On June 8, 1950, the United States government approved Public Law 600, authorizing Puerto Rico to draft its own constitution in 1951. The Constitutional Assembly (Spanish: Asamblea Constituyente) or Constitutional Convention of Puerto Rico met for a period of several months between 1951 and 1952 in which the document was written. The framers had to follow only two basic requirements established under Public Law 600. The first was the document must establish a republican form of government for the island. The second was the inclusion of a Bill of Rights.

The Constitution of Puerto Rico renamed the body politic until then known as the "People of Puerto Rico", and henceforth known as the "Commonwealth of Puerto Rico" (Estado Libre Asociado).

Members of the Constitutional Assembly

#[lower-alpha 1][1] Delegate   Party Constituency Residence[2] Committee assignments[lower-alpha 2][3] Cmtes. Signing order[4][5] Notes[lower-alpha 3]
73 Manuel Acevedo Rosario PPDAguadilla Camuy Transitory Provisions and General Affairs 1 32
79 Juan Alemañy Silva PEPGuayama Guayama Drafting, Style and Enrolling 1 33[lower-alpha 4]
29 Arcilio Alvarado Alvarado PPDSan Juan I San Juan (Santurce) Bill of Rights

Judicial Branch

Drafting, Style and Enrolling[lower-alpha 5][lower-alpha 6]

 3 34
92 Enrique Álvarez Vicente PSOArecibo Utuado Accounting and Publications 1 35
42 Francisco L. Anselmi Rodríguez PPDPonce Coamo Legislative Branch[lower-alpha 5]

Transitory Provisions and General Affairs

 2 26
37 Francisco A. Arrillaga Gaztambide PPDSan Juan I San Juan (Hato Rey) Accounting and Publications 1 36
74 Carmelo Ávila Medina PPDHumacao Naguabo Transitory Provisions and General Affairs 1 37
77 José Bartolo Barceló Oliver PPDPonce Adjuntas Transitory Provisions and General Affairs 1 38
39 Ramón Barreto Pérez PPDSan Juan I San Juan (Hato Rey) Legislative Branch 1 39
32 Ramón Barrios Sánchez PSOAt-large Bayamón Rules and Bylaws

Scheduling

 1 40
28 Jaime Benítez Rexach PPDAt-large San Juan (Río Piedras) Bill of Rights[lower-alpha 7]

Drafting, Style and Enrolling

 2 10
55 Francisco Berio Suárez PPDGuayama Comerío Scheduling 1 41
59 Virgilio Brunet Maldonado PPDAt-large San Juan (Hato Rey) Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures

Bill of Rights

 2 42
53 Agustín Burgos Rivera PPDPonce Villalba Accounting and Publications 1 43
41 Mario Canales Torresola PPDPonce Jayuya Legislative Branch 1 44Former-mayor of Jayuya
61 Ángel M. Candelario Arce PPDMayagüez Peñuelas Judicial Branch 1 45
01 Ernesto Carrasquillo Quiñones PPDHumacao Yabucoa Bill of Rights[lower-alpha 8] 1 19Former-mayor of Yabucao
17 Dionisio Casillas Casillas PPDHumacao Humacao Accounting and Publications 1 46
68 José A. Cintrón Rivera PPDAt-large San Juan (Santurce) Bill of Rights 1 47
25 Luis Alfredo Colón Velázquez PPDAguadilla Moca Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures

Rules and Bylaws[lower-alpha 5]

Executive Branch[lower-alpha 9]

 3 30
89 Ramiro L. Colón Castaño PEPPonce Ponce Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures 1 —[lower-alpha 10]Only delegate not to sign the Constitution.[lower-alpha 11] Then-general manager of the Cooperative of Coffee Growers of Puerto Rico.[7]
04 Juan Dávila Díaz PPDArecibo Manatí Accounting and Publications[lower-alpha 5] 1 31
51 José M. Dávila Monsanto PPDGuayama Guayama Judicial Branch[lower-alpha 5] 1 25
58 Lionel Fernández Méndez PPDGuayama Cayey Rules and Bylaws

