Office of Self Determination and Constitutional Development - Resources

Welcome to the Office of Self Determination and Constitutional Development Resources page! This section is a convenient place to gain access to a compilation of documents and other resources on National & Territorial Self Determination and the development of the USVI Constitution.

Articles, Papers & Presentations

• Undercurrents: Hey, Virgin islands, What do you Want to be Now That You've Grown Up? (March 22, 2017)
• Self Determination Power Point Presentation from Dr. Carlyle G. Corbin (April 2013)
• Self Determination Power Point Presentation from Attorney Maria Lurie (February 23, 2016)
• Self Determination Power Point Presentation from Dr. Carlos Colon De Armas (August 12, 2016)
• The Search for Constitutional Change in the USVI, William Gilmore (1984)
• A Constitution for the USVI:  The Role of the University of the VI and other Supporting Entities, Ragster & Roach (2008)
• National Self-Determination, Lambert (1918)
• National Self-Determination, Margalit & Raz (1990)
• National Self-Determination, Ryan & Deci (2000)
• National Self-Determination, De-Shalt (1996)
• Secession and Self-Determination: A Territorial Interpretation, Brilmayer (1991)
• The Jurisprudence of Legitimacy: Applying the Constitution to U.S. Territories, Katz (1992)
• The Empire Forgotten: The Application of the Bill of Rights to U.S. Territories, Tauber (2006)
• Revised Organic ACT of 1954, Sekou, et al. (2021) (NEW)

USVI Consitution: Publications, Legislations & Constitutional Drafts 

• Our Quest for a Territorial Constitution: Virgin Islanders Arise, Sekou
• Political Status and Impact
• USVI Status Brochure (1990)
• USVI Political Status Alternatives Brochure(2005)
• VI Treaty

• Revised Organic Act of 1954

• Bryan v. Fifth Revision Constitutional Convention
• James v. De Jongh

• Legislation Establishing Select Committee on Status and Federal Relations (1984)

• Letter to Anthony Babuta (Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs) Regarding Act. 7386

• Proposed Constitution of the USVI by the First Constitutional Convention

• Proposed Constitution of the USVI by the Second Constitutional Convention
• Proposed Constitution of the USVI by the Third Constitutional Convention
• Proposed Constitution of the USVI by the Fourth Constitutional Convention

• Proposed Constitution of the USVI by the Fifth Constitutional Convention

• Department of Justice Views on the Proposed Constitution Drafted by the Fifth Constitution Convention of the United States Virgin Islands

• Oversight Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans, and Wildlife of the Commmittee on Natural Resources, US House of Representatives for the Fifth Constitution Convention of the United States Virgin Islands
• VI Status and Federal Relations Commission Background Information
• VI Status and Federal Relations Commission Voter Eligibility Report (1992)
• VI Status and Federal Relation Commission Final Report (1993)

• V.I. District Court commemorates Centennial by noting its cases advancing constitutional rights 

• Make the Constitutional Convention Fix Its Draft, St. Thomas Residents Say
• Bill No. 34-0153 Act for a Sixt Constitutional Convention

Constitutions of Caribbean Countries

• Constitution of Barbados

• Constitution of British Virgin Islands

• Constitution of St. Kitts and Nevis