PLEBISCITES

In 1967, Congress establishes a Joint Commission for the Study of Status comprised of seven North Americans and six Puerto Ricans. They conclude that commonwealth is the preferred status but propose a plebiscite to poll Puerto Rican opinion. They offer three options: commonwealth, statehood and independence. The independentistas and some statehooders boycott the plebiscite, and the commonwealth option wins.

But Puerto Rico’s political status remains unresolved, and another plebiscite is held in 1993. This time the independence movement participates and secures about 4% of the votes. Commonwealth wins by a narrow margin reflecting growing support for statehood. So pro-statehood proponents push for another plebiscite in 1998. It lists five options: (1) U.S. territory, (2) associated republic, (3) State of the Union,