Nationality

Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth of the United States and therefore shares a common citizenship, currency and defense. Although Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, residents of Puerto Rico pay no federal income tax; however, they have no vote in presidential elections. As U.S. citizens, Puerto Ricans do not require a work visa (green card) to live and/or work in the United States. Over 2 million Puerto Ricans live in the United States, primarily in the northeast.

Puerto Rico typically has authority over its internal affairs. However, the United States controls areas which are generally under the mandate of the U.S. federal government. In other words, Puerto Rico's limited sovereignty is trumped by U.S. federal law where there is a conflict or difference of opinion, particularly in matters of public health. The major differences between Puerto Rico and the 50 states are its local taxation system and exemption from the Internal Revenue Code, its lack of voting representation in either house of the U.S. Congress, the ineligibility of Puerto Ricans to vote in presidential elections, and its limited federal funding, normally reserved for the U.S. constituent states.