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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 1572. Legislators
(a) Terms of office
The term of office of each member of the legislature shall be two
years. The term of office of each member shall commence on the
second Monday in January following his election: Provided, however,
That the term of office of each member elected in November 1958
shall commence on the second Monday in April 1959 and shall
continue until the second Monday in April 1961, and the term of
office of each member elected in November 1960 shall commence on
the second Monday in April 1961 and continue until the second
Monday in January 1963.
(b) Qualifications of members
No person shall be eligible to be a member of the legislature who
is not a citizen of the United States, who has not attained the age
of twenty-one years, who is not a qualified voter in the Virgin
Islands, who has not been a bona fide resident of the Virgin
Islands for at least three years next preceding the date of his
election, or who has been convicted of a felony or of a crime
involving moral turpitude and has not received a pardon restoring
his civil rights. Federal employees and persons employed in the
legislative, executive or judicial branches of the government of
the Virgin Islands shall not be eligible for membership in the
legislature.
(c) Appointment of electoral officers; popular election of members
of boards of election
All officers and employees charged with the duty of directing the
administration of the electoral system of the Virgin Islands and
its representative districts shall be appointed in such manner as
the legislature may by law direct: Provided, however, That members
of boards of elections, which entities of government have been duly
organized and established by the government of the Virgin Islands,
shall be popularly elected.
(d) Immunity of members
No member of the legislature shall be held to answer before any
tribunal other than the legislature for any speech or debate in the
legislature and the members shall in all cases, except treason,
felony, or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during
their attendance at the sessions of the legislature and in going to
and returning from the same.
(e) Compensation and allowances
Each member of the legislature shall be paid such compensation
and shall receive such additional allowances or benefits as may be
fixed under the laws of the Virgin Islands. Such compensation,
allowances, or benefits, together with all other legislative
expenses, shall be appropriated by, and paid out of funds of, the
government of the Virgin Islands.
(f) Limitations on holding other office
No member of the legislature shall hold or be appointed to any
office which has been created by the legislature, or the salary or
emoluments of which have been increased, while he was a member,
during the term for which he was elected, or during one year after
the expiration of such term.
(g) General powers; parliamentary rules
The legislature shall be the sole judge of the elections and
qualifications of its members, shall have and exercise all the
authority and attributes, inherent in legislative assemblies, and
shall have the power to institute and conduct investigations, issue
subpena to witnesses and other parties concerned, and administer
oaths. The rules of the Legislative Assembly of the Virgin Islands
existing on July 22, 1954 shall continue in force and effect for
sessions of the legislature, except as inconsistent with this
chapter, until altered, amended, or repealed by the legislature.
(h) Vacancies
The Legislature of the Virgin Islands shall by law provide the
procedure for filling any vacancy in the office of member of the
legislature.
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