Virginia State and Local Government Vocabulary

Governor leader of the executive branch in Virginia

Lieutenant Governor second in command to the governor and presides over the Senate

Attorney General the lawyer for the Commonwealth of Virginia

Virginia General Assembly the legislative branch of Virginia’s state government

House of Delegates the lower house in Virginia’s General Assembly

Senate the upper house in Virginia’s General assembly

biennial every two years 2

bureaucracy an organization of government departments, agencies, and offices

cabinet advisors to the Governor

delegate member of the House of Delegates

enumerated/ expressed powers powers that are specifically listed and given to the federal government

Federalism the division of powers between the states and the federal government

Implied Powers powers not specifically listed in the Constitution

Reserved Powers Powers that belong to the states

Concurrent Powers Powers that are shared between the states and the federal government

Public Policy government response to public issues

bond certificates people buy from the government, in which the government agrees to pay back the cost of the bond, plus interest, after a set period of time

Board of Supervisors the elected group in a county which exercises legislative powers, enacting ordinances, and adopting a annual budget

charter a document giving permission to create a local government that provides a plan as to how that government should work

City Manager oversees the operations of local government

Clerk of Circuit Court an elected official of the every locality of Virginia that is in charge of all legal documents from the courts

City Council the elected group in a city which exercises legislative powers, enacting ordinances, and adopting a annual budget

Independent City a city that does not belong to any county that interacts directly with the state government

locality a particular neighborhood, place, or district

Mayor the leader of city government that is either elected by voters or city council members

ordinances local laws

Commissioner of the Revenue a local elected representative responsible for the administration of taxes levied by the government

Sheriff an elected local law enforcement officer

Treasurer an elected local official responsible for the economy, finance, and revenue