<P> The political status of Puerto Rico is that of an unincorporated territory of the United States . As such , the island is neither a sovereign nation nor a U.S. state . Because of that ambiguity , the territory , as a polity , lacks certain rights but enjoys certain benefits that other polities have or lack . For instance , in contrast to sovereign nations , Puerto Rico does not have voting rights in its federal legislature nor in electing its federal head of government . But , in contrast to U.S. states , Puerto Ricans are not subject to federal income taxes . The political status of the island thus stems from how different Puerto Rico is politically from sovereign nations and from U.S. states . </P>
<P> The political status of Puerto Rico is that of an unincorporated territory of the United States . As such , the island is neither a sovereign nation nor a U.S. state . Because of that ambiguity , the territory , as a polity , lacks certain rights but enjoys certain benefits that other polities have or lack . For instance , in contrast to sovereign nations , Puerto Rico does not have voting rights in its federal legislature nor in electing its federal head of government . But , in contrast to U.S. states , Puerto Ricans are not subject to federal income taxes . The political status of the island thus stems from how different Puerto Rico is politically from sovereign nations and from U.S. states . </P>
what is the current status of puerto rico
what is the current status of puerto rico
an unincorporated territory of the United States .
an unincorporated territory of the United States .