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FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT AND MANAGEMENT BD. FOR 
PUERTO RICO v. AURELIUS INVESTMENT, LLC 
Opinion of the Court 

high court.  Organic Act of 1900, §§ 17, 18, 33, 31 Stat. 81, 
84.  But it also provided for the selection, through popular
election, of a lower legislative house with the power (subject 
to upper house concurrence) to “alter, amend, modify, and 
repeal any and all laws . . . of every character.”  §§27, 32, 
id., at 82, 84.  There is no indication that anyone thought
members  of  the  lower  house,  wielding  important  local  re-
sponsibilities, were “Officers of the United States.” 

Congress replaced the Foraker Act with the Jones Act in
1917.  Organic Act of Puerto Rico, ch. 145, 39 Stat. 951.  Un-
der the Jones Act the Puerto Rican Senate was elected and 
consequently no longer satisfied the Appointments Clause
criteria.  See  §26,  id.,  at  958.  Similarly,  the  Governor  of 
Puerto Rico nominated four cabinet members, confirmed by 
the Senate of Puerto Rico.  §13, id., at 955–956.  The elected 
legislature retained “all local legislative powers,” including 
the power to appropriate funds.  §§ 25, 34, 37, id., at 958, 
962, 964. 

Congress amended the Jones Act in 1947 to provide for 
an elected Governor of Puerto Rico, and granted that Gov-
ernor the power to appoint all cabinet officials.  See Act of 
Aug. 5, 1947, ch. 490, §§ 1, 3, 61 Stat. 770, 771.  The Presi-
dent  retained  the  power  to  appoint  (with  Federal  Senate
confirmation) judges, an auditor, and the new office of Co-
ordinator of Federal Agencies, who was to supervise federal 
functions in Puerto Rico and recommend to higher federal
officials ways to improve the quality of federal services.  §6, 
id., at 772. 

In 1950, Congress enacted Public Law 600, “in the nature
of a compact” with Puerto Rico and subject to approval by
the voters of Puerto Rico.  Act of July 3, 1950, ch. 446, §§1, 
2, 64 Stat. 319.  The Act adopted the Jones Act, as amended,
as the Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act, and provided for 
the Jones Act’s substantial (but not complete) repeal upon
the effective adoption of a contemplated Puerto Rican con-
stitution.  §§4, 5, id., at 319–320.  Among the provisions of