Borinquen MadeCivic directory and institutional atlas of Puerto Rico
Structure of the Government of Puerto Rico
Civic guide and public directory of the three constitutional branches, the federal bridge, public corporations, municipalities, and citizen services of Puerto Rico.
Civic guide and public directory based on the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, current organic laws, and official government records. It is not legal advice and does not replace the official procedures of each agency.
Public roll and directory verified as of 2026-08-27. Officeholders 1993–2026 · Public directory
Three Constitutional Branches and Checks and Balances
The separation of powers established by the 1952 Constitution and its mechanisms of institutional balance
The government of Puerto Rico is grounded in a republican and democratic system divided into three coequal branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial, inspired by the doctrine of Montesquieu and set out in the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Executive Branch
Governor of Puerto Rico: Jenniffer González Colón
- Execute and enforce the laws of Puerto Rico.
- Commander in chief of the Puerto Rico National Guard.
- Appoint cabinet secretaries, judges, and prosecutors with the advice and consent of the Senate.
- Submit the recommended annual budget to the Legislative Assembly.
- Veto power over bills (regular veto and pocket veto).
Legislative Branch
Bicameral Legislative Assembly: President of the Senate: Thomas Rivera Schatz · Speaker of the House: Carlos Méndez Núñez
Senate of Puerto Rico
- Advice and consent for executive, judicial, and prosecutorial appointments.
- Try impeachment proceedings initiated by the House.
House of Representatives
- Exclusive origin of bills to raise revenue and taxes.
- Exclusive power to bring impeachment charges against officials.
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court of Puerto Rico: Chief Justice: Maite D. Oronoz Rodríguez
Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
Court of First Instance
- Judicial review of the constitutionality of laws or executive orders.
- Unified administration of the court system of Puerto Rico.
- Regulation of admission to and practice of the legal and notarial professions.
Mecanismos de Pesos y Contrapesos
Legislative → Executive
Confirmation of cabinet appointments, approval of budget appropriations, legislative investigations and interpellation, override of a veto by a two-thirds (2/3) majority in both chambers.
Executive → Legislative
Veto of legislative measures, call of extraordinary sessions with an exclusive agenda set by the Executive.
Judicial → Executive and Legislative
Declaration of unconstitutionality of laws or executive orders, guarantee of due process of law and fundamental civil rights.
Legislative → Judicial
Senate confirmation of judges, setting of the judicial budget, and impeachment for serious crimes or misconduct.
Federal Bridge and Fiscal Oversight Layer
Institutional representation in Washington, D.C., and the extraordinary regulatory framework of PROMESA
The political and fiscal relationship between Puerto Rico and the government of the United States operates through a congressional delegation without a full vote and a federal board created by an act of Congress.
Resident Commissioner in Washington
Titular: Pablo José Hernández Rivera
- Introduce bills and advance legislation for the benefit of Puerto Rico.
- Pursue federal fund allocations (Medicaid, CDBG-DR, infrastructure, education).
- Serve as liaison to federal agencies (FEMA, DOE, DOT, USDA, HHS, HUD).
Financial Oversight and Management Board (JSF / FOMB)
Liderazgo: Chair: Arthur J. Gonzalez · Executive Director: Robert F. Mujica Jr.
- Mandatory certification of multi-year Fiscal Plans.
- Certification of the General Fund Budget of the Government of Puerto Rico.
- Review of government laws and contracts under Section 204(a) of PROMESA to ensure consistency with the Fiscal Plan.
- Control over budget appropriations of public corporations and instrumentalities.
Central Executive Branch, Succession, and Public Corporations
The governmental chain of command, cabinet departments, and public corporations and public-private partnerships
Línea Constitucional de Sucesión
Gabinete y Liderazgo de Asesoramiento Central
Secretary of the Governorship (Chief of Staff)
Executive Director of PRFAA
Executive Director of OGP (Management and Budget)
Departamentos Ejecutivos Principales
DTOP · Department of Transportation and Public Works
State highway infrastructure, bridges, driver service centers (CESCO), and traffic regulation.
Salud · Department of Health
Public health, administration of the Medicaid / Plan Vital program, medical licenses, and state hospitals.
Vivienda · Department of Housing
Public housing programs, subsidies, and administration of federal recovery funds CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT.
DSP · Department of Public Safety
Integrated umbrella: Puerto Rico Police Bureau, Firefighters Bureau, Emergency Management (NMEAD), Medical Emergencies, and the 9-1-1 System.
DRNA · Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
Ecological conservation, maritime-terrestrial zone, watersheds, forests, and environmental enforcement.
DDEC · Department of Economic Development and Commerce
Tax incentives (Act 60), industrial promotion, tourism, foreign trade, and capital attraction.
DACO · Department of Consumer Affairs
Protection of consumer rights, freeze of profit margins in emergencies, and commercial enforcement.
Corporaciones Públicas, Reguladores y Operadores P3
Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (AAA)
Executive President: Doriel Pagán Crespo
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (AEE)
Executive Director: Josué Colón Ortiz
Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (NEPR)
Chair: Edison Avilés Deliz
LUMA Energy
President and CEO: Janisse Quiñones
Genera PR
Director of Operations
Ports Authority and Aerostar
Executive Director of Ports / Aerostar Puerto Rico
Public-Private Partnerships Authority (AAPP / P3A)
Executive Director: Fermín Fontanés Gómez
Municipal Government and Municipal Code (Act 107-2020)
The structure of the 78 municipalities, the city-hall organization chart, and reference mayors
Puerto Rico is divided territorially into 78 municipalities endowed with administrative and fiscal autonomy under Act 107-2020 (Municipal Code of Puerto Rico). Each municipality is the unit of government closest to the citizen.
