§1541. Organization and status

(a) Composition and territorial designation

The provisions of this chapter and the name "Virgin Islands" as used in this chapter, shall apply to and include the territorial domain, islands, cays, and waters acquired by the United States through cession of the Danish West Indian Islands by the convention between the United States of America and His Majesty the King of Denmark entered into August 4, 1916, and ratified by the Senate on September 7, 1916 (39 Stat. 1706). The Virgin Islands as above described are declared an unincorporated territory of the United States of America.

(b) Powers and legal status of government; capital and seat of government

The government of the Virgin Islands shall have the powers set forth in this chapter and shall have the right to sue by such name and in cases arising out of contract, to be sued: Provided, That no tort action shall be brought against the government of the Virgin Islands or against any officer or employee thereof in his official capacity without the consent of the legislature constituted by this chapter.

The capital and seat of government of the Virgin Islands shall be located at the city of Charlotte Amalie, in the island of Saint Thomas.

(c) Administrative supervision by Secretary of the Interior

The relations between such government and the Federal Government in all matters not the program responsibility of another Federal department or agency shall be under the general administrative supervision of the Secretary of the Interior.

(July 22, 1954, ch. 558, §2, 68 Stat. 497 ; Pub. L. 90–496, §13, Aug. 23, 1968, 82 Stat. 842 .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b), was in the original "this Act", meaning act July 22, 1954, ch. 558, 68 Stat. 497 , known as the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands, which enacted this chapter, amended sections 104 and 111 of Title 21, Food and Drugs, and section 3350 of former Title 26, Internal Revenue Code (see section 7652(b)(3) of Title 26), and enacted provisions set out as notes under this section. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note below and Tables.

Amendments

1968-Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 90–496 added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1968 Amendment

Amendment of provisions of section necessary to authorize the holding of an election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor on Nov. 3, 1970, effective Jan. 1, 1970, and all other amendments of provisions of section, unless otherwise expressly provided by Pub. L. 90–496, effective Jan. 4, 1971, see section 16 of Pub. L. 90–496, set out as a note under section 1591 of this title.

Effective Date

Act July 22, 1954, ch. 558, §34, 68 Stat. 510 , provided that: "This Act [see Short Title note below] shall take effect upon its approval [July 22, 1954], but until its provisions shall severally become operative as herein provided, the corresponding legislative, executive, and judicial functions of the existing government shall continue to be exercised as now provided by law or ordinance, and the incumbents of all offices under the government of the Virgin Islands shall continue in office until their successors are appointed and have qualified unless sooner removed by competent authority. The enactment of this Act shall not affect the term of office of the judge of the District Court of the Virgin Islands in office on the date of its enactment [July 22, 1954]."

Short Title of 1968 Amendment

Pub. L. 90–496, §17, Aug. 23, 1968, 82 Stat. 842 , provided that: "This Act [enacting section 336 of Title 10, Armed Forces, amending this section and sections 1561, 1572, 1573, 1574, 1575, 1591, 1593, 1595, 1597, 1599, and 1641 of this title, repealing sections 1594, 1596, and 1632 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 1591 of this title] may be cited as the 'Virgin Islands Elective Governor Act'."

Short Title of 1959 Amendment

Pub. L. 86–289, §1, Sept. 16, 1959, 73 Stat. 568 , provided: "That this Act [amending sections 1573, 1597, and 1617 of this title] may be cited as the 'Virgin Islands Organic Act Amendments of 1959'."

Short Title

Act July 22, 1954, ch. 558, §1, 68 Stat. 497 , provided that: "This Act [enacting this chapter, amending sections 104 and 111 of Title 21, Food and Drugs, and sections 3350 of former Title 26, Internal Revenue Code (see section 7652(b)(3) of Title 26), and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section] may be cited as the 'Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands'."

Separability

Act July 22, 1954, ch. 558, §36, 68 Stat. 510 , provided that: "If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this Act [see Short Title note above], or the application thereof to any person, or circumstances, is held invalid, the application thereof to other persons, or circumstances, and the remainder of the Act, shall not be affected thereby."

Virgin Islands of the United States Centennial Commission

Pub. L. 114–224, Sept. 29, 2016, 130 Stat. 921 , provided that:

"SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

"This Act may be cited as the 'Virgin Islands of the United States Centennial Commission Act'.

"SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.

"There is established a commission to be known as the 'Virgin Islands of the United States Centennial Commission' (in this Act referred to as the 'Commission').

"SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

"The Commission shall-

"(1) plan, develop, and carry out such activities as the Commission determines to be appropriate to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Virgin Islands of the United States becoming an unincorporated territory of the United States;

"(2) provide advice and assistance to Federal, State, and local governmental agencies, as well as civic groups to carry out activities to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Virgin Islands of the United States becoming an unincorporated territory of the United States; and

"(3) submit to the President and Congress the reports required pursuant to section 7.

"SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

"(a) Number and Appointment.-The Commission shall be composed of 8 members as follows:

"(1) The Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Affairs or a designee of the Assistant Secretary.

"(2) One member appointed by the Governor of the Virgin Islands of the United States or a designee of the Governor.

"(3) Two Members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

"(4) One Member of the House of Representatives appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives.

"(5) Two Members of the Senate appointed by the majority leader of the Senate.

"(6) One Member of the Senate appointed by the minority leader of the Senate.

"(b) Terms.-Each member of the Commission shall be appointed for the life of the Commission.

"(c) Deadline for Appointment.-All members of the Commission shall be appointed not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 29, 2016].

"(d) Vacancies.-A vacancy on the Commission shall-

"(1) not affect the powers of the Commission; and

"(2) be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.

"(e) Rates of Pay.-Members shall not receive compensation for the performance of duties on behalf of the Commission.

"(f) Travel Expenses.-Each member of the Commission shall be reimbursed for travel and per diem in lieu of subsistence expenses during the performance of duties of the Commission while away from home or regular place of business of the member, in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.

"(g) Quorum.-A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum to conduct business, but two or more members may hold hearings.

"(h) Chairperson.-The chairperson of the Commission shall be selected by a majority vote of the members of the Commission.

"SEC. 5. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION.

"(a) Director and Staff.-The Commission shall appoint an executive director and such other additional personnel as are necessary to enable the Commission to perform the duties of the Commission.

"(b) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.-The executive director and staff of the Commission may be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the executive director and other staff may not exceed the rate payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of such title.

"(c) Detail of Federal Employees.-Upon request of the Commission, the Secretary of the Interior or the Archivist of the United States may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of the Department of the Interior or the National Archives and Records Administration, respectively[,] to the Commission to assist the Commission to perform the duties of the Commission.

"(d) Experts and Consultants.-The Commission may procure such temporary and intermittent services from experts and consultants as are necessary to enable the Commission to perform the duties of the Commission.

"(e) Volunteer and Uncompensated Services.-Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Commission may accept and use voluntary and uncompensated services as the Commission determines necessary.

"SEC. 6. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

"(a) Hearings.-The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate.

"(b) Mails.-The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other Federal agencies.

"(c) Obtaining Official Data.-The Commission may secure directly from any Federal agency information necessary to enable the Commission to perform the duties of the Commission. Upon request of the chairperson of the Commission, the head of that Federal agency shall furnish that information to the Commission.

"(d) Gifts, Bequests, Devises.-The Commission may solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of money, services, or property, both real and personal, for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the Commission.

"(e) Available Space.-Upon the request of the Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall make available to the Commission, at a normal rental rate for Federal agencies, such assistance and facilities as may be necessary for the Commission to perform the duties of the Commission.

"(f) Contract Authority.-The Commission may enter into contracts with and compensate the Federal Government, State and local governments, private entities, or individuals to enable the Commission to perform the duties of the Commission.

"SEC. 7. REPORTS.

"(a) Annual Reports.-Not later than January 31 of each year, and annually thereafter until the final report is submitted pursuant to subsection (b), the Commission shall submit to the President and the Congress a report on-

"(1) the activities of the Commission; and

"(2) the revenue and expenditures of the Commission, including a list of each gift, bequest, or devise to the Commission with a value of more than $250, including the identity of the donor of each gift, bequest, or devise.

"(b) Final Report.-Not later than January 31, 2018, the Commission shall submit a final report to the President and the Congress containing-

"(1) a summary of the activities of the Commission; and

"(2) a final accounting of funds received and expended by the Commission.

"SEC. 8. ANNUAL AUDIT.

"The Inspector General of the Department of the Interior-

"(1) may perform an audit of the Commission;

"(2) shall make the results of any such audit available to the public; and

"(3) shall transmit such results to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform [now Committee on Oversight and Accountability] of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.

"SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.

"In this Act:

"(1) Federal agency.-The term 'Federal agency' has the meaning given the term 'agency' in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.

"(2) State.-The term 'State' means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, each territory or possession of the United States, and each federally recognized Indian tribe.

"SEC. 10. TERMINATION.

"The Commission shall terminate on September 30, 2018, or may terminate at an earlier date determined by the Commission after the final report is submitted pursuant to section 7(b).

"SEC. 11. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.

"No Federal funds are authorized or may be obligated to carry out this Act."

Congressional Approval of Proposed Constitution for United States Virgin Islands

Pub. L. 97–21, July 9, 1981, 95 Stat. 105 , set out the text of the Constitution for the United States Virgin Islands and provided that the Constitution is approved for submission to the people of the Virgin Islands in accordance with the provisions of Public Law 94–584, set out as a note preceding this section.

Submerged Lands, Conveyance to Territory

Conveyance of submerged lands to the government of the Virgin Islands, see section 1701 et seq. of this title.