Learn
One island, three levels
The map before the acronyms: federal, state-level, and municipal.
Start with the level
Federal institutions, state-level institutions (Puerto Rico’s government), and municipal governments coexist in Puerto Rico. One need can involve several levels: rebuilding a road may require federal funding, management by a Puerto Rico agency, and municipal coordination. Sharing a project does not make one institution subordinate to another.
Then ask which power it exercises
Puerto Rico’s Constitution organizes its government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The Legislature passes laws; the executive administers and implements them; courts resolve cases and controversies. Checks and balances connect their powers. Municipal governments also exercise executive and legislative functions under their own legal framework.
Follow a concrete responsibility
Instead of memorizing a list without context, choose a question: who administers public health insurance, who regulates energy, or who adopts a municipal ordinance? Find the responsibility, identify the institution, and follow its relationships on the map. Learn the purpose before the acronym.
Check your understanding: Does receiving federal funds turn a Puerto Rico agency into a federal agency?
No. Funding sources and an institution’s legal identity are separate things.