House of Representatives of Puerto Rico
Encyclopedia
The House of Representatives of Puerto Rico (Cámara de Representantes de Puerto Rico) is the lower house
of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico
, the territorial legislature of Puerto Rico
. The House is composed of 40 district representatives and eleven representatives elected at-large
.
The House convenes in the Capitol Building in San Juan.
, the lower body of the Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly was the only elected body until the Senate
was created in 1917 under the Jones-Shafroth Act
, creating a bicameral legislature.
The House of Delegates was controlled by the Republican Party from its creation in 1900 through 1904. In January 1905, the House switched to control by the Union Party, which would remain in power until 1924. A coalition of the Republican and Socialist Parties controlled the House until 1944, save for a brief period from 1941 to 1943 of the Popular Democratic Party
.
After the Popular Democratic Party's landslide victory in 1944, that Party controlled the House until 1969, when the New Progressive Party
won the House and the governorship, but not the Senate, creating Puerto Rico's first "split" government. Angel Viera Martinez, a former prosecutor and freshman representative from San Juan, was elected to the first of three stints as Speaker.
In 1973, the Popular Democratic Party reacquired control of the House but was ousted as the majority party in the 1976 elections, won by the New Progressive Party. Viera Martinez was elected in 1977 to his second stint as Speaker.
As a result of the 1980 elections, the New Progressive Party had won 26 seats and the Popular Democratic Party 25, but the latter challenged the results of the 35th Representative District, creating a tie with each Party holding 25 seats, pending the final results of that district. Since the new House in 1981 was tied, it was unable to elect a Speaker, as required, by an absolute majority. To complicate matters, Ramón Muñíz (PDP-32nd District) died in the House Floor on January 1981 and Representative-elect Fernando Tonos Florenzán's election was invalidated due to him not having the Constitutionally requiered 25 years to serve in the House, leaving the House with 25 New Progressives and 23 Popular Democrats. House Secretary Cristino Bernazard
, who normally would have presided over the House only until it elected its new Speaker in its inaugural session, became the first unelected Acting Speaker of the House. During Bernazard's incumbency, he appointed co-chairs to the House standing committees and required that all House decisions and legislation be approved by consensus. After some political wrangling, in what became known as the Viera-Colberg Pact, the House elected Viera Martinez once again as Speaker for the remainder of 1981 and maverick Popular Democratic Rep. Severo Colberg Ramírez as Speaker from 1982 until 1984. In late 1981, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Popular Democratic candidate in the 35th District, and with the Popular Democrats finally filling in the two vacancies they had, that Party gained control of the House, with a mayority of 26.
Even though the Popular Democratic Party retained the House in the 1984 General Elections, Colberg was not re-elected Speaker, and instead José Ronaldo "Rony" Jarabo
, served as Speaker from 1985 to 1992. Jarabo was defeated in a primary in 1992, and as the New Progressive Party won the 1992 General Elections, he was succeeded by the first woman Speaker, Zaida Hernandez Torres, who served until 1996, when she left the House to run for Mayor of San Juan.
Hernandez's Speaker pro Tempore, Edison Misla Aldarondo, became Speaker in 1997. After he left office in 2000 he was convicted of corruption charges in federal and state courts. He was succeeded in office by Carlos Vizcarrondo during the 2001-2004 term.
In 2005, as a Popular Democratic governor took office, the New Progressive Party controlled the Senate and the House, and José Aponte Hernández, a loyalist of former Governor Pedro Rosselló
, was elected as Speaker of the House. In addition to the tension with the executive branch, Aponte's term was been tinged with greater-than-average tension with the Senate, in which his support for Rossello's bid to oust Senate President Kenneth McClintock
, whom he called a "traitor" to his Party, took him to lead over 20 New Progressive representatives to converge on the Senate floor in opposition to McClintock's permanence as Senate President, considered by many the all-time historical low-point in Senate-House relations.
Aponte was defeated for re-election as Speaker in the House Caucus held after the 2008 General Elections, and Jenniffer A. González Colón
became the new Speaker, taking office on January 12, 2009.
divides Puerto Rico into eight senatorial districts, each one of them composed of five of the aforementioned representative districts.
For each one of the constituent representative districts, the people of Puerto Rico elect one representative. In addition, people are allowed to vote for one representative of their preference at-large
. The eleven at-large
representatives serve alongside district representatives, totaling 51 members.
