48 U.S.C. § 1571

Section 1571 · Legislature

Current version, with additions and removals from the August 30, 1966 version.

Current — October 27, 2000

As of August 30, 1966

(a) Designation and unicameral character

The legislative power and authority of the Virgin Islands shall be vested in a legislature, consisting of one house, to be designated the “Legislature of the Virgin Islands”, herein referred to as the legislature.

(b) Composition; legislative districts; method of elections

The legislature shall be composed of ~~fifteen~~ members to be known as senators. The apportionment of the legislature shall be as provided by the laws of the Virgin Islands: Provided, That such apportionment shall not deny to any person in the Virgin Islands the equal protection of the law: And provided further, That every voter in any district election or at large election shall be permitted to vote for the whole number of persons to be elected in that district election or at large election as the case may be. Until the legislature shall provide otherwise, four members shall be elected at large, five shall be elected from the District of Saint Thomas, five from the District of Saint Croix, and one from the District of Saint John, as those Districts were constituted on July 22, 1954,

The legislature shall be composed of members to be known as senators. The number of such senators shall be determined by the laws of the Virgin Islands. The apportionment of the legislature shall be as provided by the laws of the Virgin Islands: Provided, That such apportionment shall not deny to any person in the Virgin Islands the equal protection of the law: And provided further, That every voter in any district election or at large election shall be permitted to vote for the whole number of persons to be elected in that district election or at large election as the case may be. Until the legislature shall provide otherwise, four members shall be elected at large, five shall be elected from the District of Saint Thomas, five from the District of Saint Croix, and one from the District of Saint John, as those Districts were constituted on July 22, 1954,

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Versions

Oct 27, 2000 – presentcurrentviewing
Annual edition
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–364 struck out "fifteen" after "composed of" in first sentence and inserted "The number of such senators shall be determined by the laws of the Virgin Islands." after first sentence.
▸ what changed
Source credit
Pub. L. 106–364, §1, Oct. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 1408.
Aug 30, 1966 – Oct 27, 2000
Annual edition
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 89–548 raised from eleven to fifteen the total number of senators in the legislature, substituted provision that the legislature be apportioned according to the laws of the Virgin Islands for provisions spelling out the division of the Virgin Islands into districts, the composition of each such district, and the district and at-large representation breakdown of the senators in the legislature, struck out provision for the casting of a ballot for two candidates by each elector in at-large elections and the drawing of lots to determine placement on the ballot in at-large elections, prohibited apportionment in a way which would deny equal protection of the law, and provided for temporary apportionment until the legislature provided otherwise from the districts as constituted on July 22, 1954.
changes vs current →
Source credit
Pub. L. 89–548, §1, Aug. 30, 1966, 80 Stat. 371
Jul 22, 1954 – Aug 30, 1966
Enacted · full text not held
Source credit
July 22, 1954, ch. 558, §5, 68 Stat. 498

See all changes since 1966 → current

Every enactment and amendment in this section's credit is listed. Full text is shown for versions back to 1966; earlier amendments are recorded by date and act, without pre-1994 full text.