VIRGINIA STATE GOVERNMENT
LEGISLATIVE EXECUTIVE JUDICIAL
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
STATE HOUSE
OF
SENATE
DELEGATES
DUTIES
• MAKES LAWS FOR VIRGINIA
• APPROVES BIENNIAL BUDGET (2 YR)
• ELECTS JUDGES FOR VIRGINIA
COURTS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
GOVERNOR
LT GOVERNOR STATE AGENCIES ATTORNEY GENERAL
DUTIES
• Carries out (executes) state laws.
• Proposes biennial (2 year) budget.
• Appoints state officials.
• Gives “State of the State” Address
• Limited to a 4 year term – cannot serve a
second consecutive term.
ROLES
• Commander-in-Chief
• Chief Executive
• Chief of State
• Legislative Leader
• Judicial Leader
• Party Leader
JUDICIAL BRANCH
HIGHER COURTS
SUPREME COURT
COURT OF APPEALS
CIRCUIT COURT
LOWER COURTS
GENERAL DISTRICT COURT
JUVENILE & DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURT
TRAFFIC COURT
SMALL CLAIMS COURT
LEVELS OF COURTS
• HIGHER COURTS
• LOWER COURTS
HIGHER COURTS
• VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT
• COURT OF APPEALS
• CIRCUIT COURTS
VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT
• APPELLATE JURISDICTION
• JUSTICES ONLY
• NO JURY
• REVIEW OF COURT PAPERS ONLY
COURT OF APPEALS
• APPELLATE JURISDICTION
• JUDGES ONLY
• NO JURY
• REVIEW OF LOWER COURT PAPERS
CIRCUIT COURT
• Original jurisdiction in all felony
criminal cases and civil cases involving
large sums of money.
• Appellate jurisdiction from lower courts.
• Only state court with a judge and a jury!!
• Has both grand (large) and petit (small)
juries.
LOWER COURTS
• GENERAL DISTRICT COURT
• JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC
RELATIONS COURT
• GENERAL DISTRICT COURT
• JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC
RELATIONS COURT
GENERAL DISTRICT COURT
• Original jurisdiction in misdemeanor cases
and cases involving small sums of money.
• Judge Only!
• Decisions appealed to Circuit Court
JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC
RELATIONS COURT
• Judge only.
• Original jurisdiction in all cases involving
juveniles.
• Decides issues on domestic (family) cases.
• Decisions can be appealed to Circuit Court.