State and Local Government Vocabulary Review

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms related to state and local government.

Amendment

A formal change proposed to the Virginia Constitution.

General Assembly

The bicameral lawmaking body of Virginia, consisting of the House of Delegates and State Senate. It meets at the state capitol building in Richmond, VA.

Committee

A group that discusses and works on a proposed bill before it goes to the floor for debate.

Bicameral

A legislature which has two chambers or houses, like the General Assembly in Virginia.

Bill

A proposed law that is introduced in a legislature for consideration and debate.

Town Council

The elected lawmaking body in incorporated towns in Virginia.

City Council

The elected lawmaking body found in cities of Virginia.

Board of Supervisors

The elected lawmaking body found in the counties of Virginia, like Arlington County.

Federalism

A government system represented by the division or sharing of power between the federal (national) government and state/local governments.

Legislation

The act of passing laws by an elected lawmaking body.

Revenue

Money collected by government through taxes and fees.

Executive Branch

The branch of government that carries out or enforces laws, headed by the Governor.

Governor

The elected chief executive officer of a state, responsible for implementing state laws and overseeing the state executive branch.

Lieutenant Governor

The elected official in Virginia who is second in command to the Governor.

Attorney General

The chief legal officer of Virginia, responsible for representing the state in legal matters and providing legal advice to state agencies.

Cabinet

A group of top-level officials appointed by the Governor to advise and administer state departments and agencies.

Ordinance

A law passed at the local level, such as by a city or county.

Voters of Virginia

The group responsible for ratifying amendments to the Virginia Constitution.

Charter

A government document that grants official permission.

Reserved Powers

Powers kept by the state level of government under the U.S. Constitution. This comes from the 10th Amendment - those powers not given to the federal government are reserved for the states.

Federal Mandates

Laws passed by Congress that require states to take specified actions. In many cases, however, Congress does NOT provide the funding (money) to pay the cost of the action.

House of Delegates

The lower house of the Virginia General Assembly, consisting of delegates elected to represent the state's districts. It has 100 members elected for two-year terms.

State Senate

The upper house of the Virginia General Assembly, made up of senators elected to represent the state's districts. It consists of 40 members serving four-year terms.

Judicial Branch

The branch of government that interprets laws, including the court system.

Interest Group

An organization of people who share common objectives and actively seek to influence policy decisions and promote their interests in the political arena.

School Board

A local governing body responsible for overseeing public education (K-12) within a specific district. It manages school budgets, curriculum, and policies.

Sheriff

In Virginia, the elected official in cities, towns, and counties responsible for various police and public safety matters.

Clerk of the Circuit Court

An elected official responsible for maintaining court records, managing case filings, and overseeing the administration of the circuit courts.

Commissioner of Revenue

An elected official responsible for determining how much residents and businesses must pay in taxes each year.

Treasurer

An elected official responsible for managing the financial assets and revenues of a local government, including collecting taxes, disbursing funds, and overseeing investments.

Commonwealth’s Attorney

An elected prosecutor responsible for representing the government in criminal cases in a specific jurisdiction.

Richmond

The state capital of Virginia - center of state government in Virginia.