Overview of the Government of Virginia

Population Density Map for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Having recently moved, this blogger has had the opportunity to take note of the intricacies of local government, as he changes his address with multiple organs of government.

In that spirit, here is a summary and overview of the structure of government in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Obviously, this is a bit of a simplified perspective, but a decent place to start, all the same:

• Governed under the Constitution of 1971:

• Article I: Bill of Rights.
• Article II: Franchise and Officials.
• Article III: Division of Powers.
• Article IV: Legislature.
• Article V: Executive.
• Article VI: Judiciary.
• Article VII: Local Government.
• Article VIII: Education.
• Article IX: Corporations.
• Article X: Taxation and Finance.
• Article XI: Conservation.
• Article XII: Amendments and Convention.

• LEGISLATIVE BRANCH:
• The General Assembly of the Senate and House of Delegates forms this branch.
• Senate: The 33-40 (currently 40) member upper chamber of the General Assembly.  Senators are popularly elected to 4 year terms.  Members must be at least 21 years of age.  The Lieutenant Governor serves as President of the Senate, and can vote in the case of a tie in that chamber.
• House of Delegates:  The 90-100 (currently 100) member lower chamber of the General Assembly.  Delegates are popularly elected to 2 year terms.  Members must be at least 21 years of age.  The delegates elect a Speaker of the House.
• All proposed legislation must pass both chambers of the General Assembly before being presented to the governor for his signature.

• EXECUTIVE BRANCH:
• Governor: Chief Executive and Commander-in-Chief of the state.  Popularly elected to non-consecutive 4 year terms.  He must be at least 30 years of age.  By law, the governor must reside in the capital city of Richmond, where the governor’s mansion sits next to the capitol.
• Lieutenant Governor: He serves as President of the Senate, and, when required, acts in place of an incapacitated governor.  He is popularly elected to 4 year terms at the same time as the governor.  He, also, must be at least 30 years of age.
• Attorney General: He serves as the Commonwealth of Virginia’s official legal counsel.  He is popularly elected to 4 year terms at the same time as the governor.  In addition to the required age of 30, he must also have sufficient legal credentials (the same as a judge).  He is next in line after the Lt. Governor should a vacancy in the governor’s office take place.
• The Executive Branch of the Commonwealth of Virginia also has a host of executive departments, including:

• Agriculture & Consumer Services.
• Alcoholic Beverage Control.
• Corrections.
• Education.
• Forestry.
• Game and Inland Fisheries.
• Health.
• Labor and Industry.
• Motor Vehicles.
• State Police.
• Taxation.
• Transportation.
• Treasury.

 

• JUDICIAL BRANCH:
• Supreme Court: Consists of 7 members (subject to change with the consent of the General Assembly) elected to 12 year terms by the General Assembly.  All judges in Virginia must have been admitted to the bar.  The chief justice is chosen by a vote of the members of the court.  This court is the final court of appeals in the Commonwealth, and has original jurisdiction in some cases.  This court sits in Richmond.
• Court of Appeals: This 11 member court consists of members elected to 8 year terms by the General Assembly.  This court receives appeals from the lower, circuit, courts.  The chief justice of this court is chosen for a 4 year term by the other members.  This court meets in Richmond, Alexandria, Chesapeake, and Salem.
• Circuit Courts: There are 31 circuits, with 120 courts that operate as the primary location for court cases.  Judges are appointed by the General Assembly to 8 year terms.
• District Courts: These local courts fit into 32 districts and deal with small claims and lesser offenses (less than $15,000 involved).  Judges are appointed by the General Assembly to 8 year terms.  If you go to court for speeding, this is typically where you go.

• LOCAL GOVERNMENT:
• The Commonwealth of Virginia is divided into 95 counties and 39 cities.  Within these counties are often incorporated towns that, while still part of the county, have their own elected government.
• A County is governed by a popularly elected Board of Supervisors, which serves as both the executive and legislative board of the county.  The chairman is either elected by the other members or popularly elected at-large to the position.  The number of members varies, but they are popularly elected to 4 year terms.  Each represents one of the magisterial districts of the county.  In many counties, the Board appoints a County Executive to run the daily affairs of the county.
• A City is governed by a popularly elected City Council and one member of the council serves as mayor.  They are popularly elected to 4 year terms.  In most cities, the Council appoints a City Manager to run the daily affairs of the city.
• Each county and city should have the following Constitutional officers (some are exempt), each popularly elected and serving 4 year terms (the clerk serves for 8):
• Treasurer.
• Sheriff.
• Commonwealth’s Attorney.
• Clerk of Court.
• Commissioner of the Revenue.
• In smaller (second class) cities, the offices of Sheriff, Commonwealth’s Attorney, and Clerk of Court, can be shared with the surrounding county.
• Towns can be incorporated within counties, establishing their own elected council and government with the power to pass ordinances for those in the town.

Live well!