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| Secretary of State of Puerto Rico | |
|---|---|
 Official seal | |
 | |
| Department of State | |
| Nominator | Governor |
| Appointer | Governor with advice and consent from the Senate and House of Representatives |
| Term length | At the pleasure of the Governor |
| Formation | Established by Article IV of the Constitution of Puerto Rico |
| Succession | First |
| Salary | $90,000 (set by statute) USD[1] |
| Website | www.estado.pr.gov |
The secretary of state of Puerto Rico (Spanish: Secretario de Estado de Puerto Rico) leads all efforts promoting the cultural, political, and economical relations between Puerto Rico and jurisdictions within the United States or foreign countries. It was created by Article IV of the Constitution of Puerto Rico, establishing the secretary as acting governor when the governor is unable to perform his duties—a post equivalent to that of a lieutenant governor. As such, the Secretary of State is first in line of succession to the governorship of Puerto Rico.
Today, the post is similar to that of a foreign minister. The secretary is the officer in charge of Puerto Rico's foreign relations, albeit under the consent of Congress or the U.S. Department of State due to Puerto Rico's political status.
Administratively, the post differs to other similar titles in U.S. politics. Namely, that in contrast to lieutenant governors, the secretary is not elected by the people. He is instead appointed by the governor with advice and consent from both the Senate and House of Representatives. In addition, the secretary does not have any role whatsoever in the state legislature, in contrast to lieutenant governors. Unlike secretaries of state in other U.S. jurisdictions, the secretary of state of Puerto Rico does not take part in the elections process. That responsibility falls into the State Commission on Elections.
Yet, the post does have some similarities to other U.S. secretaries of state. For example, the secretary of state of Puerto Rico is also the chief clerk of the commonwealth and the primary custodian of important records. The secretary promulgates all Puerto Rican laws after the governor signs them and keeps records of them online and offline. They also keeps record of business charters, professional licenses, trademarks, and other documents. Civil acts like marriage licenses, birth certificates, and adoption and divorce decrees, however, are kept in record by the Department of Health of Puerto Rico. Other historical documents are kept in the General Archives of Puerto Rico, a program of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture.
In summary, the secretary of state of Puerto Rico is, by law, the chief clerk, the acting governor, and the officer in charge of the commonwealth's foreign relations. Because of these responsibilities, the post is typically occupied by a highly competent individual with some degree of veterancy, starting with Roberto Sánchez Vilella in 1952. This cadre has led citizens and politicians alike to hold secretaries of state in high esteem regardless of their political affiliation.
- ^ "Compensation of Secretaries". Lexis. Secretary of State of Puerto Rico and LEXISNEXIS of Puerto Rico, Inc. Retrieved 2022-09-04.