ARTICLE IV


THE LEGISLATURE

 Section 1. Designation and Unicameral Character. The legislative power and
 authority of the Territory is vested in a legislature, consisting of one house, to be
 designated the "Legislature of the Virgin Islands", herein referred to as the
 "Legislature."

 Section 2. Composition and Apportionment. The Legislature shall be composed
 of fifteen members to be known as Senators. The apportionment of the Legislature
 shall be as provided by law: Provided, that such apportionment shall not deny to any
 person in the Territory the equal protection of the law; and, provided further, that every
 voter in any district election or at large election shall be permitted to vote for the whole
 number of persons to be elected in that district or at large election, as the case may be;
 and, provided further, that the Legislature shall be re-apportioned at least every ten
 years, beginning with the year 1980.

 Section 3. Terms of Office. The term of office of each member of the Legislature
 shall be two years. The term of office of each member shall commence on the first
 Monday of January immediately following the date of the general election in which he
 shall have been elected.

 Section 4. Qualifications of Members. In order to be eligible for membership in
the Legislature, a person shall be a citizen of the United States, at least twenty-one
years of age, a qualified voter, a bona fide resident of the Territory for at least five years
next preceding the date of his election and a bona fide resident of the legislative
district for at least two years next preceding the date of his election in case of a district
candidate. Federal employees and persons employed in the Legislative, executive or
judicial branches of the Territory shall not be eligible for membership in the Legislature
while so employed.

 Section 5. Immunity of Members. No member of the Legislature shall be held to
answer before any tribunal other than the Legislature for any words used in any
proceedings of the Legislature 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 Legislature and in going to and returning from the same.

 Section 6. Compensation and Allowances. Each member of the Legislature
shall be paid such compensation and shall receive such additional allowances or
benefits as may be fixed by law. No law increasing the compensation to be paid to
members of the Legislature shall become effective during the term of the Legislature
enacting such law.


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