Puerto Rico's political status

Puerto Rico is an unincorporated U.S. territory, meaning it is controlled by the U.S. government but is not a state. Its residents are U.S. citizens but do not have voting representation in Congress, and they cannot vote for the U.S. president unless they reside in a state. Puerto Rico has its own local government and a degree of autonomy, but ultimate authority rests with the U.S. federal government. There are ongoing debates about whether Puerto Rico should become a state, remain a territory, or seek independence, but no definitive change has been implemented.