I 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4963 

To recognize the right of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to call a constitutional convention through which the people of Puerto Rico would exercise 

their right to self-determination, and to establish a mechanism for congressional consideration of such decision. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 15, 2006 

Mr. DUNCAN (for himself, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, Mr. WICKER, Mr. 

PICKERING, Mr. BONNER, Mr. GUTKNECHT, Mr. BACHUS, Ms. 

VELA ́ZQUEZ, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. GRIJALVA, 

Mr. HONDA, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. OBERSTAR, Ms. SOLIS, Mr. 

LARSON of Connecticut, and Mr. UDALL of New Mexico) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources 

A BILL 

To recognize the right of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 

to call a constitutional convention through which the 

people of Puerto Rico would exercise their right to selfdetermination, and to establish a mechanism for congressional consideration of such decision. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Puerto Rico Self-De5 termination Act of 2006’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

2 In this Act: 

3 (1) COMMONWEALTH.—The term ‘‘Common4 wealth’’ means the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 

5 (2) SELF-DETERMINATION OPTION.—The term 

6 ‘‘self-determination option’’ means an option agreed 

7 to by a constitutional convention in the Common8 wealth for a new or modified Commonwealth status, 

9 statehood, or independence. 

10 (3) SELF-DETERMINATION PROPOSAL.—The 

11 term ‘‘self-determination proposal’’ means a docu12 ment submitted to Congress by a constitutional con13 vention in the Commonwealth that proposes a self14 determination option. 

15 SEC. 3. CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. 

16 (a) AUTHORITY.—Congress reaffirms the inherent 

17 authority of the government of the Commonwealth to call, 

18 and hereby expressly authorizes the calling of, a constitu19 tional convention through the election of delegates for the 

20 purpose of establishing a mechanism for self-determina21 tion. 

22 (b) PURPOSE OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.— 

23 The purpose of a constitutional convention called under 

24 subsection (a) is to propose to Congress— 

25 (1) a new or amended compact of association to 

26 replace or amend the compact established under the 


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•HR 4963 IH 

1 Act entitled ‘‘An Act to provide for the organization 

2 of a constitutional government by the people of 

3 Puerto Rico’’, approved July 3, 1950 (64 Stat. 319) 

4 (commonly referred to as ‘‘Public Law 600’’) and 

5 the Commonwealth constitution; 

6 (2) the admission of the Commonwealth as a 

7 State in the United States; or 

8 (3) the declaration of the Commonwealth as an 

9 independent country. 

10 SEC. 4. SELF-DETERMINATION PROPOSAL. 

11 (a) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS OF SELF-DETER12 MINATION PROPOSAL.—Upon the approval by a constitu13 tional convention in the Commonwealth of a self-deter14 mination option, the constitutional convention shall submit 

15 a self-determination proposal to Congress for approval. 

16 (b) DISPOSITION OF SELF-DETERMINATION PRO17 POSAL.— 

18 (1) REFERENDUM.—If a self-determination pro19 posal is approved by Congress with or without modi20 fications, the proposal shall be submitted to the peo21 ple of the Commonwealth for approval or rejection 

22 in a referendum. 

23 (2) ENACTMENT OF PROPOSAL.—If the people 

24 of the Commonwealth approve the self-determination 

25 proposal in a referendum held pursuant to paraVerDate Aug 31 2005 21:23 Mar 16, 2006 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4963.IH H4963

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1 graph (1), a joint resolution of Congress shall be en2 acted approving the terms of the proposal and in3 cluding provisions necessary to implement the pro4 posal. 

5 (3) REJECTION OF PROPOSAL.—If a self-deter6 mination proposal is not approved by Congress pur7 suant to subsection (a) or is not approved by the 

8 people of the Commonwealth in a referendum held 

9 pursuant to paragraph (1), the Government of the 

10 Commonwealth should call for a new constitutional 

11 convention, including an election by the people of the 

12 Commonwealth of new delegates to the convention, 

13 for the purpose of formulating and submitting to 

14 Congress a new self-determination proposal. 

15 SEC. 5. CONVENTION IN CONTINUOUS SESSION. 

16 A constitutional convention held pursuant to this Act 

17 may remain in session until a self-determination proposal 

18 is approved in a referendum by the people of the Common19 wealth and enacted by a joint resolution of Congress. 

Æ 


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