Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 95.djvu/142

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PUBLIC LAW 97-000—MMMM. DD, 1981

95 STAT. 116

PUBLIC LAW 97-21—JULY 9, 1981 procedure, judicial ethics, and admission to, governance of and expulsion from the practice of law. ADMINISTRATION

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10. The chief judge of the appellate court of the Virgin Islands shall be responsible for the administration of that court. Administration of any lower court shall be as provided by law. SECTION

ARTICLE VII L LOCAL GOVERNMENT -

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POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS; CREATION, POWERS

1. The Senate may create political subdivisions within the Virgin Islands and provide for the government thereof. The Senate may create a political subdivision embodying each major island, but may not create a political subdivision within any of the islands, except with the approval of a majority of the voters voting on the question on the island which is to be subdivided. Each political subdivision shall have and exercise such powers as shall be conferred by law. SECTION

LOCAL S E L F - G O V E R N M E N T; CHARTER

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2. Each political subdivision shall have the power to frame and adopt a charter for its own self-government within such limits and under such procedures as may be provided by law. SECTION

TAXATION AND FINANCE

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3. (a) The power to tax shall be reserved to the Senate, but a political subdivision may petition the Senate to impose a tax to be utilized by said political subdivision, (b) The Senate shall have the power to apportion revenues among the political subdivisions. SECTION

MANDATES, ACCRUED CLAIMS

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4. No law shall be passed mandating any political subdivision to pay any previously accrued claim. SECTION

GENERAL LAWS

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5. This Article shall not limit the power of the Senate to enact laws of general concern, and no political subdivision may infringe upon this power. SECTION

ARTICLE IX. EDUCATION EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

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SECTION 1. (a) The Government of the Virgin Islands shall provide

for the education of its people and establish a system of elementary, secondary, and higher education which embodies the principle of essential human equality and includes programs that respond to the needs, interests, and abilities of its people. (b) Elementary and secondary education shall be compulsory for all persons as provided by law. Attendance at a public or an accredited nonpublic school shall satisfy this requirement. Public elementary and secondary education shall be essentially free.