United States Virgin Islands delegate introduces legislation to adopt first constitution of the Virgin Islands

United States Virgin Islands Delegate Stacey E. Plaskett (D) has introduced legislation to adopt the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands and its amendments as the Constitution of the Virgin Islands, a bill now known as HR 3026. The territory is the only one of the five US unincorporated territories to lack a constitution. Plaskett stated: “I am pleased to introduce legislation to adopt the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands and its amendments as the constitution of the Virgin Islands of the United States. My legislation provides for the adoption of the Revised Organic Act, as it has been approved by Congress, signed into law, and amended as the constitution of our territory. While the Revised Organic Act presently serves as the main governing document of the Virgin Islands, we are unable to enact changes on a territorial level. If the Revised Organic Act and its amendments are adopted as the constitution by federal law, it would then free the Virgin Islands to make further amendments without congressional engagement or approval. As such, my legislation includes an amendment process to allow the Virgin Islands to revise the constitution once adopted.” [...] “There is a clear public preference for the adoption of a constitution for the Virgin Islands. My legislation enables a base constitution to be enacted (one that we have been practicably using for many years) and a local process for self-determination, and a level of autonomy in our constitutional maturation. My legislation provides three avenues to amend the constitution; through the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, ballot initiatives proposed by voters, or a constitutional convention,” Plaskett added.
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