English · Première générale · LVA · B1 towards B1+

Session 3: Who is represented? Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.

Recap check
  1. How many seats make a majority in the House? In the Senate?
  2. Give two powers of the Senate.
  3. Put in the passive: Voters elected 435 representatives.
Answer key
  1. 218; 51 (or 50 + the Vice President).
  2. For example: it confirms judges and ministers, it approves treaties, it holds the trial after an impeachment.
  3. 435 representatives were elected (by voters).
Axe 6. Les aires anglophones américaines · Axe 2. Diversité et inclusion
Objet d'étude : Porto Rico : le 51e état ?

Question: Are all American citizens equally represented in Washington?

Puerto Rico in Congress

Compréhension de l'écrit

Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States after the Spanish-American War, by the Treaty of Paris.

The Jones Act of 1917 granted American citizenship to Puerto Ricans.

Today, Puerto Rico, a commonwealth of more than three million people, has no senator. It elects one Resident Commissioner, a member of the House of Representatives, for a four-year term.

The Resident Commissioner can introduce bills, sit and vote in committees and speak on the House floor, but cannot vote on the final passage of a bill.

Under Article IV, Section 3 of the Constitution, Congress has power over the territories.

Washington, D.C., the capital, has no senator either; it is represented in the House by a delegate. Since the 23rd Amendment (1961), it has three electors for the presidential election, but Puerto Rico has none.

On 5 November 2024, in a non-binding vote on its status, statehood came first with about 59 per cent of the valid votes. Only Congress can change the island's status.

Sources: Office of the Resident Commissioner, What is a Resident Commissioner? · National Archives, Amendments 11 to 27 · State Elections Commission of Puerto Rico, final results of the 2024 plebiscite

Understand

Compréhension de l'écrit
  1. Since when have Puerto Ricans been American citizens?
  2. How is Puerto Rico represented in Congress?
  3. What can the Resident Commissioner do, and not do?
  4. Compare Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.: what do they have in common? What is different?
  5. Who can decide to change Puerto Rico's status?
Answer key
  1. Since the Jones Act of 1917.
  2. By one Resident Commissioner in the House, elected for four years; no senator.
  3. He can introduce bills, vote in committees, speak on the floor; he cannot vote on the final passage of a bill.
  4. In common: no senator, a non-voting representative in the House. Different: Washington, D.C. has three electors for the presidential election (23rd Amendment); Puerto Rico has none.
  5. Only Congress (Article IV, Section 3).

Your turn

Interaction orale

Debate in two groups: Should Puerto Rico become the 51st state? Each group prepares three arguments, then answers the other group. Use the documents only: real facts.

Key points

Possible arguments for: equal representation for American citizens, two senators and voting representatives, a vote for president; the 2024 non-binding vote. Possible arguments against or questions: a decision of Congress, a debate in Puerto Rico itself on statehood, independence or another status; identity, language, taxes. Assess the quality of the arguments, not the side.

Expanding your vocabulary

Lexique en lien avec les axes culturels · Discrimination et exclusion
WordMeaningExample
to be on an equal footingto have the same rights and chancesAre Puerto Ricans on an equal footing with other citizens?
under-representednot having enough representativesSome argue the island is under-represented.
to grant citizenshipto give the nationalityCongress granted citizenship in 1917.
a territory, a commonwealthan area governed by a country but not a statePuerto Rico is a commonwealth.
statehoodthe status of a stateSupporters of statehood want two senators.
non-bindingthat does not oblige anyone to actThe 2024 vote was non-binding.
to bar someone from votingto stop someone from votingLiving on the island bars citizens from voting for president.
to have a sayto be able to take part in a decisionCitizens want a say in the laws.

Give the opposite or the contrary: 1. binding 2. over-represented 3. to include 4. on an unequal footing.

Answer key
  1. non-binding
  2. under-represented
  3. to exclude, to bar
  4. on an equal footing

Grammar

Exprimer une opposition, une concession ou un contraste · Les comparatifs

To compare: Puerto Rico has more inhabitants than some states but fewer representatives. To contrast: whereas, while (two facts side by side); to concede: although, even though + clause, despite + noun or -ing; to balance: on the one hand ... on the other hand.

  1. Washington, D.C. has three electors, ______ Puerto Rico has none. (contrast)
  2. ______ they are American citizens, residents of Puerto Rico cannot vote for president. (concession)
  3. ______ being citizens, they have no senator. (concession + -ing)
  4. ______, statehood would give the island two senators; ______, Congress must agree. (balance)
Answer key
  1. whereas / while
  2. Although / Even though
  3. Despite
  4. On the one hand ... on the other hand

Production

Expression écrite

Write a balanced paragraph (about 150 words): Is American democracy fully representative? Use the Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. examples and at least three connectors of contrast or concession.

Key points

Key points: a clear question; facts from the documents (Jones Act 1917, Resident Commissioner, 23rd Amendment, the 2024 non-binding vote, Article IV); a balanced view (on the one hand / on the other hand); a nuanced conclusion.

Homework

Finish your paragraph. Then read the painting again: who had no voice in 1855? Who has a limited voice today? Two sentences.
Key points

Example: In 1855, women and enslaved African Americans had no voice in government. Today, American citizens living in Puerto Rico cannot vote for president and their Resident Commissioner cannot vote on the final passage of bills.