Type of government: organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Capital: Charlotte Amalie
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)
National holiday: Transfer Day, 31 March (1917) (from Denmark to
US)
Constitution: Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Legal system: based on US laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President (of the United States) William Jefferson
CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr.
(since 20 January 1993)
head of government: Governor Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (since 5 January
1995) and Lieutenant Governor Kenneth E. MAPP (since 5 January 1995)
were elected for four-year terms by universal suffrage; election
last held 22 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998);
results - Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (ICM) 54.7%, former Lieutenant
Governor Derek HODGE 42.6%
Legislative branch: unicameral
Senate: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5
November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15
total) Democrats 7, independents 7, Republican 1
US House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994
(next to be held 5 November 1996); results - Victor O. FRAZER (ICM)
54.5%, Eileen R. PETERSON (Democrat) 45.5%; seats - (1 total) ICM 1;
note - the Virgin Islands elects one representative to the US House
of Representatives
Judicial branch: US District Court, handles civil matters over $50,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and over), and federal cases, judges are appointed by the president; Territorial Court, handles civil matters up to $50,000, small claims, juvenile, domestic, misdemeanors, and traffic cases, judges appointed by the governor