The Virginia state constitution / John Dinan.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Dinan, John J.

Series:

Oxford commentaries on the state constitutions of the United States.

The Oxford Commentaries on the State Constitutions of the United States

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Constitutions--Virginia.

Constitutions.

Constitutional law--Virginia.

Constitutional law.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (298 pages).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Oxford, [England] ; New York, [New York] : Oxford University Press, 2011.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In contrast with the U.S. Constitution, which has been amended only 27 times since it was drafted in 1787, the Virginia Constitution has been the subject of many revisions since its adoption by the Convention of 1776. Significant changes have been brought about at the recommendation of revision commissions. On a number of those occasions, Virginia constitution makers have engaged in significant debates about fundamental questions. In fact, few states have had more opportunities to engage in constitutional revision and to debate fundamental principles. In The Virginia State Constitution, John Dinan analyzes the history and development of the Virginia constitution and undertakes a detailed treatment of the evolving interpretation of each section. In it, he contends that few states have had more opportunities than Virginia to engage in constitutional revision, and, in the process, to debate fundamental political questions about the role of state government. Previously published by Greenwood, this title has been brought back in to circulation by Oxford University Press with new verve. Re-printed with standardization of content organization in order to facilitate research across the series, this title, as with all titles in the series, is set to join the dynamic revision cycle of The Oxford Commentaries on the State Constitutions of the United States. The Oxford Commentaries on the State Constitutions of the United States is an important series that reflects a renewed international interest in constitutional history and provides expert insight into each of the 50 state constitutions. Each volume in this innovative series contains a historical overview of the state's constitutional development, a section-by-section analysis of its current constitution, and a comprehensive guide to further research. Under the expert editorship of Professor G. Alan Tarr,

Director of the Center on State Constitutional Studies at Rutgers University, this series provides essential reference tools for understanding state constitutional law. Books in the series can be purchased individually or as part of a complete set, giving readers unmatched access to these important political documents.

Contents:

Cover

Contents

Series Foreword

Acknowledgments

PART ONE: The History of the Virginia Constitution

The Convention of 1776

The Convention of 1829-30

The Convention of 1850-51

The Convention of 1861

The Convention of 1864

The Convention of 1867-68

The Convention of 1901-02

The Constitutional Revision of 1928

The Limited Convention of 1945

The Limited Convention of 1956

The Constitutional Revision of 1971

PART TWO: The Virginia Constitution and Commentary

Aricle I: Bill of Rights

Section 1. Equality and Rights of Men

Section 2. People the Source of Power

Section 3. Government Instituted for Common Benefit

Section 4. No Exclusive Emoluments or Privileges

Offices Not to Be Hereditary

Section 5. Separation of Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Departments

Periodical Elections

Section 6. Free Elections

Consent of Governed

Section 7. Laws Should Not Be Suspended

Section 8. Criminal Prosecutions

Section 8-A. Rights of Victims of Crime

Section 9. Prohibition of Excessive Bail and Fines, Cruel and Unusual Punishment, Suspension of Habeas Corpus, Bills of Attainder, and Ex Post Facto Laws

Section 10. General Warrants of Search or Seizure Prohibited

Section 11. Due Process of Law

Obligation of Contracts

Taking of Private Property

Prohibited Discrimination

Jury trial in Civil Cases

Section 12. Freedom of Speech and of the Press

Right Peaceably to Assemble, and to Petition

Section 13. Militia

Standing Armies

Military Subordinate to Civil Power

Section 14. Government Should Be Uniform

Section 15. Qualities Necessary to Preservation of Free Government

Section 16. Free Exercise of Religion

No Establishment of Religion

Section 17. Construction of the Bill of Rights

Article II: Franchise and Officers.

