Warm-up
 Have out the State
Judicial Branch
worksheet you started in
class and finished for
homework
 I will be checking it for a
grade.
In the meantime, respond
to these questions on
your warm-up page:
1. Explain how the state
courts are similar and
different from the
federal courts.
2. Which of the state
courts offer you an
opportunity to appeal?
VA Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: appellate & original
Justices/no jury
VA Appeals Court
Jurisdiction: appellate
Judges/no jury
VA Circuit Court
Original jurisdiction- felonies &
large civil
Appellate jurisdiction-cases from
district courts
Judge and jury
VA General District Court
Original jurisdictionmisdemeanors and small civil
Judge/no jury
Juvenile & Domestic
Relations Court
Judge/no jury
1. The Judicial branch is a dual
court system because it is made
up of the federal courts and state
courts.
2. Complete the chart on the right by
naming the levels of the state court
system.
3. In which Virginia court do you
have an option of a trial by a jury?
Circuit court
4. You are 16 years old and arrested
for shoplifting. Which court would
you attend? Juvenile and
Domestic relations
Why?
You are under 18
VA Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: appellate & original
Justices/no jury
VA Appeals Court
Jurisdiction: appellate
Judges/no jury
VA Circuit Court
Original jurisdiction- felonies &
large civil
Appellate jurisdiction-cases from
district courts
Judge and jury
VA General District Court
Original jurisdictionmisdemeanors and small civil
Judge/no jury
Juvenile & Domestic
Relations Court
Judge/no jury
5. Which two Virginia courts has
both appellate and original
jurisdiction?
Circuit court and Supreme
Court
6. You do not agree with a decision
made in the General District
Court? What option do you have?
Appeal to the circuit court
Why?
has appellate jurisdiction
over District courts
7. Which court has only justices in
Virginia?
Supreme Court
VA Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: appellate & original
Justices/no jury
VA Appeals Court
Jurisdiction: appellate
Judges/no jury
8. Why are cases that are heard in the
lowest courts (General District and
Juvenile) only heard by judges?
They are extremely busy
9. Which Virginia Court has original
jurisdiction over felony criminal
cases?
Circuit courts
VA Circuit Court
Original jurisdiction- felonies &
large civil
Appellate jurisdiction-cases from
district courts
Judge and jury
10. In the space below, draw a diagram
illustrating the steps it would take to
take a case from the lowest court to
the Virginia Supreme Court.
VA General District Court
Original jurisdictionmisdemeanors and small civil
Judge/no jury
11. This court has appellate jurisdiction
over Circuit Court cases
Appeals Court
Juvenile & Domestic
Relations Court
Judge/no jury
VA Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: appellate & original
Justices/no jury
VA Appeals Court
Jurisdiction: appellate
Judges/no jury
VA Circuit Court
Original jurisdiction- felonies &
large civil
Appellate jurisdiction-cases from
district courts
Judge and jury
VA General District Court
Original jurisdiction- misdemeanors
and small civil
Judge/no jury
Juvenile & Domestic
Relations Court
Judge/no jury
12. What does original jurisdiction
mean?
authority to hear (try) a case
for the first time
13. Can you take your case straight
to the Virginia Supreme Court?
Yes
Why or why not?
it has limited original
jurisdiction
14. Which court would hear a civil
case involving $200?
General District
… involving $2 million dollars?
Circuit Court
VA Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: appellate & original
Justices/no jury
VA Appeals Court
Jurisdiction: appellate
Judges/no jury
VA Circuit Court
Original jurisdiction- felonies &
large civil
Appellate jurisdiction-cases from
district courts
Judge and jury
VA General District Court
Original jurisdictionmisdemeanors and small civil
Judge/no jury
Juvenile & Domestic
Relations Court
Judge/no jury
15. If an issue involves a state law, do
you have to accept the decision of the
Virginia Supreme Court? Yes
What would it take to get your case
heard by the US Supreme Court?
appeal based on a federal or
constitutional issue
16. Can a case start in the Virginia
Circuit Court?
yes
Why or why not?
it has original jurisdiction
over certain cases
17. You want to adopt a child. Which
court would you attend?
Juvenile and Domestic
VA Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: appellate & original
Justices/no jury
VA Appeals Court
Jurisdiction: appellate
Judges/no jury
VA Circuit Court
Original jurisdiction- felonies &
large civil
Appellate jurisdiction-cases from
district courts
Judge and jury
VA General District Court
Original jurisdictionmisdemeanors and small civil
Judge/no jury
Juvenile & Domestic
Relations Court
Judge/no jury
18. What does appellate jurisdiction
mean?
authority to review a case
appealed from a lower court
19. A case is appealed to the Virginia
Supreme Court but the court
refuses to hear your case. What
happens next?
accept the lower court’s
decision
20. This court has original
jurisdiction over misdemeanors.
