Virginia Local Government

board of supervisors

Elected governing body for a county

city charter

Document establishing an independent city

clerk of the circuit court

Elected official who is the record keeper for the local courts

commissioner of revenue

Elected official who is the chief tax assessor for a local government

council

Elected governing body for a town or city

incorporate

A town that has a government with a council and/or mayor that governs only the boundaries of the town

manager

Official hired by a local government to take care of the day to day running of the government

mayor

Elected head of a town or city

ordinance

A law, usually of a city or county

pandemic

A disease that spreads rapidly over a large area

school board

Elected or appointed group that oversees the operation of the K-12 public schools in counties and cities in Virginia

sheriff

Provides all law enforcement services, including investigating crimes, pursuing offenders and making arrest

terrorism

Use of violence or the threat of violence to compel a group of people to behave in a certain way

treasurer

Elected official who collects taxes and keeps the financial records for a local government

magistrate

Local judge who conducts a court that deals with minor offenses and holds preliminary hearings for more serious ones

locality

A particular neighborhood, place, or district; Another name for local government