Glossary
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A
- Amend
- To change the wording or meaning of a bill, constitution, etc.
- Bill
- An idea or plan for a possible new law.
- Branches of Government
- The three branches of government are the executive, legislative, and judicial.
- Calendar
- A list of the days, weeks, and months of a particular year. The General Assembly meets annually, starting the second Wednesday in January, for 60 days in even-numbered years and 30 days in odd-numbered years.
- Capital
- The city where the government of a state is located. The capital of Virginia is located in Richmond, near the James River. The capital of the United States is Washington DC, which is located north of Richmond.
- Capitol
- The building where a state's government meets. The architecture of the Virginia State Capitol was designed by Thomas Jefferson after a Classical Roman temple in Nîmes, France.
- Citizen
- A member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to its protection.
- Commonwealth
- A government based upon the power of the people united for the common good or commonwealth. Virginia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania are all Commonwealths.
- Community
- A group of people living in a particular place or area.
- Constituent
- A person who is represented by an elected official.
- Constitution
- An official document that establishes the basic principles of government.
- General Assembly
- The legislative branch of Virginia government that makes state laws. The General Assembly consists of the House of Delegates and the Senate.
- Government
- A representative group of people who make rules and laws, carry out rules and laws, and decide if rules and laws have been broken.
- Governor
- A person who is the state's top elected official and is the head of the executive branch of government.
- Law
- Rules people live by. For example, you must obey traffic signs.
- Legislator
- An elected member of a legislative body who acts for or represents others. A legislator in Virginia is known as a Delegate or Senator.
- Patriotic
- Having and showing respect and love for your country.
For example, July 4th is the day the United States of America celebrates its independence and many people wear red, white, and blue, and display the American flag. - Population
- Number of people living in a community. Each House of Delegates member represents approximately 80,000 citizens. Each Senate member represents approximately 176,000 citizens.
- Representative Democracy
- A government in which people vote for (elect) a smaller group of citizens to make rules and laws for everyone.
- Rules
- What people must or must not do.
- Session
- The time period the General Assembly meets to conduct business.
- Symbol
- A sign or object that stands for something else. For example, the Dogwood is the State Flower.
- Tax
- The money that you have to pay to the government so that it can provide public services. To not approve or reject a bill.
- Tradition
- A custom or belief that happens over a long period of time. For example, the Virginia General Assembly has met since 1619.
- Veto
- To not approve or reject a bill.
- Virginia House of Burgesses
- In 1619, the first elected representative legislative assembly in North America met at Jamestown.
- Vote
- An expression of your choice, usually by raising your hand or writing on a piece of paper.