The Virginia General Assembly

►The General Assembly is Virginia’s legislature. Therefore, it makes laws for our state. It is very similar to our national Congress both in how it is set up and how it operates.

►Like Congress, it is bicameral. It is made up of the VA Senate and the VA House of Delegates. The lawmaking process in Virginia is basically the same as in Congress.

§Introduction of bills

§Committee work

§Debate on the floor

§Pass both houses

§Signed by governor

The Governor must sign all laws passed by both Houses in the General Assembly.

►The governor may veto the entire law

►The governor may use a line-item veto. He may reject only part of the law, and accept the remaining parts

►Both Houses can unite and override the Governor’s veto by a 2/3 vote.

►Virginia and its General Assembly get their power from the 10^th amendment. (the one that reserved powers for the states)

►The General Assembly also approves a biennial (2-year) budget.

►The General Assembly works in the State Capitol Building in Richmond.

►The General Assembly meets every year beginning the second Wednesday in January. In even-numbered years, it meets for 60 calendar days. In odd-numbered years, it meets for 30 calendar days. (This session can be extended up to 30 additional days.)

VA House of Delegates

►The House of Delegates consists of 100 members. Each member represents approximately 71,000 citizens. Delegates serve a term of two years. Each member receives an annual salary of $17,640.

►You must be 21 years old to be a delegate.

►The Speaker of the House presides over the House of Delegates.

►We live in the 26^th House of Delegates district. Our current delegate is Glenn Weatherholtz (Republican). He has been a delegate since 1996. This is his final term, and the office is up for election in November of 2005.

VA Senate

►The Senate of Virginia consists of 40 members. Each member is elected for a term of four years and receives an annual salary of $18,000. A Senator represents approximately 176,000 citizens of the Commonwealth.

►You must be 21 years old to be a state senator.

►The Lt. Governor presides over the VA Senate. The President Pro Tempore presides if the Lt. Gov. is not there.

Our VA Senate district is the 26^th district. Our current VA senator is Mark Obenshain. He was elected on November 4, 2003, and is currently serving his first term in the General Assembly.