General District
21 Which court has a magistrate?
Small claims court
VA Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: appellate &
original
Justices/no jury
VA Appeals Court
Jurisdiction: appellate
Judges/no jury
22. The Circuit Courts have appellate
jurisdiction in cases from the
district courts.
23. What is “judicial review” ?
Authority to decide if acts of the
executive or legislative branches is
unconstitutional.
VA Circuit Court
Original jurisdictionfelonies & large civil
Appellate jurisdictioncases from district courts
Judge and jury
24. What court case established
judicial review?
Marbury v Madison
VA General District
Court
Original jurisdictionmisdemeanors and small
civil
Judge/no jury
25. Do you think the Virginia Supreme
Court has judicial review over the
actions of the Governor and the
General Assembly?
yes
Juvenile & Domestic
Relations Court
Judge/no jury 25.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
LOUDOUN COUNTY
You have
learned
about…
U.S.A. (national)
government
You have learned
about…
VIRGINIA (state) government
Today you will
learn about
LOUDOUN (local)
government
As you take notes today,
highlight any vocabulary words
you write from the list on
State and Local Government
Where do local governments in Virginia get power?
1.
The units of local gov’t in Virginia are political
subdivisions created by the General Assembly.
2. All powers of local gov’t in Virginia are given by the
Virginia Constitution and acts of the General
Assembly
3. Local gov’ts exercise legislative, executive and
judicial powers.
4. Not all counties and cities are given the same power.
What are the units of local
government in Virginia?
1. Counties
2. Towns
3. Cities
a.
Cities have charters
listing their powers
which gives them home
rule ..
Virginia’s Counties and cities
Local governments have defined and limited powers
 Enforce state and local laws (ordinances)
 Promote public health
 Protect public safety
 Educate children
 Protect the environment
 Regulate land use
 Levy and collect taxes
Click the mouse button or press the
Space Bar to display the answer.
Who are the elected
officials in Virginia’s
county government?
1. Board of Supervisors
a.
b.
What are their roles?
c.
exercises legislative
powers
Enacts ordinances
Adopt annual budget
Who are the elected
officials in Virginia’s
incorporated towns?
1. Town Council
a.
b.
What are their powers?
c.
exercises legislative
powers
Enacts ordinances
Adopt annual budget
2. Mayor- elected by the
voters or the town
council
Who are the elected
officials in Virginia’s
cities?
1. City Council
a.
b.
What are their powers?
c.
exercises legislative
powers
Enacts ordinances
Adopt annual budget
2. Mayor- elected by the
voters or the city council
Other officials who impact the local government.
What are their roles?
1. School Board- oversees the K-12 public schools
2. City Manager- hired to run a local gov’t
3. Sheriff- elected to guide law enforcement
4. Clerk of the circuit court- organizes the actions of
the circuit courts
5. Commissioner of Revenue- establishes the tax
rate and offers tax services
6. Treasurer- Collects taxes and pays gov’t bills
How does the judicial
system work in the local
government?
1. In every locality, the
state courts resolve
judicial disputes.
2. Types of courts at the
local levela.
b.
c.
d.
Circuit courts
District court
Juvenile and Domestic
Relations Court
Small Claims Court
Organization of Local Government Review
Units of Local
Government
County
(made up of
communities)
Town
(incorporated)
City
(city charter)
County Government Review
County
Authority from
state courts
Board of
Supervisors
School Board
Elected County
Officials
Manager
Court System
Clerk of the
Circuit Court
Courts
Magistrate
Sheriff
Circuit Court
General District
Court
Commissioner
of Revenue
Small Claims
Court
Juvenile and
Domestic
relations
Treasurer
Towns
Town Council
(elected)
Mayor
(elected)
Cities
City Council
(elected)
Mayor
(elected)
School Board
Judicial System
(similar to
county govt)
How International Issues and Events Affect Local
Government
1. Local government may be required to
formulate (to make), adopt and issue public
policies in response to international issues
and events
2. Areas of concern may include:
a. Public health concerns in the event of a
pandemic
http://www.loudoun.gov/documents/31/55/101/Loudoun%20Pandemic%20Influenza%20Response%20Plan%202009.PDF
b. Public safety in the event of an act of terrorism
http://www.loudoun.gov/index.aspx?NID=761
c. Economic development policies in response to the
global economy
http://va-loudouncounty.civicplus.com/index.aspx?NID=104
d. Policies to protect the environment
http://www.lecva.org/
Summary Question
Which local government official would you like to be?
Why?
STUDY FOR THE VOCAB QUIZ NEXT CLASS
POWER GRAB GAME
Your team will earn:
+ 10 points, if you grab the correct power
- 5 points, if you grab the wrong power!