document defines limits powers state government basic rights citizens like state supreme virginia laws acts government superseded united_states_constitution federal law supremacy clause original enacted conjunction declaration independence thirteen states united_states_of_america virginia early state adopt constitution june document widely influential united_states abroad addition frequent amendments major subsequent revisions constitution conventions commission amendments new reaction periods major regional social virginia instance constitution included provisions african americans nearly state population regain suffrage passage federal civil rights legislation mid-1960s historic preparation virginia constitution began early midst early events american revolution drafted constitution virginia representative philadelphia time drafts virginia constitution arrived late incorporated final document work virginia constitution helped develop ideas skills later use main architects united_states_constitution constitution declared dissolution rule great_britain virginia accused england king george iii establishing established separation governmental powers creation legislative body state governor virginia chief magistrate executive accompanying virginia declaration rights written primarily mason focuses guarantees basic human rights freedoms fundamental purpose government turn served model number historic documents including united states bill rights critically constitution limited right vote primarily property owners men wealth effectively concentrated power hands landowners aristocracy dissatisfaction power structure come dominate virginia constitutional debate century 1820s virginia states limited voting landowners addition representation county population residents increasingly populous area west_virginia grown limited representation legislature pressure increased constitutional convention convened convention largely contest eastern virginia elite affluent farmers issues representation suffrage dominated debate delegates convention included prominent convention ultimately compromised suffrage requirements reduced number delegates senators resulting constitution ratified popular majority voters western state ended voting underlying tensions remained addressed later census majority white residents state lived western virginia legislature continued property requirement voting held sufficient property vote compounded dissatisfaction scheme adopted based counties population giving power fewer whites lived eastern state kept grip legislature state legislature elected governor lieutenant governor united_states senators western felt little influence state leadership attempts win electoral reform virginia legislature defeated time began openly discuss abolition slavery state ultimately eastern continue ignore discontent new constitutional convention called resolve continuing tensions significant change adopted constitution elimination property requirement voting resulting extension suffrage white males voting age constitution established popular election governor newly created office lieutenant governor virginia judges election state officers legislature political appointment judges changes virginia constitution known reform constitution virginia legislature voted events leading american_civil_war western northern counties set separate government governor civil war separate restored government approved creation west_virginia separate state admitted union approved new constitution constitution product divided state government original constitution adopted legislature popular vote constitution abolished slavery virginia men served confederate government recognized creation adjusted number terms office members foreword current virginia constitution include constitution list previous notes constitution drafted wartime conditions uncertain legal status end civil war virginia came briefly military rule reconstruction district commanded federal reconstruction legislation called new constitutional convention meet richmond december april protest suffrage virginia conservative whites refused participate voting delegates result republicans led judge dominated convention opponents called result constitution gave suffrage significant provisions included expanding suffrage male citizens age included establishing state public school system time mandatory funding attendance providing judges elected general_assembly popular vote controversy clauses continued temporary confederate government members delayed adoption constitution eventual compromise provided separate voting clauses rest constitution failed win approval remainder constitution ratified popular vote went effect late nineteenth century white democrats regained power state south passed laws establishing racial segregation public facilities restricting lives blacks beginning mississippi began new amendments electoral laws african american voters means poll taxes literacy tests residential requirements passed supreme_court review worked poor blacks poor whites turn 20th century southern states essentially eliminated black vote pressure mounted whites virginia ostensibly way stop electoral fraud corruption constitutional convention met climate members focused restricting black voting rights violating fifteenth amendment united_states constitution poor whites led future senator convention created requirements prospective voters pay poll taxes pass literacy test administered white exemption granted kind grandfather clause military veterans sons veterans virtually white changes effectively black voters whites unable meet new requirements blacks nearly population succeeding elections virginia electorate reduced nearly half result changes voter turnout return levels statewide population twice size small electorate key maintaining dominant power years significant provisions constitution imposed racial segregation public schools existed facto basis abolished county court system constitution provided creation regulate growing power railroads concern african american opposition convention honor pledge proposed constitution popular vote like constitution loyalist government civil war legislature adopted constitution ratification electorate effect far longer previous virginia constitution current constitution result challenging restrictions discrimination practiced blacks exercise constitutional rights series supreme_court cases beginning brown 24th amendment federal legislation civil rights act voting rights act overturned controversial aspects constitution provisions restricting voting african americans school segregation combined election governor impetus governmental change strongly advocated strict constitutional restrictions state issued bonds borrowing power popularity push new constitution