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197
la convocatoria de una semilla:
fundamentos y dinámicas del desarrollo constitucional de puerto rico
ejecutiva del Gobierno de Estados Unidos enfrenta el asunto.
344
Durante las décadas de 1990 a 2010, el Poder Ejecutivo de Estados Unidos
ha ido moviendo su posición para reafirmar los poderes del Congreso
sobre Puerto Rico y sostener que este puede alterar unilateralmente su
relación política de conformidad con los poderes de la cláusula territorial
de la Constitución de los Estados Unidos (artículo 1V, sección 3). Esa
posición la resume el «Informe del President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s
Status de 2007» de la manera siguiente:
The existing form of government in Puerto Rico is often described as a
“commonwealth” and this term recognizes the significant powers of self-
government Puerto Rico enjoys under current law. As discussed above,
Congress established this arrangement through the passage of Public Law 600
344 Véase: Presidential Documents, Executive Order 13183 of December 23, 2000
Establishment of the President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status: «By the authority vested in me as
President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including Public Law 106-346,
it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of the executive branch of the Government
of the United States of America to help answer the questions that the people of Puerto Rico have asked for
years regarding the options for the islands’ future status and the process for realizing an option. Further,
it is our policy to consider and develop positions on proposals, without preference among the options, for
the Commonwealth’s future status; to discuss such proposals with representatives of the people of Puerto
Rico and the Congress; to work with leaders of the Commonwealth and the Congress to clarify the options to
enable Puerto Ricans to determine their preference among options for the islands’ future status that are not
incompatible with the Constitution and basic laws and policies of the United States; and to implement such
an option if chosen by a majority, including helping Puerto Ricans obtain a governing arrangement under
which they would vote for national government officials, if they choose such a status.
Sec. 2. The President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status. There is established a task force to be known as
‘‘The President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status’’ (Task Force). It shall be composed of designees of each
member of the President’s Cabinet and the Co-Chairs of the President’s Interagency Group on Puerto Rico
(Interagency Group). The Task Force shall be co-chaired by the Attorney General’s designee and a Co-Chair
of the Interagency Group.
Sec. 3. Functions. The Task Force shall seek to implement the policy set forth in section 1 of this order.
It shall ensure official attention to and facilitate action on matters related to proposals for Puerto Rico’s
status and the process by which an option can be realized. It shall provide advice and recommendations on
such matters to the President and the Congress. It shall also provide advice and recommendations to assist
the Executive Office of the President in fulfilling its responsibilities under Public Law 106-346 to transfer
funding to the Elections Commission of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for public education on and a
public choice among options for Puerto Rico’s future status that are not incompatible with the Constitution
and the basic laws and policies of the United States.
Sec. 4. Report. The Task Force shall report on its actions to the President not later than May 1, 2001, and
thereafter as needed but not less than 82890 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 251 / Friday, December 29, 2000
/ Presidential Documents annually on progress made in the determination of Puerto Rico’s ultimate status.
Signature of William J. Clinton
THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 23, 2000».