The Foraker Act,, officially known as the Organic Act of 1900, is a United States federal law that established civilian (albeit limited popular) government on the island of Puerto Rico, which had recently become a possession of the United States as a result of the Spanish–American War. Section VII of the Foraker Act also established Puerto Rican citizenship. President William McKinley signed the act on April 12, 1900 and it became known as the Foraker Act after its sponsor, Ohio Senator Joseph B. Foraker. Its main author has been identified as Secretary of War Elihu Root. The new government had a governor and an 11-member executive council appointed by the President of the United States, a House of Representatives with 35 elected members, a judicial system with a Supreme Court and a United States District Court, and a non-voting Resident Commissioner in Congress. The Executive council was all appointed: five individuals were selected from Puerto Rico residents while the rest were from those in top cabinet positions, including attorney general and chief of police (also appointed by the President).
El Foraker Act, oficialmente conocido como el Organic Act de 1900, es una ley federal de los Estados Unidos que estableció el gobierno civil (aunque limitado popularmente) en la isla de Puerto Rico, que recientemente se había convertido en una posesión de los Estados Unidos como resultado de la Guerra Española-Americana. Sección VII del Foraker Act también estableció la ciudadanía de Puerto Rico. El presidente William McKinley firmó la ley el 12 de abril de 1900 y se hizo conocido como el Foraker Act después de su patrocinador, el senador de Ohio, Joseph B. Foraker. Su autor principal ha sido identificado como el Secretario de la Guerra Elihu Root. El nuevo gobierno tenía un gobernador y un consejo ejecutivo de 11 miembros nombrado por el presidente de los Estados Unidos, una Cámara de Representantes con 35 miembros elegidos, un sistema judicial con una Corte Suprema y una Corte del Distrito de los Estados Unidos, y un Comisionado Residente no votante en el Congreso.