Article III, Section 5 of the Constitution of Puerto Rico states that no person shall be a member of the House of Representatives unless he:
Furthermore, Section 9 of the same Article states that should a Party control more than two-thirds of the seats in the House of Representatives, the losing candidates with the most percentage of votes will be given seats in the Legislature until the total of minority members reaches seventeen (17). In order to qualify to a Section 9 seat, the candidates must belong to a party that received a minimum amount of votes in the General Elections of that year.
[*] Elected by Addition (Defeated in elections, but holds a seat because of Section 9 of Articule III of the Constitution. See above.)
Lower house
A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide the lower house has come to wield more power...
of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico
Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico
The Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico is the territorial legislature of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The structure and responsibilities of the Legislative Assembly are defined in Article III of the Constitution of Puerto Rico....
, the territorial legislature of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. The House is composed of 40 district representatives and eleven representatives elected at-large
At-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
.
The House convenes in the Capitol Building in San Juan.
History
Created in 1900 as the House of Delegates under the Foraker ActForaker Act
The Foraker Act,officially the Organic Act of 1900, is a United States federal law that established civilian government on the island of Puerto Rico, which had been newly acquired by the United States as a result of the Spanish–American War. Section VII of the Foraker Act also established Puerto...
, the lower body of the Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly was the only elected body until the Senate
Senate of Puerto Rico
The Senate of Puerto Rico is the upper house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, the territorial legislature of Puerto Rico. The Senate is composed of 27 senators, representing eight constituent senatorial districts across the commonwealth, with two senators elected per district; an...
was created in 1917 under the Jones-Shafroth Act
Jones-Shafroth Act
The Jones–Shafroth Act was a 1917 Act of the United States Congress by which Puerto Ricans were collectively made U.S. citizens, the people of Puerto Rico were empowered to have a popularly-elected Senate, established a bill of rights, and authorized the election of a Resident Commissioner to a...
, creating a bicameral legislature.
The House of Delegates was controlled by the Republican Party from its creation in 1900 through 1904. In January 1905, the House switched to control by the Union Party, which would remain in power until 1924. A coalition of the Republican and Socialist Parties controlled the House until 1944, save for a brief period from 1941 to 1943 of the Popular Democratic Party
Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth....
.
After the Popular Democratic Party's landslide victory in 1944, that Party controlled the House until 1969, when the New Progressive Party
New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico
The New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that advocates for Puerto Rico's admission to the United States of America as the 51st state...
won the House and the governorship, but not the Senate, creating Puerto Rico's first "split" government. Angel Viera Martinez, a former prosecutor and freshman representative from San Juan, was elected to the first of three stints as Speaker.
In 1973, the Popular Democratic Party reacquired control of the House but was ousted as the majority party in the 1976 elections, won by the New Progressive Party. Viera Martinez was elected in 1977 to his second stint as Speaker.
As a result of the 1980 elections, the New Progressive Party had won 26 seats and the Popular Democratic Party 25, but the latter challenged the results of the 35th Representative District, creating a tie with each Party holding 25 seats, pending the final results of that district. Since the new House in 1981 was tied, it was unable to elect a Speaker, as required, by an absolute majority. To complicate matters, Ramón Muñíz (PDP-32nd District) died in the House Floor on January 1981 and Representative-elect Fernando Tonos Florenzán's election was invalidated due to him not having the Constitutionally requiered 25 years to serve in the House, leaving the House with 25 New Progressives and 23 Popular Democrats. House Secretary Cristino Bernazard
Cristino Bernazard
Cristino Bernazard is the only person to have served beyond the inaugural session as an unelected Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives....
, who normally would have presided over the House only until it elected its new Speaker in its inaugural session, became the first unelected Acting Speaker of the House. During Bernazard's incumbency, he appointed co-chairs to the House standing committees and required that all House decisions and legislation be approved by consensus. After some political wrangling, in what became known as the Viera-Colberg Pact, the House elected Viera Martinez once again as Speaker for the remainder of 1981 and maverick Popular Democratic Rep. Severo Colberg Ramírez as Speaker from 1982 until 1984. In late 1981, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Popular Democratic candidate in the 35th District, and with the Popular Democrats finally filling in the two vacancies they had, that Party gained control of the House, with a mayority of 26.
