

Puerto Ricans are too different culturally and
linguistically. Puerto Ricans are indifferent to the
issues we face in our country. I believe that it is
better if we phase out the citizenship within the
next 10 years and give them their
independence.

Puerto Ricans will lose their own culture if they
are included into the United States because
they will feel pressured to adapt to fit in with the
American way of life instead of valuing their
own.

Their unemployment is high at 15%, they have a
$7 million debt and their GDP is lower. We will
actually lose more than gain from being a part
of that country. We already have enough
trouble dealing with our own country.
The US can exclude Puerto Rico from any national
law they choose because they are not currently a
state, but Puerto Rico cannot reject laws that they
do not agree.
Bringing Puerto Rico into the union would greatly
benefit both the Puerto Rican and the US
economy. The United States is currently spending
approximately $22 Billion each year to keep their
commonwealth status on Puerto Rico. Making
them the 51st State would instead bring in a $2
Billion profit from tourism in the country to the
national treasury, and in turn, would slowly help
with the national debt.

If Puerto Rico becomes a state, it will fall under the
poverty line, which means Puerto Rican citizens
will get more help from the U.S.

I don’t see why Puerto Rico shouldn’t be a state. It
is similar to Hawaii, and is actually closer to the
main land of the U.S. than Hawaii. It will allow the
United States to have a greater presence in the
Caribbean.
7. Should Puerto Rico be 51st state? EXPLAIN why or why not using the arguments above.
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