Article I — General Provisions
6 sections · 0 paragraphs in this article.
The U.S. Virgin Islands has no constitution of its own — five constitutional conventions have failed to produce one. The federal Revised Organic Act of 1954 serves as its founding charter, establishing the three branches of the territorial government and a bill of rights. Codified at 48 U.S.C. ch. 12.
48 U.S.C. § 1541 § 1541. Organization and status
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(a) Composition and territorial designation The provisions of this chapter and the name "Virgin Islands" as used in this chapter, shall apply to and include the territorial domain, islands, cays, and waters acquired by the United States through cession of the Danish West Indian I…
48 U.S.C. § 1542 § 1542. Voting franchise; discrimination prohibited
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(a) The franchise shall be vested in residents of the Virgin Islands who are citizens of the United States, twenty-one years of age or over. Additional qualifications may be prescribed by the legislature: Provided, however, That no property, language, or income qualification shal…
48 U.S.C. § 1543 § 1543. United States citizenship requirement for government officials
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All members of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, all judges and all officials of the government of the Virgin Islands who report directly to the Governor shall be citizens of the United States.
48 U.S.C. § 1544 § 1544. Reports by Governor; jurisdiction of Secretary of the Interior; exceptions
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All reports required by law to be made by the Governor to any official of the United States shall hereafter be made to the Secretary of the Interior, and the President is authorized to place all matters pertaining to the government of the Virgin Islands under the jurisdiction of …
48 U.S.C. § 1545 § 1545. Lease and sale of public property; conveyance of title in certain lands to the government of Virgin Islands
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(a) The Secretary of the Interior shall be authorized to lease or to sell upon such terms as he may deem advantageous to the Government of the United States any property of the United States under his administrative supervision in the Virgin Islands not needed for public purposes…
48 U.S.C. § 1546 § 1546. Authorization of appropriations
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There are authorized to be appropriated annually by the Congress of the United States such sums as may be necessary and appropriate to carry out the provisions and purposes of this chapter.