operation and assistance in matters of shared interest
as agreed and approved by Puerto Rico and the Unit-
ed States pursuant to this Act and their respective
constitutional processes;
‘‘(3) a constitution democratically instituted by
the people of Puerto Rico, establishing a republican
form of full self-government and securing the rights of
citizens of the Puerto Rican nation, is the supreme
law, and the Constitution and laws of the United
States no longer apply in Puerto Rico;
‘‘(4) The people of Puerto Rico owe allegiance to
the sovereign nation of Puerto Rico and have the na-
tionality, and citizenship thereof; United States sov-
ereignty, nationality, and citizenship in Puerto Rico
is ended; birth in Puerto Rico and relationship to
persons with statutory United States citizenship by
birth in the former territory are not bases for United
States nationality or citizenship, except that persons
who had such United States citizenship have a statu-
tory right to retain United States nationality and
citizenship for life, by entitlement or election as pro-
vided by the United States Congress, based on contin-
ued allegiance to the United States: Provided, That
such persons will not have this statutory United
States nationality and citizenship status upon having
or maintaining allegiance, nationality, and citizen-
ship rights in any sovereign nation other than the
United States;
‘‘(5) upon recognition of Puerto Rico by the
United States as a sovereign nation and establish-
ment of government-to-government relations on the
basis of comity and reciprocity, Puerto Rico’s rep-
resentation to the United States is accorded full diplo-
matic status;
‘‘(6) Puerto Rico is eligible for United States as-
sistance provided on a government-to-government
basis, including foreign aid or programmatic assist-
ance, at levels subject to agreement by the United
States and Puerto Rico;
‘‘(7) property rights and previously acquired
rights vested by employment under laws of Puerto
Rico or the United States are honored, and where de-
termined necessary such rights are promptly adjusted
and settled consistent with government-to-government
agreements implementing the separation of sov-
ereignty; and
‘‘(8) Puerto Rico is outside the customs territory
of the United States, and trade between the United
States and Puerto Rico is based on a treaty.
‘‘B. Puerto Rico should become fully self-governing
through United States sovereignty leading to statehood as
defined below. If you agree, mark here: 
‘‘The path through United States sovereignty leading
to statehood is one in which—
‘‘(1) the people of Puerto Rico are fully self-gov-
erning with their rights secured under the United
States Constitution, which is the supreme law and
has the same force and effect as in the other States
of the Union;
‘‘(2) the sovereign State of Puerto Rico is in per-
manent union with the United States, and powers not
delegated to the Federal Government or prohibited to
the States by the United States Constitution are re-
served to the people of Puerto Rico or the State Gov-
ernment;
‘‘(3) United States citizenship of those born in
Puerto Rico is guaranteed, protected and secured in
the same way it is for all United States citizens born
in the other States;
‘‘(4) residents of Puerto Rico have equal rights
and benefits as well as equal duties and responsibil-
ities of citizenship, including payment of Federal
taxes, as those in the several States;
‘‘(5) Puerto Rico is represented by two members
in the United States Senate and is represented in the
House of Representatives proportionate to the popu-
lation;
‘‘(6) United States citizens in Puerto Rico are
enfranchised to vote in elections for the President and
Vice President of the United States; and
‘‘(7) Puerto Rico adheres to the same language
requirement as in the several States.’’.
(b) TRANSITION STAGE.—
(1) PLAN.—(A) Within 180 days of the receipt
of the results of the referendum from the Government
of Puerto Rico certifying approval of a ballot choice
of full self-government in a referendum held pursuant
to subsection (a), the President shall develop and sub-
mit to Congress legislation for a transition plan of 10
years minimum which leads to full self-government
for Puerto Rico consistent with the terms of this Act
and in consultation with officials of the three
branches of the Government of Puerto Rico, the prin-
cipal political parties of Puerto Rico, and other inter-
ested persons as may be appropriate.
(B) Additionally, in the event of a vote in favor
of separate sovereignty, the Legislature of Puerto
Rico, if deemed appropriate, may provide by law for
the calling of a constituent convention to formulate,
in accordance with procedures prescribed by law,
Puerto Rico’s proposals and recommendations to im-
plement the referendum results. If a convention is
called for this purpose, any proposals and rec-
ommendations formally adopted by such convention
within time limits of this Act shall be transmitted to
Congress by the President with the transition plan re-
quired by this section, along with the views of the
President regarding the compatibility of such propos-
als and recommendations with the United States Con-
stitution and this Act, and identifying which, if any,
of such proposals and recommendations have been ad-
dressed in the President’s proposed transition plan.
(2) CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION.—The plan
shall be considered by the Congress in accordance
with section 6.
(3) PUERTO RICAN APPROVAL.—
(A) Not later than 180 days after enactment
of an Act pursuant to paragraph (1) providing
for the transition to full self-government for
Puerto Rico as approved in the initial decision
referendum held under subsection (a), a referen-
dum shall be held under the applicable provi-
sions of Puerto Rico’s electoral law on the ques-
tion of approval of the transition plan.
(B) Approval must be by a majority of the
valid votes cast. The results of the referendum
shall be certified to the President of the United
States.
(4) EFFECTIVE DATE FOR TRANSITION PLAN.—
The President of the United States shall issue a proc-
lamation announcing the effective date of the transi-
tion plan to full self-government for Puerto Rico.
(c) IMPLEMENTATION STAGE.—
(1) PRESIDENTIAL RECOMMENDATION.—Not less
than two years prior to the end of the period of the
transition provided for in the transition plan ap-
proved under subsection (b), the President shall sub-
mit to Congress legislation with a recommendation
for the implementation of full self-government for
Puerto Rico consistent with the ballot choice approved
under subsection (a).
(2) CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION.—The plan
shall be considered by the Congress in accordance
with section 6.
(3) PUERTO RICAN APPROVAL.—
(A) Within 180 days after enactment of the
terms of implementation for full self-government
for Puerto Rico, a referendum shall be held
under the applicable provisions of Puerto Rico’s
electoral laws on the question of the approval of
the terms of implementation for full self-govern-
ment for Puerto Rico.
(B) Approval must be by a majority of the
valid votes cast. The results of the referendum
shall be certified to the President of the United
States.
(4) EFFECTIVE
DATE
OF
FULL
SELF-GOVERN-
MENT.—The President of the United States shall issue
a proclamation announcing the date of implementa-
tion of full self-government for Puerto Rico.
SEC. 5. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO REFERENDA, IN-
CLUDING INCONCLUSIVE REFERENDUM AND
APPLICABLE LAWS.
(a) APPLICABLE LAWS.—
(1) REFERENDA UNDER PUERTO RICAN LAWS.—
The referenda held under this Act shall be conducted
in accordance with the applicable laws of Puerto
Rico, including laws of Puerto Rico under which
voter eligibility is determined and which require
United States citizenship and establish other statu-
tory requirements for voter eligibility of residents and
nonresidents.