Legislature of the Virgin Islands
| Legislature of the Virgin Islands | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type: | Unicameral |
| Term limits: | None |
| Website: | Official Legislature Page |
| Leadership | |
| Senate President: | Donna Frett-Gregory (D) |
| Majority Leader: | Novelle Francis Jr. (D) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 15 |
| Length of term: | 2 years |
| Authority: | Revised Organic Act of 1954 |
| Salary: | $85,000 |
| Elections | |
Meeting place: | |
TheLegislature of the Virgin Islands is the legislature of theUnited States Virgin Islands and forms the legislative branch of the territorial government. The legislative power and authority of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands were created by Section 5(A) of theRevised Organic Act of 1954. Approved by theU.S. Congress on July 22, 1954, the act is amended when needed and established aunicameral legislature.[1][2]
The 15-member body is composed of seven senators from the district of St. Croix, seven senators from the district of St. Thomas and St. John, and one at-large senator who must be a resident of St. John. Territory senators in the Virgin Islands are elected by popular vote and serve without term limits for two-year terms.[1][2] Each member represents an average of 5,809 residents as of the 2020 Census.[3]
The Legislature of the Virgin Islands meets in the Legislature Building in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
This page contains the following information on the Legislature of the Virgin Islands.
- Which partycontrols the chamber
- The chamber'scurrent membership
- Elections in the chamber and how vacancies are filled
- Legislative session dates
- A list ofcommittees
Party control
Current partisan control
The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands as of February 2026:
| As of February 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Members | |
| Democratic | 12 | |
| Republican | 0 | |
| Other | 3 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 15 | |
Members
Leadership
The presiding officer of the Legislature is called the "President" of the Legislature.[1][2]
Leadership and members
- President:Novelle Francis Jr. (D)
- Vice President:Marvin Blyden (D)
- Majority Leader:Kenneth Gittens (D)
Salaries
As of 2023, members of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands were paid $85,000/year.[4]
Swearing-in dates
Virgin Islands legislators assume office the second Monday in January following the November election.[5]
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve in the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, a candidate must be:[6][5]
- A citizen of the United States.
- At least 21 years of age.
- A qualified voter in the Virgin Islands and have been a resident of the Virgin Islands for at least three years prior to the election.
- Must not have ever been convicted of a felony or of a crime involving moral turpitude.
- Federal employees and persons employed in the legislative, executive, or judicial branches of the government of the Virgin Islands shall not be eligible for membership in the legislature.
Elections
Elections by year
Virgin Islands senators serve two-year terms with all senators up for election every two years. Elections are held in even-numbered years.
2026
Elections for theU.S. Virgin Islands Legislature will take place in 2026. The general election is onNovember 3, 2026. The general election runoff is November 17, 2026. The filing deadline isMay 19, 2026.
2024
Elections for the office ofU.S. Virgin Islands Legislature took place in 2024. The general election was on November 5, 2024. A primary was scheduled for August 3, 2024. A general runoff was scheduled for November 19, 2024. The filing deadline was May 21, 2024.
The Democratic majority in the legislature increased by one seat from 11 Democrats and four independents to 12 Democrats and three independents.
| U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2024 | After November 6, 2024 | |
| Democratic Party | 11 | 12 | |
| Republican Party | 0 | 0 | |
| Independent | 4 | 3 | |
| Total | 15 | 15 | |
2022
Elections for the office ofU.S. Virgin Islands Legislature took place in 2022. The general election was held on November 8, 2022.
The Democratic majority in the legislature increased by one seat from nine Democrats and six independents to 10 Democrats and five independents.
| U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 8, 2022 | After November 9, 2022 | |
| Democratic Party | 9 | 10 | |
| Republican Party | 0 | 0 | |
| Independent | 6 | 5 | |
| Total | 15 | 15 | |
2020
Elections for the office of Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands were held in the Virgin Islands on November 3, 2020. The primary election was on August 1, 2020. Atotal of 15 seats were up for election.
