Democratizar a Puerto Rico (Democratising Puerto Rico)

21 Pages Posted: 15 Dec 2016 Last revised: 12 Sep 2017

See all articles by Joel I. Colón-Ríos

Joel I. Colón-Ríos

University of Essex, School of Law, Students; Victoria University of Wellington, Te Herenga Waka - Faculty of Law

Date Written: 2016

Abstract

Spanish Abstract: En este artículo consideraré una serie de mecanismos dirigidos a ampliar las oportunidades de participación política en el contexto del orden constitucional puertorriqueño. En la Parte I, ofreceré algunos comentarios iniciales en torno a la relación entre el constitucionalismo y la democracia. En ese análisis, utilizaré como ejemplo principal algunas de las deficiencias democráticas de la Constitución de 1952. En la Parte II, mostraré por qué la teoría del poder constituyente ofrece una manera de entender la relación entre el constitucionalismo y democracia que nos fuerza a pensar en la implementación de mecanismos que permitan altos grados de participación popular en el cambio constitucional. Finalmente, y descansando en las bases sentadas en las primeras dos partes del escrito, en la Parte III presento dos mecanismos específicos (la Asamblea Constituyente convocada ‘desde abajo’ y la iniciativa popular para enmendar la constitución) que, a mi juicio, reducirían de manera importante la distancia entre el pueblo puertorriqueño y su constitución.

English Abstract: In this article, I consider a series of mechanisms aimed at expanding the opportunities of political participation in the Puerto Rican constitutional order. In Part I, I offer some initial comments on the relationship between constitutionalism and democracy, using as a prime example some of the democratic shortcomings of the 1952 Constitution. In Part II, I show that when that relationship is understood in light of the theory of constituent power, one can clearly see the need of providing opportunities for heightened popular participation in constitutional change. Finally, resting on the bases laid down in the first two parts of the article, in Part III I present two specific mechanisms (the Constituent Assembly convened 'from below' and the popular initiative to amend the constitution) which, in my opinion, would reduce in important ways the distance between the Puerto Rican people and its constitution.

Note: Downloadable document is in Spanish.

Keywords: Democracy, Puerto Rico

JEL Classification: K00, K30

Suggested Citation

Colón-Ríos, Joel I., Democratizar a Puerto Rico (Democratising Puerto Rico) (2016). 85 Revista Jurídica UPR 857-882 (2016), Victoria University of Wellington Legal Research Paper No. 120/2017, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2883885

Joel I. Colón-Ríos (Contact Author)

University of Essex, School of Law, Students ( email )

Colchester, Essex CO43SQ
United Kingdom

Victoria University of Wellington, Te Herenga Waka - Faculty of Law ( email )

PO Box 600
Wellington, 6140
New Zealand

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