Drafting, Style and Enrolling

 2 48
—[lower-alpha 12] Antonio Fernós Isern PPDAt-large San Juan (Santurce) — 0 01Then-Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico
30 Luis A. Ferré Aguayo PEPPonce Ponce Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures

Transitory Provisions and General Affairs

 2 49[lower-alpha 4]
75 Alcides Figueroa Oliva PPDAguadilla Añasco Transitory Provisions and General Affairs 1 50
13 Leopoldo Figueroa Carreras PEPAt-large Cataño Scheduling

Bill of Rights

 2 51
18 Ernesto Juan Fonfrías Rivera PPDSan Juan II Toa Baja (Carr. 2 K-19) Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures

Judicial Branch

 2 52
23 Jorge Font Saldaña PPDAt-large San Juan (Santurce) Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures[lower-alpha 5]

Drafting, Style and Enrolling[lower-alpha 6]

 2 24
78 Juan R. García Delgado PEPAguadilla Hatillo Rules and Bylaws

Accounting and Publications[lower-alpha 13]

 2 53
12 Miguel Ángel García Méndez PEPMayagüez Mayagüez Scheduling

Judicial Branch

 2 54
34 Genaro Antonio Gautier Dapena PPDSan Juan I Caguas (La Muda) Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures 1 55Then-first spouse of San Juan
38 Rubén Gaztambide Arrillaga PPDSan Juan I San Juan (Río Piedras) Bill of Rights

Legislative Branch[lower-alpha 8]

 2 18
90 Fernando José Géigel Sabat PEPSan Juan I San Juan (Santurce) Legislative Branch 1 56
62 José Rosario Gelpí Bosch PEP Mayagüez Mayagüez Rules and Bylaws

Executive Branch

 2 57
35 Darío Goitía Montalvo PPDArecibo Arecibo Executive Branch 1 58
10 María Libertad Gómez Garriga PPDAt-large Utuado Drafting, Style and Enrolling[lower-alpha 8] 1 02Only female member.
46 Héctor González Blanes PEPSan Juan I San Juan (Santurce) Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures

Bill of Rights

 2 59
02 Andrés Grillasca Salas PPDPonce Ponce Transitory Provisions and General Affairs 1 60Then-mayor of Ponce
26 Víctor Gutiérrez Franqui PPDAt-large San Juan (Santurce) Judicial Branch

Drafting, Style and Enrolling[lower-alpha 7]

 2 03
14 Celestino Iriarte Miró PEPAt-large Cataño (Carr. Cataño) Accounting and Publications[lower-alpha 13]

Legislative Branch

Judicial Branch

 3 05
69 Jesús Izcoa Moure PPDSan Juan II Naranjito Drafting, Style and Enrolling 1 61[lower-alpha 4]
21 Lorenzo Lagarde Garcés PPDPonce Ponce Judicial Branch 1 62
91 Ramón Llobet Díaz, Jr. PEPSan Juan II Guaynabo Transitory Provisions and General Affairs 1 63
80 Ramiro Martínez Sandín PSOArecibo Vega Baja Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures

Transitory Provisions and General Affairs

 2 64
43 Juan Meléndez Báez PPDSan Juan I San Juan Bill of Rights 1 65
60 Ramón Mellado Parsons PPDSan Juan II San Juan (Río Piedras) Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures 1 66
56 Bernardo Méndez Jiménez PPDAguadilla San Sebastián Bill of Rights[lower-alpha 5] 1 27
72 Armando Mignucci Calder PPDMayagüez Yauco Scheduling 1 67
22 José Mimoso Raspaldo PPDGuayama Caguas Rules and Bylaws[lower-alpha 8] 1 22
45 Pablo Morales Otero PPDSan Juan II San Juan (Santurce) Executive Branch 1 68
09 Luis Muñoz Marín PPDAt-large San Juan Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures[lower-alpha 7] 1 04Then-Governor of Puerto Rico
81 Luis Muñoz Rivera PPDSan Juan I San Juan (Hato Rey) Accounting and Publications 1 69
76 Eduardo Negrón Benítez PPDAguadilla San Sebastián Rules and Bylaws 1 70
07 Luis A. Negrón López PPDMayagüez Sabana Grande Legislative Branch[lower-alpha 7]

