I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 3026 To provide for the adoption of the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands as the constitution of the United States Virgin Islands. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 28, 2023 Ms. PLASKETT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To provide for the adoption of the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands as the constitution of the United States Virgin Islands. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. ADOPTION OF CONSTITUTION FOR THE UNITED 3 STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS. 4 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Revised Organic Act of the 5 Virgin Islands (48 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.) (as amended 6 through January 1, 2023)— 7 (1) is deemed to satisfy the requirements of 8 Public Law 94–584 (90 Stat. 2899) with respect to 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:19 May 11, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3026.IH H3026 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HR 3026 IH a constitution for the local self-government of the 1 people of the United States Virgin Islands; and 2 (2) as of the date of the enactment of this Act, 3 is adopted as the constitution of the United States 4 Virgin Islands. 5 (b) AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.— 6 (1) PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.— 7 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Legislature of the 8 Virgin Islands (referred to in this subsection as 9 the ‘‘Legislature’’) may propose amendments to 10 the constitution of the United States Virgin Is- 11 lands (referred to in this subsection as the 12 ‘‘constitution’’) by a resolution approved by not 13 less than two-thirds of all of the members of 14 the Legislature. 15 (B) PRESENTATION TO VOTERS.—All pro- 16 posed amendments approved by the Legislature 17 under subparagraph (A)— 18 (i) shall be submitted to the qualified 19 voters of the United States Virgin Islands 20 (referred to in this subsection as ‘‘qualified 21 voters’’) in a referendum; and 22 (ii) published at least 3 months before 23 the date of such referendum. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:19 May 11, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3026.IH H3026 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HR 3026 IH (C) REFERENDUM CONCURRENT WITH 1 GENERAL ELECTION.—If the resolution is ap- 2 proved by not less than three-fourths of all of 3 the members of the Legislature, the Legislature 4 may provide that the referendum be held at the 5 same time as the next general election. 6 (D) AMENDMENT REQUIREMENTS.—Each 7 proposed amendment approved by the Legisla- 8 ture under subparagraph (A) shall— 9 (i) be voted on separately; 10 (ii) specify the terms under which it 11 shall take effect; and 12 (iii) become a part of the constitution 13 if it is ratified by a majority of the quali- 14 fied voters voting thereon. 15 (E) MAXIMUM NUMBER.—Not more than 3 16 proposed constitutional amendments may be 17 submitted at the same referendum. 18 (2) CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION; REVI- 19 SIONS.— 20 (A) QUESTION TO VOTERS.—The Legisla- 21 ture, by a resolution approved by two-thirds of 22 all of the members of the Legislature, may sub- 23 mit to the qualified voters at a referendum, 24 held at the same time as a general election, the 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:19 May 11, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3026.IH H3026 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 4 •HR 3026 IH question of whether a constitutional convention 1 shall be called to revise the constitution. 2 (B) EFFECT OF VOTE IN FAVOR OF REVI- 3 SION.—If a majority of the qualified voters vot- 4 ing on this question vote in favor of the revi- 5 sion, it shall be made by a constitutional con- 6 vention elected in the manner provided by law. 7 (C) SPECIAL REFERENDUM ON REVI- 8 SIONS.—Each revision of the constitution shall 9 be submitted to the qualified voters at a special 10 referendum for ratification or rejection by a 11 majority of the votes cast at the referendum. 12 (3) LIMITATIONS.—No amendment to the con- 13 stitution shall— 14 (A) alter the republican form of govern- 15 ment established by it; or 16 (B) abolish any right in the bill of rights. 17 (c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act 18 shall be construed to create a cause of action under Fed- 19 eral law with respect to any claim that the Legislature 20 of the Virgin Islands is in violation of the Revised Organic 21 Act of the Virgin Islands (48 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.). 22 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:19 May 11, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H3026.IH H3026 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB