How are the laws made in the us Virgin Islands?

Answer 1

The Virgin Islands is subject to certain provisions of the United States Constitution and lacks many of the rights of a state, but its laws are still made through an electoral system that includes the Legislative, Executive and Judicial branches of government. The ability of Virgin Islanders to elect their leaders is a privilege granted by Congress. The Virgin Islands is an unincorporated territory of the United States of America and as such direct oversight and administration of the Virgin Islands falls under jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Interior (the same department that runs the National Parks and Native American reservations).

Internally, Virgin Islands elect 15 territorial senators. There are two districts: St. Croix and St. Thomas-St. John. As per order of the U.S. Congress, seven senators are elected from each district by the voters in that district. (Each voter gets seven votes.) The 15th senator is elected At-Large by the entire Virgin Islands and must be a resident of the island of St. John. Senators serve a two year term in a unicameral body that operates year round and they represent the entire territory, not just their home district.

Eight senators a required for a quorum, with most bills requiring a simple majority vote to pass. Bills passed by the Legislature are forwarded to the Governor for consideration. The Governor can sign a bill into law, veto it, line item veto bills containing financial measures, or 'pocket veto' a bill (let it become law without signature).

The Governor of the Virgin Islands can also issue Executive Orders with the force of law. Commissioners, Directors, and the Attorney General can promulgate rules and regulations with the force of law.

Tort law can also be made in the Judicial Branch. It is a rare form of law making permitted by the U.S. Constitution that can occur when a court makes a ruling that changes previous law and its enforcement. (Think Roe vs Wade for an example of Tort Law.)