VIRGINIA
GOVERNMENT
ECONOMICS
GEOGRAPHY
VIRGINIA’S STATE
GOVERNMENT
Virginia’s state government is made up of three parts, or branches.
The government of Virginia is divided into three equal branches.
How are state governments structured?
The
Legislative
Branch
■ The General Assembly is Virginia’s legislative
branch. The General Assembly makes the laws.
■ The General Assembly is divided into two parts:
 The Senate
 There are 40
members of the
Virginia Senate.
 Senators serve
four-year terms.
 House of Delegates
 There are 100
members of the
House of
Delegates.
 Delegates serve
two-year terms.
The
Executive
Branch
■ The Executive Branch ensures that the laws are
carried out or enforced.
■ Members of the Executive Branch include:
 The Governor- leader of the executive
branch. The governor is elected by voters
and serves a four-year term.
 Governor’s Cabinet- a group of people who
give advice to the governor on important
issues.
 Lieutenant Governor- takes over if anything
happens to the governor. The Lieutenant
Governor is elected by voters.
 Attorney General- the chief lawyer for the
state of Virginia
The
Judicial
Branch
■ The Judicial Branch is the state’s court system. It also
makes sure that laws do not violate the Constitution
of Virginia.
■ The three parts of the Judicial Branch are:
 The Supreme Court- the highest court in the
state. Its main job is to review decisions made in
lower courts that people do not agree with.
There are 7 judges, or justices, that serve on
Virginia’s Supreme Court.
 The Court of Appeals- the second highest court in
Virginia. It reviews decisions made in Circuit or
District court that people do not agree with.
 Circuit and District Courts- lowest level of court
in Virginia. These courts settle disagreements
between individuals or groups of people.
VIRGINIA’S PRODUCTS
AND INDUSTRIES
Regions and Economy
 Each of the five regions of Virginia feature unique landforms, bodies of water, and natural resources.
 The natural resources found in each region affect the kinds of products and industries that each region has.
Which products and industries do you think are the most important to
Virginia's economy?
The top products and services for Virginia are:
 Food Products
 Ship Building
 Computer Programming
 Banking
 Architecture/Engineering
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Manufacturing
Manufacturing (making goods on a large-scale using machinery) is also one of
the top industries. Can you think of any products manufactured in Virginia?
ships
beverages
tobacco
products
trucks and car parts
chemical products
Coastal Plain
shipping
Access to deep water and proximity to the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic
Ocean make ship building, crabbing, fishing, and oyster harvesting
possible.
ship building
military
Norfolk Naval Base
peanuts
seafood
soybeans
Piedmont
cotton
Fertile soil and a mild climate make agriculture an important industry.
tobacco
technology and electronics
wheat
apples
government
Blue Ridge Mountains
Many people travel to this region to enjoy recreational activities.
skiing
hiking and mountain climbing
agriculture
Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway
apples
Valley and Ridge
The land here is rocky and has many hills. It is mostly used as pasture for farm animals.
Farmers raise horses
and sell them to people
around the country.
sheep
apples
poultry
Appalachian Plateau
Much of the land here holds rich deposits of coal.
What are Virginia’s biggest cash crops?
soybeans
tomatoes
corn
apples
tobacco
peanuts
What are Virginia’s top livestock products?
cows
chickens
hogs
turkeys
dairy
ADVANCES IN
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation in Virginia
How do people and goods get from Virginia to other states or
countries?
airplanes
ships
highways
railroads
Tourism is a major part of Virginia’s economy.
People travel to Virginia to see many historical sights and landmarks and enjoy its natural beauty.
Many tourists enjoy exploring
the mountains.
Many people travel to
Virginia to enjoy the
beautiful beaches.
Lake lovers have plenty
of places to visit!
Federal Jobs
Many federal government employees live in Virginia. This has a significant impact on the economy.
Writing
Prompts
■ Why is it important for the
government to have three
branches? Give an example.
■ Do you think that leaders need
people to advise them? Explain
why.
■ If the nation’s capital were
located in Florida, how would
that affect Virginia’s economy?
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