Title 48 — Territories and Insular PossessionsRelease 119-73not60
§821 Legislative Power
Title 48 › Chapter 4— PUERTO RICO › Subchapter III— THE LEGISLATURE › § 821
Summary
The legislature has power to make laws for Puerto Rico beyond purely local issues. It can create or reorganize municipalities and change or repeal laws and ordinances that were in force on March 2, 1917, if consistent with this chapter.
Full Legal Text
Title 48, §821
Territories and Insular Possessions — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The legislative authority shall extend to all matters of a legislative character not locally inapplicable, including power to create, consolidate, and reorganize the municipalities so far as may be necessary, and to provide and repeal laws and ordinances therefor; also the power to alter, amend, modify, or repeal any or all laws and ordinances of every character in force in Puerto Rico or municipality or district thereof on March 2, 1917, insofar as such alteration, amendment, modification, or repeal may be consistent with the provisions of this chapter.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning act Mar. 2, 1917, ch. 145, 39 Stat. 951, known as the Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act and also popularly known as the Jones Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 731 of this title and Tables.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
“Puerto Rico” substituted in text for “Porto Rico” pursuant to act May 17, 1932, which is classified to section 731a of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
48 U.S.C. § 821
Title 48 — Territories and Insular Possessions
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60