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Governor Kaine Announces Appointment of Mark Rubin as Counselor ,

Gordon Hickey


Who is appointed by the governor? Who is…

Federal v. Consolidated Government: Patrick Henry, Virginia Ratifying Convention,

Patrick Henry

"Founding Father" Patrick Henry gave a moving speech before the Virginia Ratifying Convention in 1788, as the commonwealth tried to decide whether to approve the U.S. Constitution. In his speech, Henry voiced many concerns about adopting a federal…

Term Limits,

Founded in 1908, the National Governors Association is the collective voice of the nation's governors. The NGA prepared this document, which compares term limits for governors throughout the U.S.

What is the term limit for Virginia's…

Facts and History - Governors,


What are some trends in the party…

Thomas Jefferson Center on Free Expression,

Thomas Jefferson Center

The Thomas Jefferson Center, in Charlottesville, Va., is an organization that promotes freedom of speech through legal cases, education, and the arts. The website offers podcasts, such as Thomas Madison Lives. Another key feature is legal briefs from Thomas Jefferson Center cases, including Commonwealth of Virginia v. Black. This 26-page court document may seem intimidating, but the language is accessible to the general reader. The case addresses whether burning a cross on someone’s lawn can be punishable as a form of intimidation, or if cross burning is a form of free speech protected by the First Amendment.

U.S. Constitution Guide,

NPR's Justice Talking and The New York Times Learning Network

This website provides a point-by-point explanation of the U.S. Constitution. Each page includes the text of an article or amendment, as well as an in-depth explanation of the meaning and historical context. It can be very helpful for anyone trying to understand the sometimes dense text of the U.S. Constitution. Another useful learning technique is contrasting the development and text of the U.S. Constitution with the Virginia Constitution.

The Virginia Declaration of Rights,

George Mason

George Mason wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights in 1776. He drew inspiration from the English Bill of Rights (1689). However, Mason made several changes to the English version, such as removing hereditary positions in government. The Virginia…

Excerpts from the Lawes Divine, Morall, and Martiall (1611),

Sir Thomas Gates and Sir Thomas Dale

Written in 1611, this document outlines some of the original laws governing the Jamestown colony. These laws were intended to govern all aspects of the colony, from theft to blasphemy. As maintaining prisons was often impractical, there was usually a…

How the founders differed from the English Bill of Rights,


Michael Barone is a journalist, political analyst, and senior writer for U.S. News & World Report. He also serves as a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. In this video, he discusses how the U.S. founders' ideologies differed from…

English Bill of Rights 1689,

English Parliament
