Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2006 - States that Congress reaffirms the inherent authority of the government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to call, and hereby expressly authorizes the calling of, a constitutional convention through the election of delegates for the purpose of establishing a mechanism for self-determination.
Provides that, upon the approval by a constitutional convention in the Commonwealth of a self-determination option, the convention shall submit a self-determination proposal to Congress for approval.
Requires submission of the proposal, upon approval by Congress with or without modifications, to the people of the Commonwealth for appoval or rejection in a referendum.
Requires enactment of a joint resolution of Congress approving the terms of the proposal, including implementing provisions, if the people of Puerto Rico approve the proposal in the referendum.
Provides that, if a self-determination proposal is not approved by Congress or by the people of Puerto Rico in a referendum, the Government of the Commonwealth should call for a new constitutional convention, including an election by the people of Puerto Rico of new delegates to the convention, for the purpose of formulating and submitting to Congress a new self-determination proposal.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4963 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4963
To recognize the right of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to call a
constitutional convention through which the people of Puerto Rico would
exercise their right to self-determination, and to establish a
mechanism for congressional consideration of such decision.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 15, 2006
Mr. Duncan (for himself, Mr. Jones of North Carolina, Mr. Wicker, Mr.
Pickering, Mr. Bonner, Mr. Gutknecht, Mr. Bachus, Ms. Velazquez, Mr.
Faleomavaega, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Honda, Mr. Meeks of
New York, Mr. Oberstar, Ms. Solis, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, and Mr.
Udall of New Mexico) introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To recognize the right of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to call a
constitutional convention through which the people of Puerto Rico would
exercise their right to self-determination, and to establish a
mechanism for congressional consideration of such decision.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act
of 2006''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Commonwealth.--The term ``Commonwealth'' means the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(2) Self-determination option.--The term ``self-
determination option'' means an option agreed to by a
constitutional convention in the Commonwealth for a new or
modified Commonwealth status, statehood, or independence.
(3) Self-determination proposal.--The term ``self-
determination proposal'' means a document submitted to Congress
by a constitutional convention in the Commonwealth that
proposes a self-determination option.
SEC. 3. CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
(a) Authority.--Congress reaffirms the inherent authority of the
government of the Commonwealth to call, and hereby expressly authorizes
the calling of, a constitutional convention through the election of
delegates for the purpose of establishing a mechanism for self-
determination.
(b) Purpose of Constitutional Convention.--The purpose of a
constitutional convention called under subsection (a) is to propose to
Congress--
(1) a new or amended compact of association to replace or
amend the compact established under the Act entitled ``An Act
to provide for the organization of a constitutional government
by the people of Puerto Rico'', approved July 3, 1950 (64 Stat.
319) (commonly referred to as ``Public Law 600'') and the
Commonwealth constitution;
(2) the admission of the Commonwealth as a State in the
United States; or
(3) the declaration of the Commonwealth as an independent
country.
SEC. 4. SELF-DETERMINATION PROPOSAL.
(a) Submission to Congress of Self-Determination Proposal.--Upon
the approval by a constitutional convention in the Commonwealth of a
self-determination option, the constitutional convention shall submit a
self-determination proposal to Congress for approval.
(b) Disposition of Self-Determination Proposal.--
(1) Referendum.--If a self-determination proposal is
approved by Congress with or without modifications, the
proposal shall be submitted to the people of the Commonwealth
for approval or rejection in a referendum.
(2) Enactment of proposal.--If the people of the
Commonwealth approve the self-determination proposal in a
referendum held pursuant to paragraph (1), a joint resolution
of Congress shall be enacted approving the terms of the
proposal and including provisions necessary to implement the
proposal.
(3) Rejection of proposal.--If a self-determination
proposal is not approved by Congress pursuant to subsection (a)
or is not approved by the people of the Commonwealth in a
referendum held pursuant to paragraph (1), the Government of
the Commonwealth should call for a new constitutional
convention, including an election by the people of the
Commonwealth of new delegates to the convention, for the
purpose of formulating and submitting to Congress a new self-
determination proposal.
SEC. 5. CONVENTION IN CONTINUOUS SESSION.
A constitutional convention held pursuant to this Act may remain in
session until a self-determination proposal is approved in a referendum
by the people of the Commonwealth and enacted by a joint resolution of
Congress.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
Executive Comment Requested from Interior.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line