<P> Spain ceded Puerto Rico to the United States in 1898 as part of the Treaty of Paris after the end of the Spanish--American War . Since then, the island has been an unincorporated territory of the United States . Because of this territorial status, the island is neither a state of the United States nor a sovereign one . Although Puerto Ricans were granted United States citizenship with the 1917 Jones--Shafroth Act, the American citizens residing on the island cannot vote for the President of the United States (their head of government) nor for a legislator in Congress with voting powers even though the federal government of the United States has jurisdiction on the island . In addition, due to its political status, the United States has full authority over Puerto Rico's foreign policy . </P> <P> Legislation approving the referendum was passed in the Senate of Puerto Rico on January 26, 2017, by a senate controlled by the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico (PNP In Spanish) which advocates for Puerto Rico to become a state of the United States . The measure was then passed with amendments by the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico on January 31 by a house which is also controlled by the PNP . The amendments then passed in the Senate and the bill was signed into law by Governor Ricardo Rosselló (PNP) on February 3, 2017 . </P> <P> While initially the referendum would only have the options of statehood and independence / free association, a letter from the Trump administration recommended to add the Commonwealth, the current status, in the plebiscite . The option had been removed from this plebiscite in response to the results of the plebiscite in 2012 which asked whether to remain in the current status and No had won . However, the Trump administration cited changes in demographics during the past 5 years to add the option once again . Amendments to the plebiscite bill were adopted making ballot wording changes requested by the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as adding a "current territorial status" option . After adding the "current status" option, the Puerto Rican government started the voting process before the Justice Department could review the revised ballot, losing $2.5 million in funding set aside and spending $8 million of its own money for the election . </P> <P> Previous plebiscites have discussed the margins of the win to result in a mandate with some arguing for a 50% + 1 or sometimes a higher percentage to initiate congressional action on the will of Puerto Rico . Previous plebiscites with the three options have resulted in a close race between statehood and commonwealth but with neither option breaking 50% . Congressional hearings on Puerto Rico have discussed scenarios where a second round could be held on the options that win the first but that has not been discussed by the government of Puerto Rico . </P>

Puerto rico becomes a state of the us