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{
    "localId": "1554455",
    "label": "Puerto Rico - Compact of Permanent Union, October 1975",
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    "id": "1554455",
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    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Puerto Rico - Compact of Permanent Union, October 1975",
    "description": "This file contains a published report of the Ad hoc Advisory Group on Puerto Rico.",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/1554455",
    "collections": [
        "White House Special Files Unit Files",
        "Issue Decision Papers for the President"
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    "subjects": [
        "Puerto Rico",
        "Intergovernmental relations",
        "Territories and possessions"
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    "seq": 63,
    "pageIndex": 0,
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    "ocrText": "hensive legislatures, has more probability of adoption than any\nproposal for commonwealth development.\ncompre.\nThe concept of an ad\nnot Rican influence in programs for advancing\nonly fuller participation in the Federal system, but the an welfare increase of\nvelopment On originated in the de.\npage 8 of that report, dealing the of the\nall relatively unimportant. The Advisory Group instead facts:\nin Puerto citizens. The Ad Hoc Advisory Group considers this possibility bases its\nadvisory groups, this report said: \"The membership of joint\nas in favor of the presidential vote on two fundamental their\nadvisory group would be determined by the nature of the each\ncase inalienable right of citizens to vote as a guarantee of all of the\nstated: ular problem under consideration.\" The Status Commission partic.\nrights; the and the American system which rests on the consent\ngoverned.\nwill that with respect to the flexibilities and the special inevitably\nAs be old raised problems are resolved, new ones are created. Questions\nC. THE FEDERAL VOTE AND FEDERAL TAXES\ncharacterize the relationship. Furthermore, as society and\nare new and new aspirations and new\nThe justice of granting the right to vote for President and Vice\nemerge. reasons that the Commission has\naltered, It is be for these horizons\nimprovements in the Commonwealth relationship, or of time, of\namendment to the U.S. Constitution removed the barrier of the\ncitizenship and the other factors cited in this report. The 24th\nPresident to U.S. citizens residing in Puerto Rico rests upon\nmechanism established for the consideration, from time to a\ntransition to Statehood or Independence depending upon the measures choice\nof\npressed by the people of Puerto Rico.8\nex-\npoll or any other tax as a requirement to vote.\nThe Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Harper\n4. The Presidential Vote and Federal Relations\nVirginia Board of Elections, 9 decided in 1966 that a Virginia\nA. THE PRESIDENTIAL VOTE AND MILITARY SERVICE\nv. poll tax violated the 14th amendment by making the affluence of\nthe voter or payment of any fee an electoral standard. The Court\nThis Advisory Group's recommendations on the presidential\nsaid: \"Voter qualifications have no relation to wealth nor to\nvote are premised on citizenship, but they are buttressed by the\npaying or not paying these or any other taxes.\"\nconsideration of the entire picture of the relationship of Puerto\nRico to the United States. Since 1917, citizens of the United\nWhere taxes for residents of Puerto Rico are concerned, the\nStates in Puerto Rico have served with distinction in every armed\nlaw and precedents of 73 years are against exacting Federal taxes,\nconflict involving the United States. A very high proportion of\nwith a few exceptions. This has been so for the obvious reason of\nPuerto Rican servicemente were volunteers, the figure exceeding\nthe commitment of the United States to as much equality of\nthat of most of the States in the Union.\neconomic well being as is compatible with other equally vital\nThis outstanding record, coupled with the obligation of Puerto\nprinciples. The level of income in Puerto Rico has always been far\nRicans as citizens to bear arms for the Nation, makes it right and\nbelow that of the average of the United States or that of its\nproper that they should vote in the U.S. presidential elections.\npoorest State. To equalize these levels in some measure, the\nUnited States has refrained from exacting taxes in Puerto Rico and\nB. THE PRESIDENTIAL VOTE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS\nalso has provided many grants and aids to increase the income\nlevel on the island. In the light of this equalizing principle and the\nSome advocates of the presidential vote have justified their\nposition by claiming that Puerto Rico would thereafter benefit\nresulting policy during three-quarters of a century, we find it\nfinancially through wider participation in Federal support pro-\nunpersuasive to argue that U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico should or\nwould be required to pay Federal taxes in order to vote for\ngrams. It is, of course, possible that the measure might bring about\nPresident and Vice President.\n8\nReport, pp. 17-18. Italies supplied by the Advisory Group.\n9\n383 U.S. 663. 16 L. Ed. 2d 169, 86 S. Ct. 1079, decided Mar. 24, 1966.\n116\n117"
}