dreamproit/uscode huggingface dataset:
48 U.S.C. § 1502 (TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS)
§ 1502. Previously acquired lands; bona fide resident aliens; mining or incorporated village lands
This chapter shall not apply to land owned in any of the Territories of the United States by aliens, which was acquired on or before March 3, 1887, so long as it is held by the then owners, their heirs or legal representatives, nor to any alien who shall become a bona fide resident of the United States, and any alien who shall become a bona fide resident of the United States, or shall have declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States in the manner provided by law, shall have the right to acquire and hold lands in either of the Territories of the United States upon the same terms as citizens of the United States. If any such resident alien shall cease to be a bona fide resident of the United States then such alien shall have ten years from the time he ceases to be such bona fide resident in which to alienate such lands. This chapter shall not be construed to prevent any persons not citizens of the United States from acquiring or holding lots or parcels of lands in any incorporated or platted city, town, or village, or in any mine or mining claim, in any of the Territories of the United States.
(Mar. 3, 1887, ch. 340, § 2, 24 Stat. 477; Mar. 2, 1897, ch. 363, 29 Stat. 618.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Codification
text: Section was formerly classified to section 72 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality.
48 U.S.C. § 1503 (TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS)
§ 1503. Acquisition by inheritance, in collection of debts, etc.
This chapter shall not prevent aliens from acquiring lands or any interests therein by inheritance or in the ordinary course of justice in the collection of debts, nor from acquiring liens on real estate or any interest therein, nor from lending money and securing the same upon real estate or any interest therein; nor from enforcing any such lien, nor from acquiring and holding title to such real estate, or any interest therein, upon which a lien may have heretofore or may hereafter be fixed, or upon which a loan of money may have been heretofore or hereafter may be made and secured. All lands so acquired shall be sold within ten years after title shall be perfected in him under said sale or the same shall escheat to the United States and be forfeited as provided in sections 1504 to 1507 of this title.
(Mar. 3, 1887, ch. 340, § 3, 24 Stat. 477; Mar. 2, 1897, ch. 363, 29 Stat. 618.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Codification
text: Section was formerly classified to section 73 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality.
48 U.S.C. § 1504 (TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS)
§ 1504. Conveyance of lands in Territories by aliens before escheat proceedings
Any alien who shall hold lands in any of the Territories of the United States in contravention of the provisions of this chapter may nevertheless convey his title thereto at any time before the institution of escheat proceedings as hereinafter provided. If any such conveyance shall be made by such alien, either to an alien or to a citizen of the United States, in trust and for the purpose and with the intention of evading the provisions of this chapter, such conveyance shall be null and void, and any such lands so conveyed shall be forfeited and escheat to the United States.
(Mar. 3, 1887, ch. 340, § 4, 24 Stat. 477; Mar. 2, 1897, ch. 363, 29 Stat. 618.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Codification
text: Section was formerly classified to section 74 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality.
48 U.S.C. § 1505 (TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS)
§ 1505. Proceedings for escheat of improperly held lands
It shall be the duty of the Attorney General of the United States, when he shall be informed or have reason to believe that lands in any of the Territories of the United States are being held contrary to the provisions of this chapter, to institute or cause to be instituted suit in behalf of the United States in the district court of the Territory in the district where such land or a part thereof may be situated, praying for the escheat of the same on behalf of the United States to the United States. Before any such suit is instituted the Attorney General shall give or cause to be given ninety days’ notice by registered letter of his intention to sue, or by personal notice directed to or delivered to the owner of said land, or the person who last rendered the same for taxation, or his agent, and to all other persons having an interest in such lands of which he may have actual or constructive notice. In the event personal notice cannot be obtained in some one of the modes above provided, then said notice shall be given by publication in some newspaper published in the county where the land is situate, and if no newspaper is published in said county then the said notice shall be published in some newspaper nearest said county.
(Mar. 3, 1887, ch. 340, § 5, as added Mar. 2, 1897, ch. 363, 29 Stat. 619.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Codification
text: Section was formerly classified to section 75 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality.
48 U.S.C. § 1506 (TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS)
§ 1506. Condemnation and sale of lands in escheat proceedings
If it shall be determined upon the trial of any such escheat proceedings that the lands are held contrary to the provisions of this chapter, the court trying said cause shall render judgment condemning such lands and shall order the same to be sold as under execution; and the proceeds of such sale, after deducting costs of such suit, shall be paid to the clerk of such court so rendering judgment, and said fund shall remain in the hands of such clerk for one year from the date of such payment, subject to the order of the alien owner of such lands, or his heirs or legal representatives; and if not claimed within the period of one year, such clerk shall pay the same into the treasury of the Territory in which the lands may be situated, for the benefit of the available school fund of said Territory. The defendant in any such escheat proceedings may, at any time before final judgment, suggest and show to the court that he has conformed with the law, either becoming a bona fide resident of the United States, or by declaring his intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, or by the doing or happening of any other act which, under the provisions of this chapter, would entitle him to hold or own real estate, which being admitted or proved, such suit shall be dismissed on payment of costs and a reasonable attorney fee to be fixed by the court.
(Mar. 3, 1887, ch. 340, § 6, as added Mar. 2, 1897, ch. 363, 29 Stat. 619.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Codification
text: Section was formerly classified to section 76 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality.
48 U.S.C. § 1507 (TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS)
§ 1507. Public lands
This chapter shall not in any manner be construed to authorize aliens to acquire title from the United States to any of the public lands of the United States or to in any manner affect or change the laws regulating the disposal of the public lands of the United States.
(Mar. 3, 1887, ch. 340, § 7, as added Mar. 2, 1897, ch. 363, 29 Stat. 619; amended Feb. 23, 1905, ch. 733, § 1, 33 Stat. 733.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Codification
text: Act Feb. 23, 1905, set out as section 1508 of this title, made sections 1501 to 1507 of this title applicable to the District of Columbia, on the basis of which certain provisions of this section were omitted.
Section was formerly classified to section 77 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality.
48 U.S.C. § 1508 (TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS)
§ 1508. Application to District of Columbia
Aliens shall have the same rights and privileges concerning the acquisition, holding, owning, and disposition of real estate in the District of Columbia as are conferred upon aliens in respect of real estate in the Territories of the United States by this chapter.
(Feb. 23, 1905, ch. 733, § 1, 33 Stat. 733.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Codification
text: Section was formerly classified to section 78 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality.
Section was not enacted as part of act Mar. 3, 1887, ch. 340, 24 Stat. 476, which comprises this chapter.
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Repeals
text: Act Feb. 23, 1905, ch. 733, § 2, 33 Stat. 733, repealed all laws and parts of laws so far as they conflict with the provisions of this section.
48 U.S.C. § 1509...1512 (TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS)
§§ 1509 to 1512. Omitted
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Codification
text: Sections 1509 to 1512, relating to Territory of Hawaii, were omitted in view of the admission of Hawaii into the Union. Sections were formerly classified to sections 83 to 86 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality.
Section 1509, acts Apr. 30, 1900, ch. 339, § 73(f), 31 Stat. 154; May 27, 1910, ch. 258, § 5, 36 Stat. 444; July 9, 1921, ch. 42, § 304, 42 Stat. 117, set out requirements for aliens who would be entitled to receive any certificate of occupation, right of purchase lease, cash freehold agreement, or special homestead agreement in public lands in Hawaii. Section was also classified to section 667 of this title.
Section 1510, acts Apr. 30, 1900, ch. 339, § 73(g), 31 Stat. 154; May 27, 1910, ch. 258, § 5, 36 Stat. 444; July 9, 1921, ch. 42, § 304, 42 Stat. 117, restricted conveyance or other transfer of public lands in Hawaii to aliens. Section was also classified to section 668 of this title.
