Civic Literacy Practice Test 2026 - Free Civic Literacy Questions and Study Guide

Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, which means it is governed by the United States but does not possess the full rights of a state. It has its own local government and has been a territory since it was ceded to the U.S. by Spain in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. Residents are U.S. citizens but cannot vote in presidential elections and have limited representation in Congress.

Hawaii, California, and Alaska are all states within the United States, which means they have full representation and rights accorded to states, distinguishing them from territories like Puerto Rico. This difference in status impacts both governance and the rights of residents in these regions.