Puerto Rico is an island located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea, which is an unincorporated territory of the United States. The islands of Puerto Rico were acquired by the United States in 1898, where Spain ceded them to the United States. In 1917, the Jones Act declared Puerto Rico an "organized but incorporated" territory of the United States and granted American citizenship to all. residents who wanted it. An “unincorporated territory,” according to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Insular Cases, is “a territory dependent on and belonging to, but not a part of, the United States.” [Lawson p.1124] Since 1952, Puerto Rico, by mutual consent of its people and the Government of the United States, has been a self-governing Commonwealth. [Langland p. 124.]Under the Territorial Clause of the United States Constitution, Puerto Rico is subject to the jurisdiction of Congress. [Lawson p.1130] Over the past century, Congress has passed legislation that governs Puerto Rico's relationship with the United States. For example, residents of Puerto Rico hold U.S. citizenship, can serve in the military, are subject to federal laws, and are represented by a resident commissioner in the House of Representatives, elected to a four-year term. [Weaver p.50] But while residents can participate in the presidential nominating process, they cannot vote in the general election. And although Puerto Ricans pay federal tax on resource income in the United States, they do not have to pay federal tax on income earned in Puerto Rico. [Béa p. 2] Several factors related to the relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico have been and continue to be debated. Some people defend Puerto Rico's statehood, while others lead...... middle of paper ...... and. Flight. 28. Chicago Daily News, 1912. 124.12. “The Puerto Rico Status Debate: Why Congress?” Why now?" LULAC. Web. May 9, 2011. .13. Thornburgh, Dick. "The United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Concerning S. 244." March 1991. p. 1- 9. http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/65855.pdf.14. Puerto Rico's Political Status, Options and Issues in the 109th Congress: Congressional Information Service, Library of Congress, 2005.15. Weaver, Thomas, Nicolas Kanellos and Fabregat Claudio. Handbook of Hispanic Cultures in the United States, 1994. p. News and Media." PRFAA | Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration | WELCOME. Web. May 7, 2011. http://www.prfaa.com/news/?p=948.