Section 1511, acts Apr. 30, 1900, ch. 338, § 73(j), 31 Stat. 154; May 27, 1910, ch. 258, § 5, 36 Stat. 444; July 9, 1921, ch. 42, § 306, 42 Stat. 118, gave commissioner, with approval of governor, the right to give preferences in purchasing of public lands. Section was also classified to section 671 of this title.
Section 1512, acts Apr. 30, 1900, ch. 339, § 73(l), 31 Stat. 154; May 27, 1910, ch. 258, § 5, 36 Stat. 444; July 9, 1921, ch. 42, § 308, 42 Stat. 118, authorized sale of agricultural land in Hawaii for residential purposes to persons declaring intention to become citizens. Section was also classified to section 673 of this title.
48 U.S.C. § 1542 (TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS)
§ 1542. Voting franchise; discrimination prohibited
(a) The franchise shall be vested in residents of the Virgin Islands who are citizens of the United States, twenty-one years of age or over. Additional qualifications may be prescribed by the legislature: Provided, however, That no property, language, or income qualification shall ever be imposed upon or required of any voter, nor shall any discrimination in qualification be made or based upon difference in race, color, sex, or religious belief.
(b) The legislature shall have authority to enact legislation establishing the voting age for residents of the Virgin Islands at an age not lower than eighteen years of age, if a majority of the qualified voters in the Virgin Islands approve in a referendum election held for that purpose.
(July 22, 1954, ch. 558, § 4, 68 Stat. 498; Pub. L. 91–460, Oct. 16, 1970, 84 Stat. 978.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Amendments
text: 1970—Pub. L. 91–460 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).
48 U.S.C. § 1543 (TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS)
§ 1543. United States citizenship requirement for government officials
All members of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, all judges and all officials of the government of the Virgin Islands who report directly to the Governor shall be citizens of the United States.
(July 22, 1954, ch. 558, § 29, 68 Stat. 509; Pub. L. 98–213, § 5(a), Dec. 8, 1983, 97 Stat. 1460.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Amendments
text: 1983—Pub. L. 98–213 amended section generally, substituting provisions requiring United States citizenship for all members of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and all officials who report directly to the Governor for provisions requiring such citizenship for all officers of the Virgin Islands, and struck out provisions requiring written oaths and prescribing the oath.
48 U.S.C. § 1545 (TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS)
§ 1545. Lease and sale of public property; conveyance of title in certain lands to the government of Virgin Islands
(a) The Secretary of the Interior shall be authorized to lease or to sell upon such terms as he may deem advantageous to the Government of the United States any property of the United States under his administrative supervision in the Virgin Islands not needed for public purposes.
(b)
(1) All right, title, and interest of the United States in the property placed under the control of the government of the Virgin Islands by section 1405c(a) of this title, not reserved to the United States by the Secretary of the Interior within one hundred and twenty days after October 5, 1974, is hereby conveyed to such government. The conveyance effected by the preceding sentence shall not apply to that land and other property which on October 5, 1974, is administered by the Secretary of the Interior as part of the National Park System and such lands and other property shall be retained by the United States.
(2) Subject to valid existing rights, title to all property in the Virgin Islands which may have been acquired by the United States from Denmark under the Convention entered into August 16, 1916, not reserved or retained by the United States in accordance with the provisions of Public Law 93–435 (88 Stat. 1210) is hereby transferred to the Virgin Islands government.
(July 22, 1954, ch. 558, § 31, 68 Stat. 510; Pub. L. 93–435, § 3, Oct. 5, 1974, 88 Stat. 1211; Pub. L. 96–205, title IV, § 401(a), Mar. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 88.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: Public Law 93–435 (88 Stat. 1210), referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is Pub. L. 93–435, Oct. 5, 1974, 88 Stat. 1210, as amended, which enacted sections 1705 to 1708 of this title, amended this section, and repealed sections 1701 to 1703 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.
heading: Amendments
text: 1980—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–205 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).
