Talk:Commonwealth (United States insular area)

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[edit] Definition

What exactly does "organized but unincorporated dependent territory." mean? Could someone elaborate? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 128.105.167.39 (talk) 20:46, 10 May 2008 (UTC)

The Philippine Islands was an insular area that held commonwealth status from March 24, 1934 until July 4, 1946

Of the U.S. insular areas, the term was first used by Puerto Rico in 1952

Isn't that a contradiction? Andres 13:50, 28 July 2005 (UTC)

It sounds like it. I think that the Philippines was not an insular area when it was a Commonwealth but happened to use the same term. But I'm not sure so I don't want to change the article myself. --JGGardiner 04:35, 26 February 2006 (UTC)

It's not a contradiction if the second sentence is read to mean "of the current U.S. insular areas.....". I will correct this in the article.72.27.165.213 03:37, 16 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

The entire section is a quote from the reference article. I'm not really sure what to do with this... I've put it in block quotes and added on attribution line, but it still seems wrong. Maybe no section heading at all, or maybe this doesn't belong in the article at all? Washod 11:46, 25 February 2007 (UTC) Thats alright. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 71.228.227.111 (talk) 14:10, August 23, 2007 (UTC)

I have a question. The article states: "In 1976, Congress approved the mutually negotiated Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) in Political Union with the United States. In the case of Puerto Rico there is no such written mutual agreement"; but since the Constitution of Puerto Rico was voted and approved by congress, wouldn't that imply that it became a mutual agreement? Also, since no Congress is bounded by the action of a previous congress wouldn't that mean that congress by passing a law could effectively get rid of the Puerto Rico constitution and the Mariana Islands agreement? Cjrs 79 20:15, 27 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Suggested merge

>>>>>>>>>>>>Please keep in mind, as well, that there are FOUR commonwealths in the continental US: Washington DC, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia.<<<<<<<<<<<<< —Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.255.114.197 (talk) 19:59, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Popularity of Independence

"Roughly 3%"? I suggest that the independence movement be measured by Referendum results, rather than electoral ones (where it is to elect officers of the Government, rather than to choose the status).

I agree that referendum results are a better gage, but according to the most recent one (in 1998), only 2.5% favor independence. Notably, this figure is from the Puerto Rican status referenda page, which is un-cited. Whatever goes in the article, it needs a source. Washod 11:46, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

This information is based in the 2004 Election where PIP got in the Governours' Paper 2,67%-2,77%. Meanwhile, in votes for Accumulative Senators and Representatives they got 9,2-9,7%

It is not clear since the PPD (commonwealth party) also has independentistas as voters who are not affiliated with the PIP. This was clear in the 2004 elections when many well known independentista leaders openly sponsored the PPD candidate on television and print ads. Th PIP (independence party) is strongly criticized by many independentistas who rather vote for the PPD or do not vote in elections like the Partido Nacionalista (Nationalist party) which do not believe in what they call to be "colonial elections". The independence movement reached over 20% of the votes before the establishment of the ELA in 1952, the numbers went down after the government tried to discourage the independence movement by a long purge during the late 50's(see 'Mordaza law')--Royptorico 19:34, 26 June 2007 (UTC)