Even though the Popular Democratic Party retained the House in the 1984 General Elections, Colberg was not re-elected Speaker, and instead José Ronaldo "Rony" Jarabo
José Ronaldo Jarabo
José Ronaldo Jarabo, born and raised by his mother in San Juan, Puerto Rico, was the Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives from 1985 to 1992, having served as a member of that legislative body for twenty years from 1973 to 1992....
, served as Speaker from 1985 to 1992. Jarabo was defeated in a primary in 1992, and as the New Progressive Party won the 1992 General Elections, he was succeeded by the first woman Speaker, Zaida Hernandez Torres, who served until 1996, when she left the House to run for Mayor of San Juan.
Hernandez's Speaker pro Tempore, Edison Misla Aldarondo, became Speaker in 1997. After he left office in 2000 he was convicted of corruption charges in federal and state courts. He was succeeded in office by Carlos Vizcarrondo during the 2001-2004 term.
In 2005, as a Popular Democratic governor took office, the New Progressive Party controlled the Senate and the House, and José Aponte Hernández, a loyalist of former Governor Pedro Rosselló
Pedro Rosselló
Pedro Juan Rosselló González, M.D., , is a Puerto Rican physician and politician who served as the sixth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001...
, was elected as Speaker of the House. In addition to the tension with the executive branch, Aponte's term was been tinged with greater-than-average tension with the Senate, in which his support for Rossello's bid to oust Senate President Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth D. McClintock-Hernández is the current Secretary of State of Puerto Rico. Mr. McClintock served as co-chair of Hillary Clinton presidential campaign's National Hispanic Leadership Council in 2008, co-chaired Clinton's successful Puerto Rico primary campaign that year and served as the...
, whom he called a "traitor" to his Party, took him to lead over 20 New Progressive representatives to converge on the Senate floor in opposition to McClintock's permanence as Senate President, considered by many the all-time historical low-point in Senate-House relations.
Aponte was defeated for re-election as Speaker in the House Caucus held after the 2008 General Elections, and Jenniffer A. González Colón
Jennifer González
Jenniffer A. González Colón is a Puerto Rican politician who serves as the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico, a commonwealth with the United States. She is affiliated with the pro-statehood New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico and the United States Republican Party...
became the new Speaker, taking office on January 12, 2009.
Composition
Puerto Rico is divided into forty representative districts. Article VIII of the Constitution of Puerto RicoConstitution of Puerto Rico
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is the controlling government document of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It is composed of nine articles detailing the structure of the government as well as the function of several of its institutions. The document also contains an extensive...
divides Puerto Rico into eight senatorial districts, each one of them composed of five of the aforementioned representative districts.
For each one of the constituent representative districts, the people of Puerto Rico elect one representative. In addition, people are allowed to vote for one representative of their preference at-large
At-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
. The eleven at-large
At-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
representatives serve alongside district representatives, totaling 51 members.
Article III, Section 5 of the Constitution of Puerto Rico states that no person shall be a member of the House of Representatives unless he:
- is capable of reading and writing in either SpanishSpanish languageSpanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
or EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
; - is a citizen of the United States;
- has resided in Puerto Rico for at least two years immediately prior to the date of his/her election or appointment;
- is over twenty-five years of age.
Furthermore, Section 9 of the same Article states that should a Party control more than two-thirds of the seats in the House of Representatives, the losing candidates with the most percentage of votes will be given seats in the Legislature until the total of minority members reaches seventeen (17). In order to qualify to a Section 9 seat, the candidates must belong to a party that received a minimum amount of votes in the General Elections of that year.