Executive Branch[lower-alpha 5]

 2 09
84 Abraham Nieves Negrón PPDGuayama Guayama Accounting and Publications 1 71[lower-alpha 4]
48 Mario Orsini Martínez PSOHumacao Juncos Judicial Branch

Drafting, Style and Enrolling

 2 72
06 Benjamín Ortiz Ortiz PPDAt-large Guaynabo Scheduling[lower-alpha 7]

Drafting, Style and Enrolling

 2 12
24 Cruz Ortiz Stella PPDHumacao Humacao Rules and Bylaws[lower-alpha 7]

Bill of Rights

 1 13
15 Lino Padrón Rivera PSOAt-large Vega Baja Bill of Rights

Legislative Branch

Judicial Branch

 3 06
03 Santiago R. Palmer Díaz PPDMayagüez San Germán Accounting and Publications[lower-alpha 7] 1 14
47 Norman E. Parkhurst PEPSan Juan II Bayamón Accounting and Publications 1 73[lower-alpha 4]
86 Francisco Paz Granela PPDAt-large San Juan (Santurce) Bill of Rights 1 74
20 Santiago Polanco Abreu PPDArecibo Isabela Judicial Branch

Transitory Provisions and General Affairs[lower-alpha 8]

 2 20
11 Samuel R. Quiñones Quiñones PPDAt-large Carolina (Carr. Isla Verde) Executive Branch[lower-alpha 7]

Drafting, Style and Enrolling

 2 07President, Senate
49 Ubaldino Ramírez de Arellano PPDMayagüez San Germán Legislative Branch 1 75
08 Ernesto Ramos Antonini PPDAt-large San Juan (Hato Rey) Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures

Judicial Branch[lower-alpha 7]

 2 08President, House of Representatives
88 Ramón María Ramos de Jesús PEPGuayama Aibonito Drafting, Style and Enrolling 1 76
16 Antonio Reyes Delgado PSOAt-large Arecibo Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures

Bill of Rights

Executive Branch

 3 77
85 Dolores Rivera Candelaria PPDArecibo Utuado Transitory Provisions and General Affairs 1 78Then-mayor of Utuado
44 Heraclio H. Rivera Colón PPDSan Juan II Toa Alta Scheduling[lower-alpha 8]

Legislative Branch

 2 21
64 Alejo Rivera Morales PSOHumacao Ceiba Transitory Provisions and General Affairs 1 79
33 Álvaro Rivera Reyes PPDHumacao Río Grande Bill of Rights

Executive Branch[lower-alpha 8]

 2 16
71 Carmelo Rodríguez García PPDArecibo Arecibo Executive Branch 1 80
70 Carlos Román Benítez PPDSan Juan II San Juan (Santurce) Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures

Scheduling

 2 81
36 Alfonso Román García PPDHumacao Fajardo Accounting and Publications[lower-alpha 8] 1 23
50 Joaquín Rosa Gómez PPDArecibo Manatí Rules and Bylaws 1 82
54 Alberto E. Sánchez Nazario PPDAt-large San Juan (Santurce) Bill of Rights 1 83
83 Ángel Sandín Martínez PPDArecibo Vega Baja Transitory Provisions and General Affairs[lower-alpha 5] 1 28Then-mayor of Vega Baja
52 Luis Santaliz Capestany PPDAguadilla Las Marías Rules and Bylaws 1 84[lower-alpha 14]
05 Yldefonso Solá Morales PPDGuayama Caguas Executive Branch[lower-alpha 9]

Transitory Provisions and General Affairs[lower-alpha 7]

 2 11
31 Juan Bautista Soto González PEPAt-large Gurabo Bill of Rights

Judicial Branch

 2 85[lower-alpha 14]
67 Rafael Torrech Genovés PPDSan Juan II Bayamón Executive Branch 1 86Mayor of Bayamón
40 Lucas Torres Santos PPDPonce Orocovis Scheduling 1 87Former-mayor of Orocovis
82 Pedro Torres Díaz PPDHumacao Gurabo Scheduling 1 88
27 José Trías Monge PPDAt-large Guaynabo Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures[lower-alpha 8]

