A joint resolution to provide for the reconsideration and revision of the proposed constitution of the United States Virgin Islands to correct provisions inconsistent with the Constitution and Federal law.
PL 111-194 (S.J.Res.33), enacted 06/30/2010

124 STAT. 1309 
PUBLIC LAW 111–194—JUNE 30, 2010 
Public Law 111–194 
111th Congress 
Joint Resolution 
To provide for the reconsideration and revision of the proposed constitution of 
the United States Virgin Islands to correct provisions inconsistent with the Con-
stitution and Federal law. 
Whereas Congress, recognizing the basic democratic principle of 
government by the consent of the governed, enacted Public Law 
94–584 (94 Stat. 2899) authorizing the people of the United 
States Virgin Islands to organize a government pursuant to a 
constitution of their own adoption; 
Whereas a proposed constitution to provide for local self-government 
for the people of the United States Virgin Islands was submitted 
by the President to Congress on March 1, 2010, pursuant to 
Public Law 94–584; 
Whereas Congress, pursuant to Public Law 94–584, after receiving 
a proposed United States Virgin Islands constitution from the 
President may approve, amend, or modify the constitution by 
joint resolution, but the constitution ‘‘shall be deemed to have 
been approved’’ if Congress takes no action within ‘‘sixty legisla-
tive days (not interrupted by an adjournment sine die of the 
Congress) after its submission by the President’’; 
Whereas in carrying out Public Law 94–584, the President asked 
the Department of Justice, in consultation with the Department 
of the Interior, to provide views on the proposed constitution; 
Whereas the Department of Justice concluded that several features 
of the proposed constitution warrant analysis and comment, 
including— 
(1) the absence of an express recognition of United States 
sovereignty and the supremacy of Federal law; 
(2) provisions for a special election on the territorial status 
of the United States Virgin Islands; 
(3) provisions conferring legal advantages on certain groups 
defined by place and timing of birth, timing of residency, or 
ancestry; 
(4) residence requirements for certain offices; 
(5) provisions guaranteeing legislative representation of cer-
tain geographic areas; 
(6) provisions addressing territorial waters and marine 
resources; 
(7) imprecise language in certain provisions of the bill of 
rights of the proposed constitution; 
(8) the possible need to repeal certain Federal laws if the 
proposed constitution of the United States Virgin Islands is 
adopted; and 
(9) the effect of congressional action or inaction on the pro-
posed constitution; and 
June 30, 2010 
[S.J. Res. 33] 
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124 STAT. 1310 
PUBLIC LAW 111–194—JUNE 30, 2010 
Whereas Congress shares the concerns expressed by the executive 
branch of the Federal Government on certain features of the 
proposed constitution of the United States Virgin Islands and 
shares the view that consideration should be given to revising 
those features: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON PROPOSED CONSTITUTION FOR 
UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS. 
It is the sense of Congress that Congress— 
(1) recognizes the commitment and efforts of the Fifth 
Constitutional Convention of the United States Virgin Islands 
to develop a proposed constitution; and 
(2) urges the Fifth Constitutional Convention of the United 
States Virgin Islands to reconvene for the purpose of reconsid-
ering and revising the proposed constitution in response to 
the views of the executive branch of the Federal Government. 
SEC. 2. REVISION OF PROPOSED CONSTITUTION. 
Section 5 of Public Law 94–584 (90 Stat. 2900) is amended— 
(1) by designating the first, second, third, and fourth sen-
tences as subsections (a), (b), (d), and (e), respectively; 
(2) in subsection (b) (as so designated)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘within’’ and all that follows through 
‘‘after’’ and inserting ‘‘within 60 legislative days after’’; 
and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or has urged the constitutional 
convention to reconvene,’’ after ‘‘in whole or in part,’’; 
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) (as so designated) the 
following: 
‘‘(c) REVISION OF PROPOSED CONSTITUTION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If a convention reconvenes and revises 
the proposed constitution, the convention shall resubmit the 
revised proposed constitution simultaneously to the Governor 
of the Virgin Islands and the President. 
‘‘(2) COMMENTS OF PRESIDENT.—Not later than 60 calendar 
days after the date of receipt of the revised proposed constitu-
tion, the President shall— 
‘‘(A) notify the convention, the Governor, and Congress 
of the comments of the President on the revised proposed 
constitution; and 
‘‘(B) publish the comments in the Federal Register.’’; 
and 
(4) in subsection (d) (as so designated), by inserting ‘‘under 
subsection (b) (or, if revised pursuant to subsection (c), on 
Federal Register, 
publication. 
Notification. 
Deadline. 
48 USC 1391 
note, 1541 note. 
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124 STAT. 1311 
PUBLIC LAW 111–194—JUNE 30, 2010 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 33: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 156 (2010): 
June 17, considered and passed Senate. 
June 29, considered and passed House. 
publication of the comments of the President in the Federal 
Register)’’ after ‘‘or modified’’. 
Approved June 30, 2010. 
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