Leadership
| Position | Name | Party | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speaker of the House | Jenniffer González Colón | NPP New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico The New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that advocates for Puerto Rico's admission to the United States of America as the 51st state... |
At-Large |
| Speaker Pro Tempore | Gabriel Rodríguez Aguiló | NPP New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico The New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that advocates for Puerto Rico's admission to the United States of America as the 51st state... |
District 13 |
| Majority Leader | Carlos J. Méndez Núñez | NPP New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico The New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that advocates for Puerto Rico's admission to the United States of America as the 51st state... |
At-Large |
| Majority Whip | Angel Perez Otero | NPP New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico The New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that advocates for Puerto Rico's admission to the United States of America as the 51st state... |
District 6 |
| Minority Leader | Héctor Ferrer Ríos | PDP Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth.... |
At-Large |
| Minority Whip | Luis Raúl Torres Cruz | PDP Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth.... |
District 2 |
Current composition
| Affiliation | Party | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Progressive New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico The New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that advocates for Puerto Rico's admission to the United States of America as the 51st state... |
Popular Democratic Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth.... |
Independence Puerto Rican Independence Party The Puerto Rican Independence Party is a Puerto Rican political party that campaigns for the independence of Puerto Rico from United States suzerainty.... |
Vacant | ||
| End of previous legislature | 32 | 18 | 1 | 51 | 0 |
| Begin | 37 | 17 | 0 | 54 | 0 |
| Latest voting share | 72.5% | 27.5% | |||
Members
| District | Name | Party |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | José López Muñoz | PNP |
| 2 | Luis Raúl Torres Cruz | PDP |
| 3 | Albita Rivera Ramírez Albita Rivera Ramirez Albita Rivera Ramirez is a representative in the Puerto Rican House of Representatives for the Third District of San Juan. Rep. Rivera is a member of the NPP or New Progressive Party , which promotes the eventual statehood of the island nation... |
PNP |
| 4 | Liza Fernández Rodríguez | PNP |
| 5 | Jorge Navarro Suárez | PNP |
| 6 | Angel Perez Otero | PNP |
| 7 | Luis Pérez Ortíz | PNP |
| 8 | Antonio Silva Delgado | PNP |
| 9 | Angel Rodríguez Miranda | PNP |
| 10 | Bernardo Márquez García | PNP |
| 11 | María Vega Pagán | PNP |
| 12 | Héctor Torres Calderón | PNP |
| 13 | Gabriel Rodríguez Aguiló | PNP |
| 14 | Paula Rodríguez Homs | PNP |
| 15 | Arnaldo Jiménez Valle | PNP |
| 16 | Eric Alfaro | PNP |
| 17 | José Rivera Guerra | PNP |
| 18 | David Bonilla Cortés | PNP |
| 19 | Carlos Hernández López | PDP |
| 20 | Norman Ramírez Rivera | PNP |
| 21 | Lydia Méndez Silva | PDP |
| 22 | Waldemar Quiles Rodríguez | PNP |
| 23 | Julissa Nolasco Ortíz | PNP |
| 24 | Luis León Rodríguez | PNP |
| 25 | Víctor Vasallo Anadón | PDP |
| 26 | José Jiménez Negrón | PNP |
| 27 | José Torres Ramírez | PDP |
| 28 | Rafael Rivera Ortega | PNP |
| 29 | Pedro Cintrón Rodríguez | PNP |
| 30 | Jorge Ramos Peña | PNP |
| 31 | Sylvia Rodríguez Aponte | PDP |
| 32 | José Varela Fernández | PDP |
| 33 | Angel Peña Ramírez | PNP |
| 34 | Cristóbal Colón Ruiz | PNP |
| 35 | Narden Jaime Espinosa | PDP |
| 36 | Carlos Méndez Nuñez | PNP |
| 37 | Angel Bulerín Ramos | PNP |
| 38 | Eric Correa Rivera | PNP |
| 39 | Roberto Rivera Ruiz de Porras | PDP |
| 40 | Elizabeth Casado Irizarry | PNP |
| At-Large | José Chico Vega | PNP |
| At-Large | José E. Meléndez Ortiz | PNP |
| At-Large | Jenniffer González Colón | PNP |
| At-Large | María de Lourdes Ramos Rivera María L. Ramos Rivera Maria de Lourdes Ramos Rivera is a Puerto Rican politician who currently serves in the Puerto Rican House of Representatives, elected at-large.... |
PNP |
| At-Large | Iris Miriam Ruiz Class Iris Miriam Ruiz Iris Miriam Ruiz Class is a Puerto Rican politician who served in the Puerto Rico House of Representatives and currently holds the office of Ombudswoman.... |
PNP |
| At-Large | Héctor Ferrer Ríos | PDP |
| At-Large | Jorge Colberg Toro* | PDP |
| At-Large | Luis Vega Ramos | PDP |
| At-Large | José F. Aponte Hernández | PNP |
| At-Large | Carmen Cruz Soto | PDP |
| At-Large | Pedro Rodríguez González* | PDP |
| At-Large | Rafael Hernández Montañez* | PDP |
| At-Large | Brenda López de Arrarás | PDP |
| At-Large | Jaime Perelló Borrás | PDP |
[*] Elected by Addition (Defeated in elections, but holds a seat because of Section 9 of Articule III of the Constitution. See above.)
