A constitutional referendum was held in the United States Virgin Islands on 6 March 1979.[1] Federal law passed by the United States Congress authorized the Virgin Islands and Guam to pass constitutions and form governments. A Constitutional Council had subsequently been elected in the 1977 general elections. The Council wrote and then unanimously adopted a draft constitution which provided for an elected governor and treasurer, a 17-seat Legislature, a local justice system and protections for Virgin Islander culture.
The draft constitution was rejected by the voters in the referendum.[1]
