74Tx C ONGRESS . SESS. II. CH. 699. JUNE 22, 1936 .
1809 by each of them : Provided, That the Governor shall call the legisla- allss . Governor. tive assembly at least once during each calendar year . The legisla- legislation ;
n mof lotl tive assembly shall have power to enact legislation applicable to the V irg in Is lan ds as a° whole, but no legi slation shall be considered other than that specified in the message by the Governor calling such a session, or in both of said resolutions : Pro vide d fur ther , That so Q uorum . long as the membershi p of the legislat ive assembly does not exceed sixteen members, a quorum of the legislative assembly shall consist Two-third majority of not less than ten members, and no bill shall be enacted until it vote for passage . shall be passed by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present . The municipal councils shall not enact laws or ordinances in conflict conformit y require- The with the enactments of the legislative assembly . SEc. 8 . The present colonial councils shall continue to function copresent c ouncils . to until January 1, 1937. The next general election in the Virgin General elections ; Islands shall be held on November 3, 1936 . At such election there poes of holding, pnr- shal l be chosen the e ntire membership of each municipal council as herein provided . Thereafter the elections shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, beginning with the year 1938, and every two years thereafter . The terms of office of Terms of p resen t municipal officers . members of the respective colonial councils of the municipalities of Saint Thomas and Saint John and of Saint Croix, whose terms of office under existing law would expire prior to January 1, 1937, are hereby extended to that date . SEc. 9. No person shall be eligible to be a member of either Municipal councils, membership qualifica- municipal council unless he is a citizen of the United States, over tions. twen ty-five years of age, is a qualifi ed voter of the m unicipality in which elected, has resided in the Virgin Islands for a period of not less than three years next preceding t he date of electi on, and has not been convicted of a felony or of a crime involving moral turp itude . Each municipal council m ay exclud e from mem bership Federal Members receiving there in persons receivin g compensa tion from the Gover nment of the United States or from either of the municipal governments of the Virgin Islands . SEc. 10 . The members of each municipal council shall receive allow- Travel, and sub . s ante for actual travel ex penses and such r easonable subsist ence as istence llowances . may be p rescribed by the council . SEc. 11 . The respective municipal councils shall be the sole Judges be sole judg es ges of their th so le jr of the elections, returns, and qualifications of their members, shall be membership, etc. vested with the a uthority and attributes inherent in legislative bodies, and shall jointly or separately have the power to institute and other powers . conduct investigations, issue subpenas to witnesses and other parties concerned, and administer oaths . Existing rules of the colonial Continuance of rules councils shall co ntinue in force and effect, except as inconsistent with in for ce . this Act, until a ltered, amended, or repealed by the respective munici- pal councils . No member shall be held to answer before any tribunal 1, immunity arrest rivi other than the respective municipal councils themselves for any members. speech or debate in the municipal councils and the members shall in all cases, except treason, felony, or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the sessions of the municipal councils and in going to and returning from the same . SEc. 12. Each municipal council shall annu ally appo int from "Municipal Com - among its members, for a term of one
t hree memb ers to s erve mAt ~
year,
Appoi ointment,duties, as a standing committee, which, under the name of the "Municipal procedure, powers, etc . Committee", shall advise the Governor concerning the management of the fiscal aff airs of the municipality, and concerning matters relat- ing to the municipality . The procedure of the Municipal Committee shall be in accordance with bylaws adopted by the municipal council and approved by the Governor . The Municipal Committee sh all have power when granted by local law to recommend to the Governor 104019•-
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