Puerto Rico remains a constitutional limbo neither state nor colony
Evidence
The Insular Cases have never been overruled. The Philippines have gained their independence, but Puerto Rico is still something special, neither fish nor fowl, not a state, not exactly a colony, but something in between—a “Commonwealth.” Puerto Ricans carry American passports; flights to and from San Juan are domestic flights; Puerto Ricans can move to the mainland at will; but they do not vote for president, and their legal world is a shadowy one, half in and half out of the United States. — Lawrence M. Friedman, A History of American Law, 3754
Categorization
- XREF: This unresolved Puerto Rico status is the legal echo of every colonial land-taking pattern running through the polyad courses. — connects to: The U.S. governed Guam as a colony denying constitutional rights — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 237; Guam residents remain American citizens denied full constitutional rights; A 1998 Puerto Rican referendum saw ‘none of the above’ win the majority. — Eddie S. Glaude Jr., Democracy in Black: How Race Still…, 614 (+2 more)
Broader Connections
- The U.S. governed Guam as a colony denying constitutional rights
#expands(0.85) — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 237 - Guam residents remain American citizens denied full constitutional rights
#expands(0.85) - Guam residents are American citizens who lack the constitutional rights of other Americans
#expands(0.85) — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 261 - A 1998 Puerto Rican referendum saw ‘none of the above’ win the majority.
#qualifies(0.80) — Eddie S. Glaude Jr., Democracy in Black, 614 - Puerto Rico’s 1998 ‘none of the above’ vote won 50.2 percent
#qualifies(0.80) — Eddie S. Glaude Jr., Democracy in Black, 614