Language

Puerto Rico is an island legally bilingual, as both Spanish and English are the official languages since the Act of January 5, 1993 was signed.  Even so, Spanish is the predominant language spoken by the entire population.  English is taught as a second language, with less than 5% of the population being fully bilingual.

The use of slang known as “Spanglish,” which consists of a mixture of Spanish and English, is common. There are words that in speaking Spanish a Puerto Rican would not use, but are now in popular use due to the high level of U.S. influence on the island.
The relationship of the government of Puerto Rico with the United States federal government is comparable to the United States federal government’s relationship with its states. Anything related to the currency, defense, foreign affairs and most trade between states falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government.

The government of Puerto Rico has autonomy and the right to collect local taxes. Puerto Ricans are citizens of the United States with all of the fundamental rights and duties conferred by citizenship.  But as the presidential elections are held only in states and incorporated territories, residents of Puerto Rico do not participate in them unless they have established a legal residence in either a state or an incorporated territory