Legislature of the Virgin Islands
Legislature of the United States Virgin Islands | |
---|---|
Marvin Blyden (D) since January 9, 2023 | |
Majority Leader | Kenny Gittens (D) since January 9, 2023 |
Minority Leader | Dwayne DeGraff (I ) since January 9, 2023 |
Structure | |
Seats | 15 |
Political groups | Majority
Minority
|
Length of term | 2 years (no term limits) |
Authority | Charlotte Amalie |
Website | |
http://www.legvi.org/ |
The Legislature of the Virgin Islands is the
History
The Danish period: 1852–1917
The roots of the modern legislature date to the passage of the Colonial Law in 1852 during the
A further Colonial Law coming in 1863 broke the Assembly into two parts, creating a colonial council for the newly created
The American period: 1917–present
Upon the
The
Modern legislature
The
Today, the Legislature of the Virgin Islands is a territorial legislative body with the same rights and powers comparable to that of many state legislatures within the United States.
Legislature Building
The senate's home is the Legislature Building, a historic building built in 1828 as Danish police barracks, modified extensively in 1884, which is included in the Charlotte Amalie Historic District.[1][2]
Legislature
The Legislature, referred to as the Senate, is a
building as well as a former high school.It is composed of 15 senators, each serving two-year terms. The territory is divided into two multimember constituencies, with seven senators representing each, elected by
Qualifications to be a senator include being over or at least 21 years of age, a
Current composition
Party (Shading indicates majority/plurality)
|
Total | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Independent Citizens |
Independent
| ||
End of previous Legislature | 10 | 0 | 5 | 15 |
Begin (January 9, 2023) | 11 | 0 | 4 | 15 |
Latest voting share | 60% | 0% | 40% | 100% |
Members
District | Name | Party | Took Office |
---|---|---|---|
At-large | Angel Bolques Jr. | Democratic | 2022 |
St. Croix | Franklin Johnson | Independent | 2021 |
Diane Capehart | Democratic | 2023 | |
Javan James, Sr. | Democratic | 2019 | |
Kenneth Gittens | Democratic | 2019 | |
Marise James | Democratic | 2023 | |
Novelle Francis | Democratic | 2015 | |
Samuel Carrion | Independent | 2021 | |
St. Thomas/ St. John |
Alma Francis-Heyliger | Independent | 2021 |
Carla Joseph | Democratic | 2021 | |
Donna Frett-Gregory | Democratic | 2019 | |
Dwayne DeGraff | Independent | 2017 | |
Ray Fonseca | Democratic | 2023 | |
Marvin Blyden | Democratic | 2015 | |
Milton Potter | Democratic | 2021 |
Source:[3]
Past composition of the Legislature
See also
References
- ^ "Legislature Building". VINow.com.
- ^ Russell Wright (May 20, 1976). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Charlotte Amalie Historic District". National Park Service. Retrieved May 24, 2017. With 28 photos from 1976 (#2 shows the Legislature Building).
- ^ "35th Legislature Senators Commence 2-Year Term Following Swearing-In Ceremony".
- ^ "31st Legislature Sworn In at Brief Public Ceremony Before First Session". St. Thomas Source. Retrieved 2015-01-12.