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Government and Politics of Virgin Islands
Government structure, leadership, capital, military, and national symbols of Virgin Islands.
Government Structure
Constitutional foundations, branches, parties, and leadership.
- Government Type
- NA
- Administrative Divisions
- none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas
- Legal System
- based on US laws
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
- Citizenship
- see United States
- Executive Branch
- chief of state: President Joseph R. BIDEN of the US (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021) head of government: Governor Albert Bryan Jr. (since 7 January 2019); Lieutenant Governor Tregenza ROACH (since 7 January 2019) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with cabinet members confirmed by the legislature elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as the Virgin Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held on 8 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2026) election results: Albert BRYAN Jr. reelected governor; percent of vote - Albert BRYAN Jr. (Democrat) 56%, Janelle SARAUW (Independent) 38%
- Legislative Branch
- unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held 7 November 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 10, ICM 4, independent 1 note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held 2 November 2004); results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected
- Judicial Branch
- US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)
- Political Parties
- Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]
- Head of State
- Barack H. OBAMA
- Head of Government
- John DeJONGH
- Elections
- under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as the Virgin Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 7 and 21 November 2006 (next to be held November 2010)
- Election Results
- John DeJONGH elected governor; percent of vote - John DeJONGH 57.3%, Kenneth MAPP 42.7%
- Constitution
- Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
- Independence
- black 78%, white 10%, other 12%
- National Holiday
- Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)
- International Organization Participation
- Interpol (subbureau), IOC
- Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.
- none (territory of the US)
- U.S. Diplomatic Representation
- none (territory of the US)
Capital City
Seat of government and political history.
- Capital City
- Charlotte Amalie
- Location
- 18 21 N, 64 56 W
- Time Difference
- UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- History
- originally called Taphus in Danish - meaning "tap house" or "beer house" because of its many beer halls - the town received a more dignified name in 1691 when it was named Charlotte Amalie in honor of Danish King CHRISTIAN V’s wife, Charlotte AMALIE of Hesse-Kassel (1650–1714)
National Symbols
Flag, anthem, and other symbols of national identity.