Judicial Branch

 2 15
65 Augusto Valentín Vizcarrondo PPDMayagüez Mayagüez Legislative Branch 1 89
66 Baudilio Vega Berríos PPDMayagüez Mayagüez Rules and Bylaws 1 90Then-mayor of Mayagüez
19 Sigfredo Vélez González PPDArecibo Arecibo Scheduling[lower-alpha 5] 1 29Former-mayor of Arecibo
63 José Veray, Jr. Hernández PEPAguadilla Aguadilla Executive Branch

Transitory Provisions and General Affairs

 2 91
87 José Villares Rodríguez PPDGuayama Caguas Judicial Branch[lower-alpha 8] 1 17

Committees

Ten permanent committees and their officers and members were designated by the body's president, Antonio Fernós Isern, during the 25 September 1951 session,[3][8] which was followed by the naming of additional delegates and several substations on 27 September.[9] All presidents, vice presidents and secretaries were from the PPD.[9] These committees were grouped by their purposes as follows:[8]

Functions committees (3):

  • Rules and Bylaw
  • Accounting and Publications
  • Scheduling

Constitutional committees (7):

  • Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures
  • Bill of Rights
  • Legislative Branch
  • Executive Branch
  • Judicial Branch
  • Transitory Provisions and General Affairs
  • Drafting, Style and Enrolling
Committee[lower-alpha 2] Membership President Vice President Secretary Members[lower-alpha 15][3][8][9]
Preamble, Amendment and Ordinance Procedures[lower-alpha 16] 15 Luis Muñoz MarínJosé Trías MongeJorge Font Saldaña
Rules and Bylaws[lower-alpha 18] 11 Cruz Ortiz Stella José Mimoso Raspaldo Luis Alfredo Colón Velázquez
Accounting and Publications[lower-alpha 19] 11 (12)[lower-alpha 13] Santiago R. Palmer Díaz Alfonso Román García Juan Dávila Díaz
Scheduling[lower-alpha 20] 11 Benjamín Ortiz Ortiz Heraclio H. Rivera Colón Sigfredo Vélez González
Bill of Rights[lower-alpha 21] 17 Jaime Benítez Rexach Ernesto Carrasquillo Quiñones Bernardo Méndez Jiménez
Legislative Branch[lower-alpha 22] 11 Luis A. Negrón López Rubén Gaztambide Arrillaga Francisco L. Anselmi Rodríguez
Executive Branch[lower-alpha 23] 11 (12)[lower-alpha 9] Samuel R. Quiñones Quiñones Álvaro Rivera Reyes Luis A. Negrón López
Judicial Branch[lower-alpha 15] 15 Ernesto Ramos Antonini José Villares Rodríguez José M. Dávila Monsanto
Transitory Provisions and General Affairs[lower-alpha 24] 15 Yldefonso Solá Morales Santiago Polanco Abreu Ángel Sandín Martínez
  • Manuel Acevedo Rosario
  • Francisco L. Anselmi Rodríguez
  • Carmelo Ávila Medina
  • José Bartolo Barceló Oliver
  • Luis A. Ferré Aguayo
  • Alcides Figueroa Oliva
  • Andrés Grillasca Salas
  • Ramón Llobet Díaz, Jr.
  • Ramiro Martínez Sandín
  • Dolores Rivera Candelaria
  • Alejo Rivera Morales
  • José Veray, Jr. Hernández
Drafting, Style and Enrolling[lower-alpha 25] 11 (12)[lower-alpha 6] Víctor Gutiérrez Franqui María Libertad Gómez Garriga

