# Puerto Rico, the 51st state; some questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 7, 2012, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184 "2012-11-07T06:39:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184/61 "2012-11-08T15:04:46Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > This is an insane idea. Expect the ongoing snit over bilingualism to kick up a couple of notches. I haven’t spoken with my parents for a couple of weeks now (different time schedules, diffent countries); however, I’m sure they’re going to freak out when I tell them I’m pleased with the referendum passing. And they’ll freak for that very reason: they can’t grasp that English is not “God’s One and Only True Believer’s Language & Only the Godless Heathen Shall Be Cursed to Speaketh Another.” > [@](#): > > I suppose if Puerto Rico becomes a state, that could precipitate another state leaving. Actually, I don’t think it could do such a thing. By the way, what’s the situation regarding statehood vs. other options in Guam? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184/62 "2012-11-08T15:06:22Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > They _could_, but that’s not what they did for the last two states admitted. No, they really couldn’t. It would require a change to the Constitution. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184/63 "2012-11-08T15:07:23Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Actually, I don’t think it could do such a thing. Now now, if Alabama wants to leave, I think we should let them. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184/64 "2012-11-08T16:30:25Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > By the way, what’s the situation regarding statehood vs. other options in Guam? No chance. Guam has a little under 160,000 people, and is only 209 square miles. It would be awefully hard to make a compelling argument for statehood for a place that is less than 1/5 the size of Rhode Island and has 1/3 the population of Wyoming. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184/65 "2012-11-08T16:35:18Z")
I still like the idea of consolidating the territories and making them one state. Yeah, I know. It needs work. But I like the basic concept. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184/66 "2012-11-08T16:38:56Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I still like the idea of consolidating the territories and making them one state. Yeah, I know. It needs work. But I like the basic concept. With the State capital in Samoa? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184/67 "2012-11-08T16:40:28Z")
Either that or we need a new concept, maybe 0 or 1 senators and 1 congresscritter for this new not-quite-a-state entity. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184/68 "2012-11-08T16:43:46Z")
Would it be possible for a resident of (a) Guam or (b) Puerto Rico to become President? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184/69 "2012-11-08T16:45:41Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > It’s also a ridiculous snit. There is no official language in the US. Several states have historically had a high proportion of Spanish speakers due to being formerly part of Mexico or a Spanish colony. The world will not end if there’s a majority-Spanish state. Learning English is already mandated in PR so really, nothing would change. Underline added. What does this mean? It’s required in school? That would be okay I suppose, but I can’t imagine it would be permissible to generally mandate someone learn a particular language? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184/70 "2012-11-08T16:49:03Z")
> [@Donnerwetter](#): > > Would it be possible for a resident of (a) Guam or (b) Puerto Rico to become President? The Constitution states: > [@](#): > > No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States. So, it appears to me that a resident of the territories is eligible. I’m wondering how much howling would be done by the usual suspects around the country if one such territorial resident were to attempt a presidential run. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184/71 "2012-11-08T16:50:09Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I still like the idea of consolidating the territories and making them one state. Yeah, I know. It needs work. But I like the basic concept. Maybe use a big tugboat to pull/push them toward a central location so they became a single land mass! ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184/72 "2012-11-08T16:59:04Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > The Constitution states: > > So, it appears to me that a resident of the territories is eligible. I’m wondering how much howling would be done by the usual suspects around the country if one such territorial resident were to attempt a presidential run. Which would be really remarkable: Somebody could be elected to the office of President of the United States, but wouldn’t actually be able to cast a vote for himself(?). ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184/73 "2012-11-08T17:05:36Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > > [@Broomstick](#): > > > > They could, but that’s not what they did for the last two states admitted. > > No, they really couldn’t. It would require a change to the Constitution. The constitution has been changed before. It certainly wouldn’t be _easy_, but it’s _possible_. The “not easy” part is why I think they’ll do what they did last time. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184/74 "2012-11-08T17:06:57Z")
> [@Donnerwetter](#): > > Which would be really remarkable: Somebody could be elected to the office of President of the United States, but wouldn’t actually be able to cast a vote for himself(?). That was true for women in the 19th Century I believe. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184/75 "2012-11-08T17:14:28Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > > [@Broomstick](#): > > > > It’s also a ridiculous snit. There is no official language in the US. Several states have historically had a high proportion of Spanish speakers due to being formerly part of Mexico or a Spanish colony. The world will not end if there’s a majority-Spanish state. Learning English is already mandated in PR so really, nothing would change. > > Underline added. What does this mean? It’s required in school? That would be okay I suppose, but I can’t imagine it would be permissible to generally mandate someone learn a particular language? Puerto Rico has two official languages, Spanish and English. Spanish is everyone’s primary language on the island (barring an occasional immigrant, I’d guess). English is taught as a required, second language in both public and private schools. Thus, the vast majority of Puerto Ricans may not be fluent in English but have some understanding of it. This combined with the current trend of making more and more things available in both English and Spanish in the rest of the US means that Puerto Ricans probably won’t have to improve their Spanish unless they plan to move to the mainland somewhere outside of where Spanish is common. Being a US state _might_ provide an incentive for more English on the island, but probably not much. In other words, most people won’t have a reason to change, thus it will make little or not difference. The only time I’m aware that someone is _required_ to learn English in the US is if they’re seeking to become a naturalized citizen. Even then, perfect English isn’t required, just a reasonable level of comprehension. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184/76 "2012-11-08T17:18:39Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > No, they really couldn’t. It would require a change to the Constitution. If you’re referring to changing the size of the House of Representatives, that does not require a constitutional change. The size is set by statute. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184/77 "2012-11-08T17:19:52Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > This combined with the current trend of making more and more things available in both English and Spanish in the rest of the US means that Puerto Ricans probably won’t have to improve their Spanish unless they plan to move to the mainland somewhere outside of where Spanish is common. Don’t you mean “improve their English”? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184/78 "2012-11-08T18:04:23Z")
Yes, good catch. _::: goes in search of more caffeine before doing more posting:::_ ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184/79 "2012-11-08T18:19:36Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Puerto Rico has two official languages, Spanish and English. Spanish is everyone’s primary language on the island (barring an occasional immigrant, I’d guess)… However, PR and the US mainland are in the same immigration zone and the requirements for visiting, living, and working in PR are exactly the same as they are in Kentucky or Massachusetts. Lots of Puerto Ricans take advantage of this and come to work on the mainland, but when I was down in PR I saw very few white bread anglophones outside of San Juan. How many non-US citizens go through the hassle to get an immigrant visa for the US and decide to settle in PR? Are there a lot of Mexican and Salvadorian immigrants in PR? ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184/80 "2012-11-08T18:27:29Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > …The only time I’m aware that someone is _required_ to learn English in the US is if they’re seeking to become a naturalized citizen. Even then, perfect English isn’t required, just a reasonable level of comprehension. I believe this is true. I know a guy who became a US citizen a few years ago and his English grammar is not terribly good. He has a lot of difficulty using singular and plural nouns _correctly_ (picking the wrong grammatical number, or getting an irregular plural wrong), but he can be understood and can understand others. Apparently that was good enough for citizenship. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puerto-rico-the-51st-state-some-questions/640184.md?page=5)