My friend insists Puerto Rico is a state. Is it a state, or just a territory?

Question

My friend insists Puerto Rico is a state. Is it a state, or just a territory?

Answer 1

I always thought politically Puerto Rico was in a state of limbo, there's urge from a significant amount of the population to become a full state of the US, but there's also urge from a significant amount to become it's own sovereign state. They're split down the middle really. But at the moment it's offcially just a territory.

Answer 2

Puerto Rico is not a state.  It is classified as a commonwealth which really means colony or territory depending on your political views.

Answer 3

Call your friend a r****d.  If they get pissed tell them I told you to.

Answer 4

Puerto Rico is not a state, it is a territory.

Answer 5

Puerto Rico is actually a territory of the United States since 1898. Although is known as a commonwealth, this does not mean is not a colony. Puerto Rico is actually a colony. Lots of people try to define Puerto Rico's political status using the word Commonwealth. However, this is not possible. Massachusetts, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Virginia are Commonwealths. As we know these are states. If Puerto Rico is not a state, and is not an autonomous nation, therefore, is a colony.

"The United States doesn't consider it a state, but the Puerto-ricans do; so, it just depends on who you ask"

You are very right, USA does not consider PR an state for the simple reason, THAT PUERTO RICO IS NOT A STATE!!!! By the way, one thing all puerto ricans agree on, is the fact that Puerto Rico is not a state.

I found several definitions of the word commonwealth, I liked this one the most.

"a state in which the supreme power is held by the people; a republican or democratic state"

Answer 6

Puerto Rico (IPA: /ˌpwertoˈriko/), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Spanish: "Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico" [literally, English: "Associated Free State of Puerto Rico"), is a self-governing unincorporated territory of the United States located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of the Virgin Islands. The territory is composed of an archipelago that includes the main island of Puerto Rico and a number of smaller islands and keys, the largest of which are Vieques, Culebra, and Mona. The main island of Puerto Rico is the smallest by land area but third largest by population among the four Greater Antilles (Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico).

and puerto ricans don't consider it a state they hate the idea of it, we are trying to make it one though.

Answer 7

The United States doesn't consider it a state, but the Puerto-ricans do; so, it just depends on who you ask

Answer 8

territory

Answer 9

Puerto Rico is a U.S commonwealth.  All government business is handled by the ruling Governor and the Puerto Rican legislative branches.  The Governor does answer the our US President and VP.  The US handles all or most of Puerto Rico's international affairs.

Answer 10

Puerto Rico is a territory, although it is likely it will become a state within  the next few years.