Heading into the election, there were 13 Democrats and two independents in the legislature. After the election, Democrats held 10 seats and independents held five seats.
| U.S. Virgin Islands Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 13 | 10 | |
| Republican Party | 0 | 0 | |
| Independent | 2 | 5 | |
| Vacancy | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 15 | 15 | |
2018
Elections for the office of Legislature of the Virgin Islands were held in the U.S. Virgin Islands on November 6, 2018. The primary election was on August 4, 2018. Atotal of 15 seats were up for election.
2016
Elections for the office of Legislature of the Virgin Islands were held in the U.S. Virgin Islands on November 8, 2016. The primary election was on August 6, 2016. Atotal of 15 seats were up for election.
2014
Elections for the office of Legislature of the Virgin Islands were held in the U.S. Virgin Islands on November 4, 2014. The primary election was on August 2, 2014. Atotal of 15 seats were up for election.
2012
Elections for the office of Legislature of the Virgin Islands were held in the U.S. Virgin Islands on November 6, 2012. Atotal of 15 seats were up for election.
2010
Elections for the office of Legislature of the Virgin Islands were held in the U.S. Virgin Islands on November 2, 2010. Atotal of 15 seats were up for election.
Vacancies
According to Title two, Chapter 8 of the U.S. Virgin Islands code, if a vacancy occurs more than one year prior to the date of the next general election, thegovernor shall call a special election in said district, within thirty days following the day on which the vacancy occurs. The special election shall occur no later than sixty days after the special election is called.[7]
When a vacancy occurs within one year prior to the general election, the president of the legislature, upon the recommendation of the territorial committee of the political party of which the previous officeholder was a candidate, shall appoint the individual who was recommended.[7]
Sessions
According toChapter 12 of Title 48, Sub-Chapter III of theU.S. Code, regular sessions of the Legislature shall be held annually, commencing on the second Monday in January.[8]
In addition,Chapter 12 of Title 48, Sub-Chapter III of theU.S. Code contains the rules for convening special sessions of the Legislature. Section §1573 allows a special session to be called by thegovernor at any time when the governor feels that the public interest may require it.[8]
Committees
The Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands has 11 committees:[9]
- The Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance
- The Committee on Culture, Sports, Parks and Youth
- The Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure, and Planning
- The Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture
- The Committee on Education and Workforce Development
- The Committee on Government Operations, Veteran Affairs and Consumer Protection
- The Committee on Health, Hospitals and Human Services
- The Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety
- The Committee on Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications
- The Committee on Rules and Judiciary
- The Committee of the Whole
Role in Virgin Islands Constitution
The United States Virgin Islands does not have a constitution.
See also
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Office website
- Office Facebook page
- Office Twitter page
- Office Instagram page
- Office YouTube page
- Virgin Islands Code on Lexis Nexis
- Election System of the Virgin Islands
- U.S. Code of the Virgin Islands
Footnotes
- ↑1.01.11.2United States Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority, "Revised Organic Act of 1954," accessed August 28, 2020
- ↑2.02.12.2[https://legvi.org/index.php/functions-and-structure/Legislature of the Virgin Islands, "Functions and Structure," accessed August 9, 2023
- ↑U.S. Census, "Population of the United States Virgin Islands: 2010 and 2020," August 9, 2023
- ↑Virgin Islands Daily News, " Senators receive many perks in addition to salaries," August 9, 2023
- ↑5.05.1The United States Code, "48 USC 1572: Legislators," accessed August 9, 2023(Referenced Statute §1572)
- ↑Elections System of the Virgin Islands, "Qualifications for Offices," accessed August 9, 2023
- ↑7.07.1Justia "2019 US Virgin Islands Code Title 2 - Legislature, Chapter 8 - Vacancies in Legislature § 111. Vacancies; special election; appointment," accessed August 9, 2023
- ↑8.08.1The United States Code, "48 USC 1573: Time, frequency, and duration of regular sessions; special sessions; place of holding," accessed August 9, 2023(Referenced Statute §1573)
- ↑Legislature of the Virgin Islands, "Committees," accessed August 9, 2023
