Fifth Constitutional Convention of the U.S. Virgin Islands
Encyclopedia
The Fifth Constitutional Convention of the U.S. Virgin Islands was a constitutional convention
of the United States Virgin Islands
. It was authorized by , and implemented by the 25th Legislature of the Virgin Islands
. In response to a proposed constitution passed by the convention in May 2009, Congress passed which rejected the Constitution by sending it back to the convention and urged the convention to reconvene.
of 1916. The proposed constitution would not affect the Virgin Islands' status as a Non-Self-Governing Territory
as determined by the United Nations
, but would only organize existing internal governance arrangements.
Elections were held for delegates in the 2007 United States Virgin Islands Constitutional Convention election
. The convention passed a proposed constitution in May 2009, and submitted it to Virgin Islands Gov. John P. de Jongh on June 1, 2009. After initially declining to forward the proposal to the "administering power", the President of the United States
, de Jongh sent the draft to President Barack Obama
in December 2009. The proposed constitution was submitted by the President to the United States Congress
on March 1, 2010. According to , Congress could approve, amend, or modify the constitution by joint resolution, or the constitution would be automatically approved if Congress did not act within 60 days. Instead, Congress passed which provided that Congress would instead send the Constitution back to the convention and urge the convention to reconvene.
Constitutional convention (political meeting)
A constitutional convention is now a gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution...
of the United States Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands of the United States are a group of islands in the Caribbean that are an insular area of the United States. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles.The U.S...
. It was authorized by , and implemented by the 25th Legislature of the Virgin Islands
Legislature of the Virgin Islands
The Legislature of the Virgin Islands is the territorial legislature of the United States Virgin Islands. The legislative branch of the unincorporated U.S. territory is unicameral, with a single house consisting of 15 senators, elected to two-year terms without term limits. The territorial...
. In response to a proposed constitution passed by the convention in May 2009, Congress passed which rejected the Constitution by sending it back to the convention and urged the convention to reconvene.
History
The Virgin Islands government is currently organized under the provisions of the Revised Organic Act of 1954 and the Treaty of the Danish West IndiesTreaty of the Danish West Indies
The Treaty of the Danish West Indies, officially the Convention between the United States and Denmark for cession of the Danish West Indies, was a 1916 treaty transferring sovereignty of the Danish West Indies from Denmark to the United States, which were renamed as the United States Virgin...
of 1916. The proposed constitution would not affect the Virgin Islands' status as a Non-Self-Governing Territory
United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories
The United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories is a list of countries that, according to the United Nations, are non-decolonized. The list was initially prepared in 1946 pursuant to Chapter XI of the United Nations Charter, and has been updated by the General Assembly on recommendation...
as determined by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, but would only organize existing internal governance arrangements.
Elections were held for delegates in the 2007 United States Virgin Islands Constitutional Convention election
United States Virgin Islands Constitutional Convention election, 2007
The 2007 United States Virgin Islands Constitutional Convention election was an election to the Fifth Constitutional Convention of the U.S. Virgin Islands in the United States Virgin Islands on 12 June 2007...
. The convention passed a proposed constitution in May 2009, and submitted it to Virgin Islands Gov. John P. de Jongh on June 1, 2009. After initially declining to forward the proposal to the "administering power", the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, de Jongh sent the draft to President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
in December 2009. The proposed constitution was submitted by the President to the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
on March 1, 2010. According to , Congress could approve, amend, or modify the constitution by joint resolution, or the constitution would be automatically approved if Congress did not act within 60 days. Instead, Congress passed which provided that Congress would instead send the Constitution back to the convention and urge the convention to reconvene.