U.S. Virgin Islands Government

  The city of Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the USVI, is located on St. Thomas.
Residents of the USVI elect a Governor who, together with the Lieutenant 
Governor, is elected for a four-year term. A 1 5-member unicameral legislature 
is elected for a two-year term; seven senators are each elected from St. Croix and St. Thomas, and one senator with connections to St. John is elected at-large. Judicial powers rest in US and territorial courts.

    The United States Virgin Islands has a locally elected, nonvoting delegate in the US House of Representatives, who serves for a two-year term. The delegate can serve and vote in committees. The USVI is not represented in the Senate: USVI residents do not vote for the US President.

    Local government organization is derived from the US Congress under the Revised Organic Act of 1954, which declared the islands to be an unincorporated territory of the United States. Some decision making power still rests with the US Congress and federal agencies.

    The Attorney General of the USVI, who heads the Department of Justice, and the commissioners of the 13 executive departments are appointed by the governor and approved by the legislature. Other high ranking officials in policy-making positions arc also appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the legislature.