Public Law 600 — Federal Relations Act (1950)

Public Law 600 (64 Stat. 319), enacted by the 81st U.S. Congress on July 3, 1950, authorized the people of Puerto Rico to organize a government under a constitution of their own adoption. The law was described as being adopted "in the nature of a compact."

The full text of Section 1:

"That, fully recognizing the principle of government by consent, this Act is now adopted in the nature of a compact so that the people of Puerto Rico may organize a government pursuant to a constitution of their own adoption."

Section 2 provided that the act would be submitted to Puerto Rican voters for approval. Section 4 required that the constitution include a bill of rights and a republican form of government.

The 'Compact' Controversy: The word "compact" in Public Law 600 became the foundation of the Commonwealth government's claim that Puerto Rico had entered into a bilateral agreement with the United States that could not be unilaterally altered. This interpretation was used to argue that Puerto Rico had exercised self-determination.

However, the Supreme Court rejected this interpretation in Puerto Rico v. Sánchez Valle (2016), holding that Puerto Rico's authority derives from Congress, which "wielded plenary authority over Puerto Rico" both before and after Public Law 600. The Court confirmed that the "compact" did not create a new sovereign or alter the fundamental colonial relationship.

Congressional Amendments: Before ratifying the Puerto Rican constitution, Congress required the deletion of Section 20 of the Bill of Rights, which recognized rights to employment, social protection, and a standard of living. This forced amendment demonstrated that Congress retained ultimate authority over Puerto Rico's constitution — contradicting the notion of a mutual compact.

Public Law 600 thus represents one of the most significant legal fictions in colonial history: a law described as a compact that was not in fact a compact, authorizing self-governance that was not in fact self-governance.