In historical and constitutional terms, the recent political status vote in Puerto Rico was a necessary but obviously not decisive step on the road of self-determination leading to full self-government. — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
Apparently tired of waiting for clear direction from Congress, the people of Puerto Rico have used the tools provided by their own local constitution to schedule a vote for Dec. 13 on the status of the island. — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
As the highest ranking American official in the United Nations organization, I came to understand thoroughly that the national constitutional processes of the member… — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
Now that the there is a path for the people of Puerto Rico to express their self-determination on Puerto Rico's political status, there are… — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
The capacity of the commonwealth government created under the local constitution to exercise governmental powers in local affairs is like that of local government… — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
The powers of government exercised locally derive from a federal law authorizing government by consent in local affairs only, unless those affairs are otherwise… — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
Internal self-government under a local constitution was authorized by Congress and approved by the residents in 1952, but federal law is supreme in Puerto… — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
The political status legislation which emerged in Congress in 1990 and 1991 did not receive the support needed for enactment into law during my… — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
That is why, with optimism instead of fear, all those who want to see Puerto Rico's status resolved should seek the truth about each… — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
It is quite understandable that Puerto Ricans seek to preserve a cultural sense of identity without separating politically from U.S. national sovereignty. — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
After one hundred years of federal rule, the United States House of Representatives has moved to provide for the first meaningful route to self-determination… — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
Instead of generating either unnecessary alarm or a false sense of security regarding these fundamental issues, the best course is to empower people with… — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
Yet, Puerto Ricos economic convergence and political integration with the rest of the nation is in a state of arrest - even though the… — Dick Thornburgh Copy Share Image
