When was Puerto Rico's government established?

Answer 1

Since 1914

Puerto Rico has had some form of government since at least 1509. Juan Ponce de Leon was the first governor to actually live on the island during his tenure. He was appointed by the Spanish crown. There was a long string of governors appointed by the crown until the U.S. took possession of the island-territory in 1898.

From 1898-1900 Puerto Rico was ruled by a series of military governors appointed by the U.S. Army. From 1900-1949 Puerto Rican governors were appointed by the President of the United States.

In 1947, the US Congress passed a law that allowed Puerto Rico to democratically elect its own governor in a November 1948 election. Luis Muñoz Marín became the first democratically elected governor on the island.

In 1950 the US Congress allowed Puerto Rico to draft its own constitution. The constitution (closely resembling that of each of the 50 states) was written over the next 18 months. The Puerto Rican Population ratified the Constitution of Puerto Rico on March 3, 1952 with 82% of the vote. On July 25, 1952, Governor Luis Muñoz Marín officially announced the Constitution was in effect. July 25 (Constitution Day) is a holiday in Puerto Rico every year.

So...Puerto Rico has had this current form of government (which closely resembles any of the 50 states in the union) for nearly 61 years old as of this post (June 23, 2013).