Government of Virginia

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= Government of Virginia =

The Government of Virginia is the governmental structure of the Commonwealth of Virginia, as established by the Virginia Constitution. It is composed of three branches: the Executive branch, the Legislative branch, and the Judicial branch.

Executive Branch

The executive branch is headed by the Governor of Virginia, who is elected for a four-year term and cannot serve consecutive terms. The current governor is Glenn Youngkin. The executive branch also includes the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia and the Attorney General of Virginia, both of whom are elected for four-year terms.

Governor

The Governor of Virginia is the chief executive officer of the Commonwealth and is responsible for ensuring that state laws are executed. The governor has the power to veto legislation, call special sessions of the Virginia General Assembly, and grant pardons.

Lieutenant Governor

The Lieutenant Governor of Virginia serves as the president of the Virginia Senate and is first in the line of succession to the governorship.

Attorney General

The Attorney General of Virginia is the chief legal officer of the Commonwealth and represents the state in legal matters.

Legislative Branch

The legislative branch is known as the Virginia General Assembly, which is a bicameral body consisting of the Virginia House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia.

Virginia House of Delegates

The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, consisting of 100 members who are elected for two-year terms.

Senate of Virginia

The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the General Assembly, consisting of 40 members who are elected for four-year terms.

Judicial Branch

The judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court of Virginia, which is the highest court in the Commonwealth. The judicial system also includes the Court of Appeals of Virginia, Circuit Courts, and District Courts.

Supreme Court of Virginia

The Supreme Court of Virginia is the court of last resort and has seven justices who are elected by the General Assembly for 12-year terms.

Court of Appeals of Virginia

The Court of Appeals of Virginia reviews decisions of the lower courts and consists of 11 judges who are elected by the General Assembly for eight-year terms.

Circuit Courts

The Circuit Courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction in Virginia, handling major civil cases and serious criminal cases.

District Courts

The District Courts handle minor civil and criminal cases, including traffic violations and misdemeanors.

Local Government

Virginia is divided into 95 counties and 38 independent cities, each with its own local government. Local governments are responsible for providing services such as education, public safety, and transportation.

Related Pages

• Virginia Constitution
• Governor of Virginia
• Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
• Attorney General of Virginia
• Virginia General Assembly
• Virginia House of Delegates
• Senate of Virginia
• Supreme Court of Virginia
• Court of Appeals of Virginia
• Circuit Courts
• District Courts