Council of Secretaries of Puerto Rico
Council overview
FormedJuly 25, 1952 (1952-07-25)
Council executive
Key documents

The Council of Secretaries of Puerto Rico (Spanish: Consejo de Secretarios) is the group composed by the heads of the executive departments of the government of Puerto Rico. The Council is charged with leading the different sectors of public administration within the government and does not constitute an agency by itself.

The Council, together with the Cabinet-level officers, compose the Cabinet of Puerto Rico.

Background

The establishment of the Council is proclaimed by Article IV of the Constitution of Puerto Rico which establishes that the Governor shall be assisted by Secretaries whom shall collectively constitute the Governor's advisory council and be designated as the Council of Secretaries.[1]

Each Secretary is nominated by the Governor and then presented to the Senate for advice and consent by a simple majority—except for the Secretary of State who requires the advice and consent of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.[1] If the Secretaries are confirmed they are sworn in and begin their duties immediately afterwards. However, Secretaries appointed during a legislative recess may begin serving immediately under a recess appointment until the end of the following regular session of the Legislative Assembly, or rejected by the Senate, whichever occurs first, should they not be confirmed.

The Constitution of Puerto Rico established eight Secretaries, namely: the Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce, Education, Health, Justice, Labor, Public Works, State, and Treasury.[2]

The Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce evolved into two different posts: the Secretary of Agriculture[3] and the Secretary of Economic Development and Commerce,[4] while the Secretary of Labor evolved into the Secretary of Labor and Human Resources,[5] and the Secretary of Public Works into the Secretary of Transportation and Public Works.[6]

The creation of more executive departments by Puerto Rican law established more Secretaries, namely: the Secretary of Consumer Affairs,[7] Corrections and Rehabilitation,[8] Family Affairs,[9] Housing,[10] Natural and Environmental Resources,[11] and Sports and Recreation.[12]

Current posts

Post Department Current officer Order of succession
Secretary of Agriculture Department of Agriculture Carlos Flores N/A
Secretary of Consumer Affairs Department of Consumer Affairs Michael Pierluisi N/A
Secretary of Corrections and Rehabilitation Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Erik Rolon N/A
Secretary of Economic Development and Commerce Department of Economic Development and Commerce Manuel Laboy 7
Secretary of Education Department of Education Eligio Hernández Pérez 4
Secretary of Family Affairs Department of Family Affairs Glorimar Andujar N/A
Secretary of Health Department of Health Rafael Rodríguez Mercado 8
Secretary of Housing Department of Housing Fernando Gil N/A
Secretary of Justice Department of Justice Wanda Vazquez 2
Secretary of Labor and Human Resources Department of Labor and Human Resources Carlos Saavedra Gutierrez 5
Secretary of Natural and Environmental Resources Department of Natural and Environmental Resources Tania Vazquez N/A
Secretary of Public Safety Department of Public Safety Elmer Román N/A
Secretary of Sports and Recreation Department of Sports and Recreation Andres Volmar N/A
Secretary of State Department of State Luis Rivera Marín 1
Secretary of Transportation and Public Works Department of Transportation and Public Works Carlos Contreras 6
Secretary of Treasury Department of Treasury Teresita Fuentes 3

References

  1. 1 2 "Article IV, Section 5". Constitution of Puerto Rico. July 25, 1952. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Article IV, Section 6". Constitution of Puerto Rico. July 25, 1952. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Department of Agriculture Act". Act No. 60 of 1940 (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  4. ↑ Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1994 (PDF) (in Spanish), retrieved December 29, 2012
  5. ↑ Act No. 100 of 1977 (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  6. ↑ Reorganization Plan No. 6 of1971 (PDF) (in Spanish), retrieved December 29, 2012
  7. ↑ "Department of Consumer Affairs Organic Law". Act No. 5 of 1973 (in Spanish). Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  8. ↑ Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1993 (PDF) (in Spanish), retrieved December 29, 2012
  9. ↑ "Department of Family Affairs Organic Law". Act No. 171 of 1968 (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Department of Housing Organic Law". Act No. 10 of 1972 (in Spanish). Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Department of Natural and Environmental Resources Organic Law". Act No. 23 of 1972 (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Department of Sports and Recreation Organic Law". Act No. 8 of 2004 (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved December 29, 2012.
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