Final answer:
Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States with its own local government, but under the authority of the U.S. federal government. This relationship has implications for Puerto Rican society and has been a topic of debate.
Step-by-step explanation:
Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States, which means it is under the sovereignty of the U.S. government but does not have the same rights and representation as U.S. states. This relationship is known as a commonwealth association.
Under this arrangement, Puerto Rico has its own local government and constitution, but the U.S. federal government has authority over certain matters such as defense, currency, and foreign affairs. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, but they cannot vote in presidential elections and their representative in Congress does not have voting power.
The relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States has been a topic of debate and discussion. Some Puerto Ricans support statehood, while others prefer independence or maintaining the current commonwealth status. The outcome of this relationship has implications for political, economic, and social aspects of Puerto Rican society.
Learn more about Puerto Rico's relationship to the United States