Section 1. Qualifications of Voters

Section 2. Registration of Voters

Section 3. Method of Voting

Section 4. Powers and Duties of General Assembly

Section 5. Qualifications to Hold Elective Office

Section 6. Apportionment

Section 7. Oath or Affirmation

Section 8. Electoral Boards

Registrars and Officers of Election

Section 9. Privileges of Voters During Election

Article III: Division of Powers

Section 1. Departments to Be Distinct

Article IV: Legislature

Section 1. Legislative Power

Section 2. Senate

Section 3. House of Delegates

Section 4. Qualifications of Senators and Delegates

Section 5. Compensation

Election to Civil Office of Profit

Section 6. Legislative Sessions

Section 7. Organization of General Assembly

Section 8. Quorum

Section 9. Immunity of Legislators

Section 10. Journal of Proceedings

Section 11. Enactment of Laws

Section 12. Form of Laws

Section 13. Effective Date of Laws

Section 14. Powers of General Assembly

Limitations

Section 15. General Laws

Section 16. Appropriations to Religious or Charitable Bodies

Section 17. Impeachment

Section 18. Auditor of Public Accounts

Article V: Executive

Section 1. Executive Power

Governor's Term of Office

Section 2. Election of Governor

Section 3. Qualifications of Governor

Section 4. Place of Residence and Compensation of Governor

Section 5. Legislative Responsibilities of Governor

Section 6. Presentation of Bills

Powers of Governor

Vetoes and Amendments

Section 7. Executive and Administrative Powers

Section 8. Information from Administrative Officers

Section 9. Administrative Organization

Section 10. Appointment and Removal of Administrative Officers

Section 11. Effect of Refusal of General Assembly to Confirm an Appointment by the Governor.

Section 12. Executive Clemency

Section 13. Lieutenant Governor

Election and Qualifications

Section 14. Duties and Compensation of Lieutenant Governor

Section 15. Attorney General

Section 16. Succession to the Office of Governor

Section 17. Commissions and Grants

Article VI: Judiciary

Section 1. Judicial Power

Jurisdiction

Section 2. Supreme Court

Section 3. Selection of Chief Justice

Section 4. Administration of the Judicial System

Section 5. Rules of Practice and Procedure

Section 6. Opinions and Judgments of the Supreme Court

Section 7. Selection and Qualification of Judges

Section 8. Additional Judicial Personnel

Section 9. Commission

Compensation

Retirement

Section 10. Disabled and Unfit Judges

Section 11. Incompatible Activities

Section 12. Limitation

Judicial Appointment

Article VII: Local Government

Section 1. Definitions

Section 2. Organization and Government

Section 3. Powers

Section 4. County and City Officers

Section 5. County, City, and Town Governing Bodies

Section 6. Multiple Offices

Section 7. Procedures

Section 8. Consent to Use Public Property

Section 9. Sale of Property and Granting of Franchises by Cities and Towns

Section 10. Debt

Article VIII: Education

Section 1. Public Schools of High Quality to Be Maintained

Section 2. Standards of Quality

State and Local Support of Public Schools

Section 3. Compulsory Education

Free Textbooks

Section 4. Board of Education

Section 5. Powers and Duties of the Board of Education

Section 6. Superintendent of Public Instruction

Section 7. School Boards

Section 8. The Literary Fund

Section 9. Other Educational Institutions.

Section 10. State Appropriations Prohibited to Schools or Institutions of Learning not Owned or Exclusively Controlled by the State or Some Subdivision Thereof

Exceptions to Rule

Section 11. Aid to Nonpublic Higher Education

Article IX: Corporations

Section 1. State Corporation Commission

Section 2. Powers and Duties of the Commission

Section 3. Procedures of the Commission

Section 4. Appeals from Actions of the Commission

Section 5. Foreign Corporations

Section 6. Corporations Subject to General Laws

Section 7. Exclusions from Term "Corporation" or "Company"

Article X: Taxation and Finance

Section 1. Taxable Property

Uniformity

Classification and Segregation

Section 2. Assessments

Section 3. Taxes or Assessments Upon Abutting Property Owners

Section 4. Property Segregated for Local Taxation

Exceptions

Section 5. Franchise Taxes

Taxation of Corporate Stock

Section 6. Exempt Property

Section 7. Collection and Disposition of State Revenues

Section 7-A. Lottery Proceeds Fund

Distribution of Lottery Revenues

Section 8. Limit of Tax or Revenue

Section 9. State Debt

Section 10. Lending of Credit, Stock Subscriptions, and Works of Internal Improvement

Section 11. Governmental Employees Retirement System

Article XI: Conservation

Section 1. Natural Resources and Historical Sites of the Commonwealth

Section 2. Conservation and Development of Natural Resources and Historical Sites

Section 3. Natural Oyster Beds

Section 4. Right of the People to Hunt, Fish, and Harvest Game

Article XII: Future Changes

Section 1. Amendments

Section 2. Constitutional Convention

Schedule

Section 1. Effective Date of Revised Constitution

Section 2. Officers and Elections

Section 3. Laws, Proceedings, and Obligations Unaffected

Section 4. Qualifications of Judges.

Section 5. First Session of General Assembly Following Adoption of Revised Constitution

Bibliographical Essay

Table of Cases

Index.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Contains:

Virginia. Constitution (1971).

ISBN:

0-19-987769-6

OCLC:

867929820