Nationality acquisition and federal citizenship
By virtue of the various laws passed concerning Puerto Rican nationality and citizenship, Puerto Ricans acquire nationality and federal citizenship by various means. These include by birth in one of the fifty states or District of Columbia; becoming naturalized; under the terms of the Jones Act, as it has been amended over time; under provisions of the Nationality Act of 1940 and by having a parent who was Puerto Rican and held federal nationality; or birth in Puerto Rico on or after April 11, 1899. Likewise, federal statutory citizenship has been acquired through the Jones Act and its various amendments through time. Because federal citizenship is derived by statute, rather than the constitution, citizens of Puerto Rico have no representation in the US Congress, are unable to vote in the Electoral College, and do not have full protection under the US Constitution. They also are exempt from federal income taxes, which reduces the amount of federal assistance available to island ci