Estructura Interna de la Administración Municipal
Mayor
Chief municipal executive elected every 4 years. Directs municipal administration, formulates the municipal budget, and executes ordinances approved by the Municipal Legislature.
Deputy Mayor and Municipal Administrator
Supervision of day-to-day city-hall operations, interdepartmental coordination, and direct administrative dispatch.
Municipal Department Directors
Heads of specialized areas: Municipal Public Works, Municipal Police, Emergency Management (OMME), Finance, Recycling and Beautification, Community Development.
Municipal Legislature
Local deliberative and oversight body (12 to 16 legislators according to population). Approves the municipal budget, confirms department directors, and adopts ordinances and resolutions with the force of local law.
Alcaldes y Alcaldesas de Referencia Territorial
| Municipio | Alcalde / Alcaldesa | Región |
|---|---|---|
| San Juan (Capital City) | Miguel Romero Lugo | Metro Region |
| Bayamón | Ramón Luis Rivera Cruz | Metro Region |
| Carolina | José Carlos Aponte Dalmau | Metro Region |
| Guaynabo | Edward O'Neill Rosa | Metro Region |
| Ponce | Marlese Sifre Rodríguez | South Region |
| Caguas | William Miranda Torres | East-Central Region |
| Mayagüez | Jorge Ramos Ruiz | West Region |
| Arecibo | Carlos Ramírez Irizarry | North Region |
| Toa Baja | Bernardo Márquez García | North Region |
| Humacao | Julio Geigel Pérez | East Region |
Practical Citizen Guide: Whom to Contact?
Matrix of jurisdictional responsibilities for resolving procedures, outages, and services
| Situación o Asunto | Nivel / Jurisdicción | Entidad Responsable | Canal de Acción y Contacto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potholes, pavement, and sidewalks on main roads (highways, PR-1, PR-2, PR-52) | State | DTOP / Highways and Transportation Authority (ACT) | DTOP Citizen Service (dtop.pr.gov / CESCO Digital App) |
| Potholes, sidewalks, and paving on residential streets and neighborhood roads | Municipal | Corresponding municipality (Municipal Public Works Department) | Public Works Office of the local City Hall |
| No water, low pressure, street leaks, or meter failure | State Corporation | Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (AAA) | TeleAgua Call Center (787-620-2482) / acueductospr.com |
| Blackout, downed pole, downed high-voltage lines, electrical intermittence, or billing | Private P3 Operator | LUMA Energy | Customer Service Line 1-844-888-5862 / lumapr.com / Mi LUMA App |
| Formal dispute over improper electric charges or a technical complaint not resolved by LUMA | State Regulator | Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (NEPR) | Formal complaint filing before the NEPR (jrsp.pr.gov) |
| Household trash collection, debris, old furniture, recycling, and lot cleanup | Municipal | Corresponding municipality (Solid Waste Management and Beautification) | Municipal Recycling / Public Works Office |
| Construction, remodeling, commercial-use, and zoning permits | State / Municipal | Permit Management Office (OGPe - DDEC) or Autonomous Municipalities of Hierarchy 1-5 | Single Business Portal (sbp.ogpe.pr.gov) or Municipal Permit Office |
| Crimes in progress, serious accidents, medical emergencies, and natural disasters | State / Municipal | 9-1-1 Emergency System / Puerto Rico Police (DSP) / Emergency Management (NMEAD) | 9-1-1 Emergency Line (Voice/Text) |
| Local traffic violations, unnecessary noise, municipal ordinances | Municipal | Municipal Police of the corresponding city hall | Local Municipal Police station |
| Real-property appraisal, tax exemption, property-tax collection | Intermunicipal Entity | Municipal Revenue Collection Center (CRIM) | Official CRIM Portal (crimpr.net) / Regional Offices |
| Unjustified price increases in emergencies, commercial warranties, and consumer fraud | State | Department of Consumer Affairs (DACO) | Complaint filing at daco.pr.gov |
Legal Framework for Transparency and Access to Information
Statutes and public tools that guarantee citizen access to government data
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Constitution of the Commonwealth (1952) — Article II
The Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of speech, petition, and the constitutional right of access to public information arising from Supreme Court case law (Soto v. Srio. de Justicia).
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Act 141-2019 — Transparency and Expedited Procedure for Access to Information Act
Establishes the duty of every public entity to have Information Officers and sets a strict term of ten (10) working days to respond to citizen requests for non-confidential documents.
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Act 107-2020 — Municipal Code of Puerto Rico
Codifies the powers, duties, and obligations of the 78 municipalities, regulating citizen participation, public budget hearings, and ordinance transparency.
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Federal PROMESA Act (Public Law 114-187)
Federal statutory framework governing fiscal oversight, budget approval, and public-debt restructuring processes of Puerto Rico.
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OCPR Contract Registry (Office of the Comptroller)
Obligation to register every public contract awarded by any agency or municipality on the Office of the Comptroller portal (ocpr.gov.pr) for its validity and disbursement.
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Puerto Rico Open Data Portal (datos.pr.gov)
Official digital repository for the publication of government datasets in open, reusable, machine-readable formats.