Legislature of the Virgin Islands

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Legislature of the Virgin Islands

Seal of Virgin Islands.png
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:
Virginislandslegislaturebuilding.jpg

The Legislature of the Virgin Islands is the legislature of the United 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 the Revised Organic Act of 1954. Approved by the U.S. Congress on July 22, 1954, the act is amended when needed and established a unicameral 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.

Party control

Current partisan control

The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands as of March 2025:

Party As of March 2025
     Democratic Party 12
     Republican Party 0
     Other 3
     Vacancy 0
Total 15


Members

Leadership

The presiding officer of the Legislature is called the "President" of the Legislature.[1][2]

Leadership and members


Office Name Party Date assumed office
U.S. Virgin Islands Senate At-Large District Angel Bolques Jr. Democratic July 25, 2022
U.S. Virgin Islands Senate St. Croix District Novelle Francis Jr. Democratic January 12, 2015
U.S. Virgin Islands Senate St. Croix District Hubert Lorenzo Frederick Democratic January 13, 2025
U.S. Virgin Islands Senate St. Croix District Kenneth Gittens Democratic January 14, 2019
U.S. Virgin Islands Senate St. Croix District Marise James Democratic January 9, 2023
U.S. Virgin Islands Senate St. Croix District Franklin Johnson Independent January 11, 2021
U.S. Virgin Islands Senate St. Croix District Clifford Joseph Democratic January 13, 2025
U.S. Virgin Islands Senate St. Croix District Kurt Vialet Democratic January 13, 2025
U.S. Virgin Islands Senate St. Thomas-St. John District Marvin Blyden Democratic January 12, 2015
U.S. Virgin Islands Senate St. Thomas-St. John District Dwayne DeGraff Independent January 9, 2017
U.S. Virgin Islands Senate St. Thomas-St. John District Ray Fonseca Democratic January 9, 2023
U.S. Virgin Islands Senate St. Thomas-St. John District Alma Francis Heyliger Independent January 11, 2021
U.S. Virgin Islands Senate St. Thomas-St. John District Carla Joseph Democratic January 11, 2021
U.S. Virgin Islands Senate St. Thomas-St. John District Avery Lewis Democratic January 13, 2025
U.S. Virgin Islands Senate St. Thomas-St. John District Milton Potter Democratic January 11, 2021


Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative 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

See also: U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature elections, 2026

Elections for the U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026.

2024

See also: U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature elections, 2024

Elections for the office of U.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

See also: U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature elections, 2022

Elections for the office of U.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

See also: U.S. Virgin Islands Legislature elections, 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. A total 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. A total 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. A total 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. A total 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. A total 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. A total of 15 seats were up for election.


Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

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, the governor 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 to Chapter 12 of Title 48, Sub-Chapter III of the U.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 the U.S. Code contains the rules for convening special sessions of the Legislature. Section §1573 allows a special session to be called by the governor 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

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 United States Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority, "Revised Organic Act of 1954," accessed August 28, 2020
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 [https://legvi.org/index.php/functions-and-structure/ Legislature of the Virgin Islands, "Functions and Structure," accessed August 9, 2023
  3. ↑ U.S. Census, "Population of the United States Virgin Islands: 2010 and 2020," August 9, 2023
  4. ↑ Virgin Islands Daily News, " Senators receive many perks in addition to salaries," August 9, 2023
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 The United States Code, "48 USC 1572: Legislators," accessed August 9, 2023(Referenced Statute §1572)
  6. ↑ Elections System of the Virgin Islands, "Qualifications for Offices," accessed August 9, 2023
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Justia "2019 US Virgin Islands Code Title 2 - Legislature, Chapter 8 - Vacancies in Legislature § 111. Vacancies; special election; appointment," accessed August 9, 2023
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 The 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)
  9. ↑ Legislature of the Virgin Islands, "Committees," accessed August 9, 2023
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