1974—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 93–435 substituted provisions conveying to the government of Virgin Islands title in lands now under its control with power to the Secretary of the Interior to reserve rights to the United States within 120 days after Oct. 5, 1974, with the exception of land and property being administered by the Secretary of the Interior as part of the National Park System, for provisions that the government of Virgin Islands shall continue to have control over all public property under its control on July 22, 1954.
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Submerged Lands, Conveyance to Territory
text: Conveyance of submerged lands to the government of the Virgin Islands, see section 1701 et seq. of this title.
48 U.S.C. § 1571 (TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS)
§ 1571. Legislature
(a) Designation and unicameral character
The legislative power and authority of the Virgin Islands shall be vested in a legislature, consisting of one house, to be designated the “Legislature of the Virgin Islands”, herein referred to as the legislature.
(b) Composition; legislative districts; method of elections
The legislature shall be composed of members to be known as senators. The number of such senators shall be determined by the laws of the Virgin Islands. The apportionment of the legislature shall be as provided by the laws of the Virgin Islands: Provided, That such apportionment shall not deny to any person in the Virgin Islands the equal protection of the law: And provided further, That every voter in any district election or at large election shall be permitted to vote for the whole number of persons to be elected in that district election or at large election as the case may be. Until the legislature shall provide otherwise, four members shall be elected at large, five shall be elected from the District of Saint Thomas, five from the District of Saint Croix, and one from the District of Saint John, as those Districts were constituted on July 22, 1954,
(July 22, 1954, ch. 558, § 5, 68 Stat. 498; Pub. L. 89–548, § 1, Aug. 30, 1966, 80 Stat. 371; Pub. L. 106–364, § 1, Oct. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 1408.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Amendments
text: 2000—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–364 struck out “fifteen” after “composed of” in first sentence and inserted “The number of such senators shall be determined by the laws of the Virgin Islands.” after first sentence.
1966—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 89–548 raised from eleven to fifteen the total number of senators in the legislature, substituted provision that the legislature be apportioned according to the laws of the Virgin Islands for provisions spelling out the division of the Virgin Islands into districts, the composition of each such district, and the district and at-large representation breakdown of the senators in the legislature, struck out provision for the casting of a ballot for two candidates by each elector in at-large elections and the drawing of lots to determine placement on the ballot in at-large elections, prohibited apportionment in a way which would deny equal protection of the law, and provided for temporary apportionment until the legislature provided otherwise from the districts as constituted on July 22, 1954.
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date of 1966 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 89–548, § 2, Aug. 30, 1966, 80 Stat. 371, provided that: “This Act [amending this section] shall be effective with respect to the legislature to be elected at the regular general election in November 1966, and thereafter.”
48 U.S.C. § 1573 (TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS)
§ 1573. Time, frequency, and duration of regular sessions; special sessions; place of holding
(a) Regular sessions of the legislature shall be held annually, commencing on the second Monday in January (unless the legislature shall by law fix a different date), and shall continue for such term as the legislature may provide. The Governor may call special sessions of the legislature at any time when in his opinion the public interest may require it. No legislation shall be considered at any special session other than that specified in the call therefor or in any special message by the Governor to the legislature while in such session. All sessions of the legislature shall be open to the public.
(b) Sessions of the legislature shall be held in the capital of the Virgin Islands at Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas.
(July 22, 1954, ch. 558, § 7, 68 Stat. 500; Pub. L. 86–289, § 2(c), Sept. 16, 1959, 73 Stat. 569; Pub. L. 90–496, § 1, Aug. 23, 1968, 82 Stat. 837.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Amendments
text: 1968—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 90–496 substituted provisions that regular sessions of the legislature shall continue for such term as the legislature may provide for provisions that regular sessions shall continue for not more than sixty consecutive calendar days in any calendar year, with the proviso that the regular annual session for 1959, 1960, and 1961 shall commence on the second Monday in April and shall continue for not more than sixty consecutive calendar days, struck out provisions that any special session called by the Governor shall continue for not more than fifteen calendar days, with the aggregate of any such special sessions during any calendar year not to exceed thirty calendar days, and inserted provision opening to the public all sessions of the legislature.
