Info
Electoral Systems
ES001
Head of State
Question: How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):
f . Inherited monarchy with a Governor appointed by the Monarch
Comments: 35.—(1) There shall be a Governor of the Virgin Islands who shall be appointed by Her Majesty
by Commission under Her Sign Manual and Signet and shall hold office during Her Majesty’s
pleasure.
46.—(1) The executive authority of the Virgin Islands shall be vested in Her Majesty.
Source: The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, Article 35(1)
http://www.bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/constitution.pdf
The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, Article 46(1)
http://www.bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/constitution.pdf
Verified: 2019/02/08
ES002
Head of Government
Question: How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:
e . Appointed
Comments: 52.—(1) The Premier shall be appointed by the Governor as follows—
(a) if a political party gains a majority of the seats of elected members of the House of
Assembly the Governor shall appoint as Premier the elected member of the House
recommended by a majority of the elected members of the House who are members of
that party;
(b) if no political party gains such a majority or if no recommendation is made under
paragraph (a), the Governor, acting in his or her discretion, shall appoint as Premier the
elected member of the House of Assembly who, in his or her judgement, is best able to
command the support of a majority of the elected members of the House.
Source: The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, Article 52(1)
http://www.bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/constitution.pdf
Verified: 2019/02/08
ES003
President
Question: Does the country have a president?
Answer:
b . No
Comments: The British Virgin Islands are a British Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom, which means that ultimate executive authority rests with the Queen who then appoints a Governor.
Source: The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, Article 35(1)
http://www.bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/constitution.pdf
The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, Article 46(1)
http://www.bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/constitution.pdf
Verified: 2019/02/08
ES004
Number of Chambers
Question: The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:
a . One chamber
Comments: 62. There shall be a Legislature of the Virgin Islands which shall consist of Her Majesty and a
House of Assembly.
63.—(1) The House of Assembly shall consist of a Speaker elected as provided in section 69,
thirteen elected members, and one non-voting ex officio member, namely the Attorney General.
Source: The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, Article 62(1)
http://www.bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/constitution.pdf
The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, Article 63(1)
http://www.bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/constitution.pdf
Verified: 2019/02/08
ES005
Electoral System (Chamber 1)
Question: What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):
a . Plurality (FPTP)
Comments: 62. There shall be a Legislature of the Virgin Islands which shall consist of Her Majesty and a
House of Assembly.
64.—(1) The elected members of the House of Assembly shall be persons qualified for election
in accordance with this Constitution and, subject to this Constitution, shall be elected in the
manner provided by or under any law for the time being in force in the Virgin Islands.
(2) Subject to section 63(2), for the purposes of elections the Virgin Islands—
Source: The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, Article 62(1)
http://www.bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/constitution.pdf
The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, Article 64
http://www.bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/constitution.pdf
Virgin Islands, British. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.idea.int/data-tools/country-view/301/44
Verified: 2019/02/15
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Additional, but potentially outdated material is available here.
