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Country name:
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conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands
conventional short form: Virgin Islands
former: Danish West Indies
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Dependency status:
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organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
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Government type:
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NA
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Capital:
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Charlotte Amalie
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Administrative divisions:
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none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas
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National holiday:
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Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)
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Constitution:
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Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
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Legal system:
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based on US laws
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (Since 20 January 2001)
election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, John de JONGH 24.4%
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2006)
head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Vargrave RICHARDS (since NA January 2003)
cabinet: NA
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM NA, no party affiliation NA
note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004); results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected
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Judicial branch:
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US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)
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Political parties and leaders:
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Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA
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International organization participation:
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ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (territory of the US)
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (territory of the US)
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Flag description:
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white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel
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