Speakers
| # | Portrait | Name | From | Until | Party | President Pro-Tempore |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manuel F. Rossy Calderón | December 3, 1900 | December 31, 1904 | Republican | ||
| 2 |  |
Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón was a lawyer, a member of the Puerto Rican House of Representatives, and a lifelong political contrarian. He favored Puerto Rican autonomy when Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony. After the Spanish-American War, when the island was ceded to the United States, he advocated... |
January 10, 1905 | December 31, 1906 | Union | |
| 3 | Francisco P. Acuña y Paniagua | January 14, 1907 | March 6, 1907 | Union | ||
| 4 | José de Diego Martínez José de Diego José de Diego y Martínez , known as "The Father of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement", was a statesman, journalist, poet, lawyer, and advocate for Puerto Rico's independence from Spain and from the United States.... |
March 6, 1907 | July 16, 1918 | Union | Juan B. Huyke Bozello | |
| 5 | Juan B. Huyke Bozello | November 26, 1918 | December 31, 1920 | Union | Miguel Guerra Mondragón | |
| 6 | Cayetano Coll y Cuchí Cayetano Coll y Cuchí Cayetano Coll y Cuchí was a politician, writer and an advocate of Puerto Rican Independence. In 1917, he became the first President of Puerto Rico House of Representatives after the island was ceded to the United States by Spain as a result of the Spanish-American War... |
February 14, 1921 | February 11, 1923 | Union | Alfonso Lastra Chárriez | |
| 7 | Miguel Guerra Mondragrón | February 12, 1923 | December 31, 1924 | Union | Alfonso Lastra Chárriez | |
| 8 | José Tous Soto | February 9, 1925 | February 18, 1930 | Republican | Miguel Guerra Modragón 1925-1929 Benigno Fernández García 1929-1930 |
|
| 9 | Manuel F. Rossy Calderón | February 20, 1930 | August 6, 1932 | Republican | Enrique Landrón Otero 1930 Rafael Alonso Torres 1930-1931 |
|
| 10 | Rafael Alonso Torres | October 18, 1932 | December 31, 1932 | Socialist | Jorge Romaní | |
| 11 | Miguel A. García Méndez Miguel A. García Méndez Miguel Angel García Méndez was a recognized businessman, lawyer, statesman, and banker in Puerto Rico. He was a lifelong statehood supporter for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico... |
February 13, 1933 | December 31, 1940 | Republican | Rafael Alonso Torres | |
| 12 | Samuel R. Quiñones Quiñones Samuel R. Quiñones Samuel R. Quiñones was a prominent attorney in Puerto Rico who served for twenty years as the fifth President of the Senate of Puerto Rico, from 1949 to 1968, by far the longest serving Senate President. He had previously served as Speaker of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico in the... |
February 12, 1941 | March 5, 1943 | Popular Democratic Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth.... |
Luis Sánchez Frasqueri | |
| 13 | Rafael Arrillaga Torrens | March 5, 1943 | February 24, 1944 | Socialist | Julio Reguero González | |
| 14 | Rafael Rodríguez Pacheco | February 24, 1944 | December 31, 1944 | Republican | Julio Reguero González | |
| 15 | María L. Gómez Garriga | January 11, 1945 | February 12, 1945 | Popular Democratic Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth.... |
Guillermo Alicea Campos | |
| 16 | Francisco M. Susoni Abreu | February 12, 1945 | June 5, 1948 | Popular Democratic Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth.... |
Ernesto Ramos Antonini Ernesto Ramos Antonini Ernesto Ramos Antonini was the President of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico and co-founder of the Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico .-Early years:... |
|
| 17 |  |
Ernesto Ramos Antonini Ernesto Ramos Antonini Ernesto Ramos Antonini was the President of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico and co-founder of the Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico .-Early years:... |
June 22, 1948 | January 9, 1963 | Popular Democratic Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth.... |
Benjamín Ortiz Ortiz 1949-1952 María L. Gómez Garriga 1953-1956 Jorge Font Saldaña 1957-1962 |
| 18 |  |
Santiago Polanco Abreu Santiago Polanco Abreu Santiago Polanco-Abreu was a Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico.Born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Polanco-Abreu attended elementary and high schools in Isabela, Puerto Rico.... |
