State GovernmentState Government

State GovernmentState Government

In the US Constitution, power was given In the US Constitution, power was given to the State governments. These to the State governments. These powers are called “reserved” powers.powers are called “reserved” powers.

The 10The 10thth Amendment to the Constitution Amendment to the Constitution reserves powers to the states.reserves powers to the states.

This system separating powers between This system separating powers between the levels of government is called the levels of government is called “Federalism”“Federalism”

State governmentState government

State governments are similar to the State governments are similar to the National government in structureNational government in structure

The state of Virginia has 3 branches The state of Virginia has 3 branches of governmentof government ExecutiveExecutive LegislativeLegislative JudicialJudicial

State Executive BranchState Executive Branch

Headed by the governorHeaded by the governor Also Includes the Lieutenant Governor, Also Includes the Lieutenant Governor,

Attorney General, and the state Attorney General, and the state cabinet.cabinet.

The governor can be elected to two, The governor can be elected to two, non-consecutive, terms in officenon-consecutive, terms in office

Lieutenant Governor and Attorney Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General are also elected to 4 year General are also elected to 4 year terms.terms.

State Legislative BranchState Legislative Branch

The state legislative branch is a The state legislative branch is a bicameral legislature called the bicameral legislature called the General Assembly.General Assembly.

The upper house is the Senate and The upper house is the Senate and the lower house is the House of the lower house is the House of DelegatesDelegates

State Judicial BranchState Judicial Branch

The state courts are a 4 level court The state courts are a 4 level court systemsystem State Supreme courtState Supreme court State court of appealsState court of appeals Circuit courtCircuit court General District Court (juvenile and General District Court (juvenile and

Domestic relations court are in this Domestic relations court are in this court)court)

SIMILARITIESSIMILARITIES

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE(PRESIDENT)

LEGISLATIVE (CONGRESS)

JUDICIAL (3 COURT SYSTEM)

STATE EXECUTIVE(GOVERNOR)

LEGISLATIVE (GENERAL ASSEMBLY)

JUDICIAL (4 COURT SYSTEM)

SimilaritiesSimilarities

The General Assembly works like The General Assembly works like Congress in the way it makes laws for the Congress in the way it makes laws for the state.state.

The General Assembly makes laws that The General Assembly makes laws that are focused on five areas:are focused on five areas: EducationEducation HealthHealth State BudgetState Budget EnvironmentEnvironment RevenueRevenue

SimilaritiesSimilarities

The Governor is similar to the The Governor is similar to the President in that he performs many President in that he performs many jobs like the president (Chief of his jobs like the president (Chief of his party, chief legislator, etc.)party, chief legislator, etc.)He carries out the laws and He carries out the laws and administers the state bureaucracy administers the state bureaucracy like the presidentlike the president

DifferencesDifferences State and national governments differ State and national governments differ

in what they focus on.in what they focus on. The national government focuses on:The national government focuses on:

Foreign policyForeign policy CommerceCommerce DefenseDefense

The State government focuses on:The State government focuses on: HealthHealth SafetySafety WelfareWelfare

PROBLEMS WITH PROBLEMS WITH FEDERALISMFEDERALISM

Tensions exist when the Federal Tensions exist when the Federal Government's mandates (orders) Government's mandates (orders) require state actions without giving require state actions without giving enough funding (money) to carry enough funding (money) to carry them out.them out.