Government of Virginia facts for kids
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|
| Polity type | Presidential System |
|---|---|
| Constitution | Constitution of Virginia |
| Legislative branch | |
| Name | General Assembly |
| Type | Bicameral |
| Meeting place | Virginia State Capitol |
| Upper house | |
| Name | Senate |
| Presiding officer | Winsome Sears, President |
| Lower house | |
| Name | House of Delegates |
| Presiding officer | Don Scott, Speaker |
| Executive branch | |
| Head of State and Government | |
| Title | Governor |
| Currently | Glenn Youngkin |
| Appointer | Election |
| Cabinet | |
| Name | Governor's Cabinet |
| Leader | Governor |
| Deputy leader | Lieutenant Governor |
| Headquarters | State Capitol |
| Judicial branch | |
| Name | Judiciary of Virginia |
| Courts | Courts of Virginia |
| Supreme Court of Virginia | |
| Chief judge | Donald W. Lemons |
| Seat | Richmond |
The government of Virginia works to serve the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is made up of three main parts, called branches. These are the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
The current Governor of Virginia is Glenn Youngkin. The beautiful State Capitol building in Richmond is where many government activities happen. It was designed by Thomas Jefferson. Its first stone was placed by Governor Patrick Henry in 1785.
Virginia's government follows rules set in its Constitution of Virginia. The current one was put in place in 1971. It is the seventh constitution Virginia has had. This document explains how the three branches of government should work.
Contents
Executive Branch: Leading the State
The executive branch is like the management team for Virginia. It carries out the laws. The main elected leaders in this branch are the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General.
These three leaders are elected separately. They serve for four years. Their elections happen in years after presidential elections. For example, the last one was in 2021, and the next will be in 2025. Virginia is one of only a few states that elects its leaders in odd-numbered years.
The Governor's Role
The Governor is the chief leader of Virginia. They are also the commander of the state's military forces. A governor cannot be elected for two terms in a row. However, they can serve multiple terms if they are not consecutive.
Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, is the current Governor.
Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General
The Lieutenant Governor is elected separately from the Governor. This person leads the Senate of Virginia. They are also next in line to become Governor if something happens to the Governor. The Lieutenant Governor can run for re-election.
Winsome Sears, a Republican, is the Lieutenant Governor. She is the first Black woman to hold this job in Virginia.
The Attorney General is the state's chief lawyer. They advise the Governor and the General Assembly on legal matters. They also lead the Department of Law. The Attorney General is second in line to become Governor.
Jason Miyares, a Republican, is the Attorney General. He is the first Latino person elected to a statewide office in Virginia.
If the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General all cannot serve, the leader of the Virginia House of Delegates becomes Governor.
The Governor's Cabinet: Advisors
The Virginia Governor's Cabinet is a group of important officials. They are chosen by the Governor and approved by the General Assembly. Their main job is to advise the Governor.
The Cabinet includes leaders for many important areas, such as:
- Chief of Staff
- Deputy Chief of Staff
- Secretary of the Commonwealth
- Secretary of Administration
- Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry
- Secretary of Commerce and Trade
- Secretary of Education
- Secretary of Finance
- Secretary of Health and Human Resources
- Secretary of Natural Resources
- Secretary of Public Safety
- Secretary of Transportation
- Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security
These cabinet members help manage different parts of the state government. They also help create or change state rules.
Legislative Branch: Making Laws
The legislative branch is responsible for making laws for Virginia. This branch is called the General Assembly.
The General Assembly has two parts:
- The Virginia House of Delegates (the "lower house") has 100 members.
- The Senate of Virginia (the "upper house") has 40 members.
Together, there are 140 elected representatives. Each represents a different area of Virginia. The General Assembly meets in the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond.
The House of Delegates is led by the Speaker of the House. The Senate is led by the lieutenant governor of Virginia. Both the House and Senate choose their own clerk and sergeant-at-arms. The laws made by the General Assembly are written down in the Code of Virginia.
Judicial Branch: Interpreting Laws
The judicial branch is Virginia's court system. It makes sure laws are followed fairly. It also decides what laws mean.
The court system is set up by the Constitution of Virginia. It includes:
- The Supreme Court of Virginia (the highest court).
- The Court of Appeals.
- The Circuit Courts.
- The General District Courts.
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court leads the administration of the courts.
Local Government: Serving Communities
Virginia is divided into smaller areas for government. These are called political subdivisions. They only have the powers that the General Assembly gives them.
All local governments, like cities, counties, and towns, are political subdivisions. Public school systems are also political subdivisions. Many special groups, like those for water or transportation, are also created this way.
How Local Governments Work
Every place in Virginia is either in a county or an independent city. It is never both. There are 95 counties and 39 independent cities. Each has its own government.
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Most cities are run by an elected mayor or city council. They often choose a city manager to handle daily tasks. Counties are usually led by a county board of supervisors. Many specific rules for local governments are found in their "charters."
Virginia has a rule called Dillon's Rule. This rule limits what cities and counties can do. They can only pass laws that the state legislature clearly allows. If a local law goes beyond these powers, it can be stopped.
One example of a different setup is the City of Richmond. It has a mayor elected by the people. This mayor acts as the chief executive, separate from the city council. This was a new idea and caused some changes when former Governor Douglas Wilder was elected mayor.
Local Officers
Local governments have city and county officers. They also have "constitutional officers." These officers are mentioned in the Virginia Constitution.
The Virginia Constitution says that each county and city must elect:
- A treasurer
- A sheriff
- An attorney for the Commonwealth
- A clerk (who handles court records)
- A commissioner of revenue
These officers are not chosen by the city or county government. Their salaries are set by the state. This helps them be more independent within the local government.
The attorney for the Commonwealth is the elected prosecutor for the area. The sheriff is the main law enforcement officer in areas without a police department. Even with a police department, the sheriff still enforces criminal laws. The sheriff also runs the local jail, keeps courthouses safe, and handles civil papers.
History of Virginia's Government
The Virginia General Assembly was started in 1619. It is the oldest legislature in the New World. In early Virginia, the lower house was called the House of Burgesses. It worked with the Governor's Council to form the "General Assembly."
The Governor's Council had 12 men chosen by the British monarch. They advised the governor. This council also acted as the colony's highest court. Members of the House of Burgesses were chosen by people who could vote. Each county chose two representatives. The College of William and Mary and the cities of Norfolk, Williamsburg, and Jamestown each chose one.
The Burgesses met to make laws for the colony. The council would then review these laws. A law needed approval from the Burgesses, the council, and the governor to pass. The idea of electing Burgesses was very important and new. It gave Virginians a chance to control their own government.
At first, all free men in the colony could vote. Women, servants, and Native Americans could not. Later, voting rules changed. Men had to own at least 50 acres of land to vote.
By the 1850s, Virginia had a state legislature, several executive officers, and a court system. The Constitution of 1901 lasted a long time. It kept the General Assembly as the legislature and the Supreme Court of Appeals as the judiciary. It also had eight elected executive officers: the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of the commonwealth, state treasurer, auditor of public accounts, superintendent of public instruction, and commissioner of agriculture and immigration.
The 1901 Constitution was changed many times. But eventually, a new, more modern constitution was created. This new constitution led to fewer elected officials and a more organized court system.
Images for kids
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Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia
See also
In Spanish: Gobierno de Virginia para niños
- Politics of Virginia
- Elections in Virginia
- Republican Party of Virginia
- Democratic Party of Virginia
- Law of Virginia