January 14, 1963 | December 31, 1964 | Popular Democratic Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth.... |
Benjamín Ortiz Ortiz |
| 19 | Arcilio Alvarado Alvarado | January 11, 1965 | December 31, 1968 | Popular Democratic Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth.... |
Aguedo Mojica | |
| 20 | Angel Viera Martínez Angel Viera Martínez Attorney Angel Viera Martínez was a prominent pro-statehood public servant in Puerto Rico during the second half of the 20th century.He began his public service as a prosecutor. In 1968 he ran as a candidate for state representative under the banner of the New Progressive Party, which he helped... |
January 13, 1969 | December 31, 1972 | New Progressive | Rubén Otero Bosco 1969-1970 José E. Salichs Lope de Haro 1970-1972 |
|
| 21 | Luis E. Ramos Yordán | January 8, 1973 | December 31, 1976 | Popular Democratic Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth.... |
Severo Colberg Ramírez | |
| 22 | Angel Viera Martínez Angel Viera Martínez Attorney Angel Viera Martínez was a prominent pro-statehood public servant in Puerto Rico during the second half of the 20th century.He began his public service as a prosecutor. In 1968 he ran as a candidate for state representative under the banner of the New Progressive Party, which he helped... |
January 10, 1977 | January 28, 1982 | New Progressive | José N. Granados Navedos José Granados José Granados Navedo, , is a former Speaker Pro Tem of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico. Married, with three children, he lives with his family in Florida.-Early years:... 1977 - 1978 José E. Salichs Lope de Haro 1978 - December 31, 1980 Severo Colberg Ramírez 1981 - 1982 |
|
| 23 | Severo Colberg Ramírez | January 28, 1982 | December 31, 1984 | Popular Democratic Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth.... |
Presby Santiago García | |
| 24 | José R. Jarabo Alvarez José Ronaldo Jarabo José Ronaldo Jarabo, born and raised by his mother in San Juan, Puerto Rico, was the Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives from 1985 to 1992, having served as a member of that legislative body for twenty years from 1973 to 1992.... |
January 14, 1985 | December 31, 1992 | Popular Democratic Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth.... |
Samuel Ramírez Torres | |
| 25 | Zaida R. Hernández Torres Zaida R. Hernández Torres Zaida R. Hernández Torres: is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the Speaker of the Puerto Rican House of Representatives from 1993 to 1996... |
January 11, 1993 | December 31, 1996 | New Progressive | Edison Misla Aldarondo Edison Misla Aldarondo Edison Misla Aldarondo is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the Speaker of the Puerto Rican House of Representatives from 1997 to 2000. He was a founder of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico . He also served as Representative from the 4th District from 1977 to 2002, and... |
|
| 26 | Edison Misla Aldarondo Edison Misla Aldarondo Edison Misla Aldarondo is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the Speaker of the Puerto Rican House of Representatives from 1997 to 2000. He was a founder of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico . He also served as Representative from the 4th District from 1977 to 2002, and... |
January 13, 1997 | December 31, 2000 | New Progressive | José N. Granados Navedos José Granados José Granados Navedo, , is a former Speaker Pro Tem of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico. Married, with three children, he lives with his family in Florida.-Early years:... January 1997 - June 30, 1999 Edwin Mundo Ríos June 30, 1999 - December 31, 2000 |
|
| 27 | Carlos Vizcarrondo Irizarry | January 8, 2001 | December 31, 2004 | Popular Democratic Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth.... |
Ferdinand Pérez Román | |
| 28 |  |
José F. Aponte Hernández | January 10, 2005 | December 31, 2008 | New Progressive | Epifanio Jiménez Cruz |
| 29 | Jenniffer A. González Colón | January 12, 2009 | present | New Progressive | Gabriel Rodríguez Aguiló |
See also
- List of Mayority Leaders of the Puerto Rican House of Representatives
- List of Minority Leaders of the Puerto Rican House of Representatives
- List of female members of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico