Constitution

The Draft Constitution crafted by the Fifth Constitutional Convention is coming back to the Virgin Islands – but not as originally expected. Reports now are that the Joint Resolution passed by the Senate last week will not be transmitted with the signature of President Barack Obama – but will be returned to the Territory through...
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The draft Virgin Islands Constitution is on its way back to the Territory with direction from the US Congress to reconvene the Constitutional Convention and revise the provisions deemed questionable because of their conflict with the US Constitution. On Wednesday, the US House of Representatives passed a Joint Resolution (SJ 33, attached) that “urges the...
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Guest Editorial by Herbert Schoenbohm (Editor’s note: The following is a letter sent by Mr. Schoenbohm to Senator Murkowski, the ranking Republican on the Senate Committee of Energy and Natural Resources, regarding the presented V.I. constitutional draft discussed Wednesday in a hearing in Washington.  Schoenbohm is the State Chairman of the Virgin Islands Republican party. The Constitution...
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It was a powerful endorsement of the draft Virgin Islands Constitution that the Congress heard on Wednesday from those who spoke in support from the Fifth Constitutional Convention. If you listened – and we did – twice – and whatever your opinion – you heard a sound, historically supported argument for the key point of...
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(Editor’s Note: During Wednesday’s presentation to the United States Congress on the Virgin Islands draft Constitution, Convention Delegate Eugene “Doc” Petersen, who voted against the document, encouraged the Congress to amend the document and remove a number of provisions relating to native and ancestral native Virgin Islander rights.  Petersen stated that inclusion of these provisions...
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overeignty, status and native rights are the major areas of review for the US Congress as they evaluate the draft Virgin Islands Constitution submitted by the Fifth Constitutional Convention.  The draft was submitted to Congress by President Barack Obama on February 26, 2010, and Congress has 60 days to review the document and make its recommendations. Hearings...
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Governor deJongh, forward the Constitution, as submitted, to President Barack Obama. Period. That’s the court order in the latest round of legal battles concerning the submission of the document drafted by the Fifth Constitutional Convention. Superior Court Judge Darryl D. Donahue, Sr., signed the order on December 23, giving the Governor ten business days to forward the document to...
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Redfield Editorial #70 – Constitution Convention Redfield Editorial #77 – Constitution Convention Share on Facebook
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The following text and documents were received from 5th Constitutional Convention Delegate Gerard M. Emanuel: Attached are two documents that provided U.S. Citizenship en masse to Native Virgin Islanders in 1927 and in 1940. They are being provided on this website because they served as the principal legal source and basis for the definitions of V.I....
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Crucians In Focus invites the public to review and comment on the attached Final Constitution of the 5th Constitutional Convention which was approved on May 26, 2009 at The Drive In (Estate Grove Place, St. Croix). Final Constitution of the 5th Constitutional Convention Table of Contents (only) The document has been forwarded to the governor who has...
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A Constitution is defined as a system for government that establishes the rules and principles of an autonomous political entity, including the fundamental political principles; defines the structure, procedures, powers and duties, of a government; and guarantees certain rights to the people. All of the people. Except, it seems, in the minds of certain delegates...
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Crucians In Focus invites the public to review and comment on the attached draft of the 5th VI Constitution from the May 13, 2009 Plenary Session. We have also included the red-line version for those wishing to see the changes that were made. This document will be considered at the next session currently scheduled...
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Attached is ARTICLE IX of the Florida State Constitution which serves as the primary source of the class size language utilized by the Convention’s Education, Youth and Culture Committee. Florida State Constitution – Article IX (Education) Share on Facebook
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The following text and documents were received from 5th Constitutional Convention Delegate Gerard M. Emanuel: Attached are some documents that will conclusively verify the following: 1. Treaties which the U.S. has entered into are definitely part of the United States’ “supreme law of the land”, just as the U.S. Constitution is. 2. Treaties applicable to the Virgin Islands...
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Guest Opinion by Verdel L. Petersen Dear Editor: The “Constitutional Conundrum” continues, meanwhile the deadline to produce a document draws near and the light at the end of the tunnel dims as time elapses. Drafting a constitution for the “Virgin Islands of the United States” is a serious matter and the sole purpose for forming the 5th...
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