This book focuses on sovereignty referendums, which have been used throughout different historical periods of democratization, decolonization, devolution, secession and state creation. Referendums on questions of sovereignty and self-determination have been a significant element of the international political and legal landscape since the French Revolution, and have been a central element in the resolution of territorial issues from the referendum in Avignon in 1791 until today. More recent examples include Quebec, East Timor, New Caledonia, Puerto Rico and South Sudan. The global aim of this book is to achieve a better empirical and legal understanding of sovereignty referendums and related problems in international and national law and politics. Accordingly, it presents readers a comprehensive study of sovereignty referendums from the perspectives of both international and constitutional law.

Contents: (1) Recent Developments: 111th, 110th, 109th Congress; Non-Congress. Developments; (2) Background: Early Governance of Puerto Rico (PR); Development of the Const. of PR; Fed. Relations Act; Internat. Attention; Supreme Court Decisions; (3) Status Debates and Votes, 1952-1998: 1967 Plebiscite; 1991 Referendum; 1993 Plebiscite; 1998 Action in the 105th Cong.; 1998 Plebiscite; (4) Fed. Activity After 1998; (5) Issues of Debate on Political Status. Appendices: (A) Brief Chronology of Status Events Since 1898; (B) Puerto Rico Status Votes in Plebiscites and Referenda, 1967-1998; (C)Congress. Activity on Puerto Rico¿s Political Status, 1989-1998; (D) Summary of Legislative Debates and Actions. Tables.

The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session. The Congressional Record began publication in 1873. Debates for sessions prior to 1873 are recorded in The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States (1789-1824), the Register of Debates in Congress (1824-1837), and the Congressional Globe (1833-1873)