Notes

  1. ↑ Number in the Session Hall
  2. 1 2 While the official designation for the subordinate groups was commission these were in practice committees as they did not entail an external body.
  3. ↑ Employment at the time of their tenure as Delegates and position in the committee of the whole.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 While contemporary news reports do not include his signature, the Session Diary does include. The latter being the official source, it takes prevalence over the former.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Secretary of the commission.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Alvarado Alvarado was replaced by Font Saldaña on 27 September 1951.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 President of the commission.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Vice President of the Commission.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Colón Velázquez was replaced by Solá Morales on 27 September 1951.
  10. ↑ While contemporary news reports included his signature, the Session Diary reflects his decision not to sign the document by correctly omitting his name. His last recorded attendance to the Convention was on the fifty-fourth day (24 January 1952).
  11. ↑ Colón Castaño was opposed to signing the Constitution since it did not solve the political status of Puerto Rico, claiming that "if the United States Congress had the power to allow us to pass a constitution, it also had the power to take it away from us." [6]
  12. ↑ President of the Convention
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Iriarte Miró was replaced by García Delgado on 27 September 1951.
  14. 1 2 While contemporary news reports places Santaliz Capestany after Soto González, the Session Diary has them in alphabetical order. The latter being the official source, it takes prevalence over the former.
  15. 1 2 El Mundo erroneously names José Veray, Jr. Hernández and Antonio Reyes Delgado, as it repeats the Executive branch list under the Judicial and then states the correct Judicial list. The Session Diary names Miguel Angel García Méndez and Mario Orsini Martínez.
  16. ↑ Spanish: Preámbulo, Procedimientos de Enmiendas y Procedimientos
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Named on 27 September.
  18. ↑ Spanish: Reglas y Reglamentos
  19. ↑ Spanish: Contabilidad y Publicaciones
  20. ↑ Spanish: Agenda
  21. ↑ Spanish: Carta de Derechos
  22. ↑ Spanish: Rama Legislativa
  23. ↑ Spanish: Rama Ejecutiva
  24. ↑ Spanish: Disposiciones Transitorias y Asuntos Generales
  25. ↑ Spanish: Redacción, Estilo y Enrolado

References

  1. ↑ "Lista de delegados divididos por partidos políticos" [List of Delegates Divided by Political Parties]. Proposiciones y resoluciones de la Convención Constituyente de Puerto Rico 1951-1952 [Proposals and resolutions of the Constitutional Convention of Puerto Rico 1951-1952] (in Spanish). San Juan, Puerto Rico: Academia Puertorriqueña de Jurisprudencia y Legislación. 1992. ISBN 978-0-9907566-0-6.
  2. ↑ "Delegados a la Convención Constituyente de Puerto Rico 1951–1952" [Delegates to the Constitutional Convention of Puerto Rico 1951–1952]. Festival de la juventud puertorriqueña [Puerto Rican Youth Festival] (PDF) (in Spanish). Popular Democratic Party. 1970. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 October 2021 – via Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.
  3. 1 2 3 "Nombran 10 Presidentes Comisiones" [10 Commission Chairpersons Appointed] (PDF). El Mundo (in Spanish). 26 September 1952. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021 – via Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.
  4. ↑ Gálvez Maturana, S. (7 February 1952). "Constitucion de Pto. Rico Fué Firmada Ayer Tarde Ante Jueces del Supremo" [Constitution of Puerto Rico Signed Yesterday Afternoon Before Supreme Court Justices] (PDF). El Mundo (in Spanish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021 – via Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.
  5. ↑ "Firmas que aparecen en el documento de la nueva Constitución para P. Rico" [Signatures that Appear in the Document of the New Constitution for P. Rico] (PDF). La Prensa (in Spanish). 11 February 1952. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021 – via Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.
  6. ↑ Colón Muñoz, Wendell W. (13 November 2016). "Por qué mi padre no firmó la Constitución" [Why My Father Didn't Sign the Constitution]. El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). San Juan, Puerto Rico: GFR Media. p. 52-52. ISSN 1043-7614. Archived from the original on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021 – via PressReader.
  7. ↑ "Ramiro L. Colon". MoreBooks. Archived from the original on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 "Día 3 de Sesión" [Session Day 3] (PDF). Diario de Sesiones: Procedimientos y debates de la Convención Constituyente de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). 1 (3): 33–34. 25 September 1951. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2021 – via Senate of Puerto Rico.
  9. 1 2 3 "Día 4 de Sesión" [Session Day 4] (PDF). Diario de Sesiones: Procedimientos y Debates de la Convención Constituyente de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). 1 (4): 41. 27 September 1952. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2021 – via Senate of Puerto Rico.
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