1959—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 86–289 substituted “January (unless the legislature shall by law fix a different date)” for “April” and “regular annual session for each of the years 1959, 1960, and 1961, respectively, shall commence on the second Monday in April” for “annual session for 1955 shall commence on the second Monday in January 1955”.
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date of 1968 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 90–496, § 1, Aug. 23, 1968, 82 Stat. 837, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective on date of enactment of Pub. L. 90–496, which was approved Aug. 23, 1968.
48 U.S.C. § 1574c (TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS)
§ 1574c. Priority for payment of principal and interest of revenue bonds or other obligations
Each issue of bonds or other obligations issued under subsection (a) of section 1574a of this title shall have a parity lien with every other issue of bonds or other obligations issued for payment of principal and interest out of revenues received under section 7652(b)(3) of title 26, except that issues guaranteed under section 1574b of this title shall have priority, according to the date of issue, over issues not so guaranteed and the revenues received under section 7652(b)(3) of title 26 shall be pledged for the payment of such bonds or other obligations.
(Pub. L. 94–392, § 3, Aug. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 1195; Pub. L. 105–83, title I, § 124(a), Nov. 14, 1997, 111 Stat. 1567.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Codification
text: “Section 7652(b)(3) of title 26” substituted in text for “section 28(b) of the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands [68 Stat. 508]”, which was classified to section 3350(c) of former Title 26, Internal Revenue Code, on authority of section 7852(b) of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code, which provided that any reference in any other law to a provision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1939 be deemed a reference to the corresponding provision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Section was not enacted as part of the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands which comprises this chapter.
heading: Amendments
text: 1997—Pub. L. 105–83 substituted “a parity lien with every other issue of bonds or other obligations issued for payment” for “priority for payment” and struck out “in the order of the date of issue” before “, except that”.
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date of 1997 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 105–83, title I, § 124(b), Nov. 14, 1997, 111 Stat. 1567, provided that: “The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to obligations issued on or after the date of enactment of this section [Nov. 14, 1997].”
48 U.S.C. § 1592 (TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS)
§ 1592. Repealed. Pub. L. 89–554, § 8(a), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 657
text: Section, act July 22, 1954, ch. 558, § 20(a), 68 Stat. 505, prescribed compensation of Governor.
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Codification
text: Section 20 of act July 22, 1954, was amended in its entirety by section 10 of Pub. L. 90–496, Aug. 23, 1968, 82 Stat. 841, which consolidated the text of said section 20 into a single unlettered paragraph, classified to section 1641 of this title. Prior to the 1968 amendment said section 20 was comprised of subsecs. (a) to (c). Subsec. (a) was classified to this section, and subsecs. (b) and (c) were classified to sections 1598 and 1641, respectively, of this title.
48 U.S.C. § 1594 (TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS)
§ 1594. Repealed. Pub. L. 90–496, § 6, Aug. 23, 1968, 82 Stat. 839
text: Section, act July 22, 1954, ch. 558, § 13, 68 Stat. 503, authorized the Governor to appoint an administrative assistant to reside in St. Croix and an administrative assistant to reside in St. John.
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date of Repeal
text: Pub. L. 90–496, § 6, Aug. 23, 1968, 82 Stat. 839, provided in part that the repeal of this section is effective on the date of enactment of Pub. L. 90–496, which was approved Aug. 23, 1968.
48 U.S.C. § 1598 (TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS)
§ 1598. Omitted
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Codification
text: Section, act July 22, 1954, ch. 558, § 20(b), 68 Stat. 505, which related to compensation of the Government Secretary, department heads, and staffs of the Governor and Government Secretary, was superseded by section 10 of Pub. L. 90–496, Aug. 23, 1968, 82 Stat. 841, which amended section 1641 of this title. See Codification note set out under section 1641 of this title.