Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 82.djvu/880

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Powers.

Reports. 68 Stat. 509. 48 USC 1544.

Lieutenant Governor.

Removal of Governor from office.

PUBLIC LAW 90-496-AUG. 23, 1968

[82 STAT.

consecutive years immediaitely preceding the election a citizen of the United States and a bona fide resident of the Virgin Islands and will be, at the time of taking office, at least thirty years of age. The Governor shall maintain his official residence in the Government House on Saint Thomas during his incumbency, which house, together with land apipurtenant thereto, is hereby transferred to the government of the Virgin Islands. While in Saint Croix the Governor may reside in Government House on Saint Croix free of rent. "The Governor shall have general supervision and control of all the departments, bureaus, agencies, and other instrumentalities of the executive branch of the government of the Virgin Islands. H e may grant pardons and reprieves and remit fines and forfeitures for offenses against local laws. H e may veto any legislation as provided in this Act. He shall appoint, and may remove, all officers and employees of the executive branch of the government of the Virgin Islands, except as otherwise provided in this or any other Act of Congress, or under the laws of the Virgin Islands, and shall commission all officers that he may be authorized to appoint. He shall be responsible for the faithful execution of the laws of the Virgin Islands and the laws of the United States applicable in the Virgin Islands. Whenever it becomes necessary, in case of disaster, invasion, insurrection, or rebellion or imminent danger thereof, or to prevent or suppress lawless violence, he may summon the posse comitatus or call out the militia or request assistance of the senior military or naval commander of the Armed Forces of the United States in the Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico, which may be given at the discretion of such commander if not disruptive of, or inconsistent with, his Federal responsibilities. H e may, in case of rebellion or invasion or imminent danger thereof, when the public safety requires it, proclaim the islands, insofar as they are under the jurisdiction of the government of the Virgin Islands, to be under martial law. The members of the legislature shall meet forthwith on their own initiative and may, by a two-thirds vote, revoke such proclamation. "The Governor shall make to the Secretary of the Interior under section 30 of this Act an annual report of the transactions of the government of the Virgin Islands for transmission to the Congress and such other reports at such other times as may be required by the Congress or under applicable Federal law. H e shall have the power to issue executive orders and regulations not in conflict with any applicable law. He may recommend bills to the legislature and give expression to his views on any matter before that body. "There is hereby established the office of Lieutenant Governor of the Virgin Islands. The Lieutenant Governor shall have such executive powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to him by the Governor or prescribed by this Act or under the laws of the Virgin Islands." SEC. 5. Section 12 of the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands (68 Stat. 497, 503; 48 U.S.C. 1593) is deleted and replaced by the following new provision, also designated section 12: "SEC. 12. Any Governor of the Virgin Islands may be removed from office by a referendum election in which at least two-thirds of the number of persons voting for Governor in the last preceding general election at which a Governor was elected vote in favor of recall and in which those so voting constitute a majority of all those participating in the referendum election. The referendum election shall be initiated by the legislature of the Virgin Islands following (a) a two-thirds vote of the members of the legislature in favor of a referendum, or (b) a petition for such a referendum to the legislature by registered voters equal in number to at least 50 per centum of the whole number

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