joint resolution approved new commission chaired governor revise constitution presented report recommendations governor general_assembly january continued work draft final consensus version proposed constitution overwhelmingly approved voters virginia included african american men women following passage federal civil rights legislation mid-1960s took effect july current consists articles article bill rights article contains entire original constitution sections expanded incorporate concepts united states bill rights including right process prohibition double jeopardy right bear arms like federal constitution virginia bill rights states listing certain rights exclude rights held people victims rights amendment added commonwealth case far interpret amendment victims rights amendment support ruling alleged rape victim compelled submit psychiatric evaluation november virginia voters ratified amendment previously approved general_assembly prohibiting sex marriage added bill rights amendment prohibits recognition union partnership legal status unmarried people intends approximate marriage rights benefits obligations qualities effects marriage virginia attorney general issued opinion stating amendment change legal status documents contracts unmarried people amendment declared violation united_states_constitution judge february ruled failure provide sex marriage state effect violating rights equal protection law required fourteenth amendment united_states_constitution article franchise officers second article constitution sets procedures mechanisms voting elections holding office section virginia resident age vote state elections voting age reduced amendment federal constitution denies vote people determined mentally incompetent convicted convicted found consistent constitution general_assembly given wide power regulate time place manner elections section establishes qualifications hold office virginia person virginia resident year eligible vote statute rule requiring qualifications invalid section general_assembly impose local residency requirements election local governmental bodies election assembly representation particular districts article iii division powers article iii section confirming principle separation powers legislative executive judicial branches government unlike federal constitution virginia constitution explicitly provides branch exercise powers properly belong separation branches government listed right people article article legislature article establishes basic structure authority virginia legislature legislative power state consists article gives legislature power members executive judicial branches original article forbade incorporation churches report recognized prohibition probably invalid federal district court virginia ruled april provision virginia constitution fact unconstitutional federal constitutional right free exercise religion court found unconstitutional deny church option incorporate state law groups incorporate amendment striking ban church incorporation approved virginia voters november article executive fifth article similarly defines structure powers executive branch governor virginia invested chief executive article provides governor run successive terms offices lieutenant governor attorney general established supporting elected constitutional positions constitutional powers governor include ability sign legislation veto bills veto thirds majority houses assembly issue article judiciary article judicial power subordinate courts created general_assembly judges appointed majority vote general_assembly terms years supreme_court justices years judges supreme_court authority rules governing practice law procedures courts commonwealth rules chief justice supreme_court established administrative head virginia judicial system article vii local government article vii constitution sets basic framework structure function local government virginia local government established town population city population county regional government level article vii gives general_assembly power create general laws organization governing political subdivisions regional governments created consent majority voters region section establishes constitutional offices treasurer sheriff commonwealth attorney clerk court commissioner revenue elected city county virginia article viii education compulsory free primary secondary public education virginia child focus article viii general_assembly empowered determine funding educational system cost state local government state established create school divisions overall educational policies supervision individual schools delegated local school boards provided article corporations primary purpose article create charged laws regulate corporations issues charters virginia corporations licenses business foreign corporations section article prohibits foreign corporations virginia virginia corporation article taxation finance article establishes basic structure taxation personal property virginia article non exempt real personal property subject taxation fair market value section sets lengthy list exempt property includes church property non profit school property significant additions article include budget amendment effective establishes lottery proceeds fund requiring proceeds lottery set aside educational purposes article conservation article states general policy commonwealth preserve protect conserve state natural historic resources general_assembly permitted policies entering public private partnerships partnerships federal agencies amendment added establishes hunting fishing constitutional rights legislature enact appropriate regulations restrictions rights article future changes article creates mechanism future changes constitution amendment constitution passed majority legislative houses proposed amendment held consideration succeeding elected legislature passed majority house amendment goes general ballot enacted constitution approved majority voters alternatively thirds majority virginia houses creation constitutional convention revisions amendments proposed constitutional convention presented citizens virginia law approval majority voters subsequent amendments additional amendments passed general_assembly approved voter conform provisions congressional statute voting age reduced eighteen voting residency requirements removed voter registration motor voter act additionally virginia constitution provides general_assembly session following governor veto right people hunt fish harvest game guaranteed passed amendment limiting marriage unions man woman overturned perennial discussion virginia unique constitutional status restricting governor consecutive term distinctive method selecting trial judges state legislature shared south_carolina
Constitution of Virginia