Virginia House of Delegates

Virginia_House_of_Delegates_districts_(since_2024)

Lower house of the Virginia General Assembly

The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The House is composed of 100 members, each representing a district of approximately 80,000 people. Delegates serve two-year terms without term limits. The House meets at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond.

History

The Virginia House of Delegates was established in 1619 as the House of Burgesses, making it the oldest continuous law-making body in the Western Hemisphere. It was part of the original General Assembly of Virginia, which also included the Governor's Council and the Governor. The House of Burgesses was renamed the House of Delegates in 1776 following the American Revolution.

Leadership

The House of Delegates is led by the Speaker, who is elected by the members of the House. The Speaker presides over the House, appoints members to committees, and performs other administrative duties. The current Speaker is Todd Gilbert, a member of the Republican Party.

Other key leadership positions include the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader, who are elected by their respective party caucuses. The current Majority Leader is Terry Kilgore, and the current Minority Leader is Don Scott.

Committees

The House of Delegates has several standing committees that handle various legislative functions. These committees include:

• Appropriations Committee
• Commerce and Labor Committee
• Courts of Justice Committee
• Education Committee
• Finance Committee
• Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee
• Privileges and Elections Committee
• Rules Committee
• Transportation Committee

Legislative Process

The legislative process in the House of Delegates involves several steps: 1. **Introduction of Bills**: Delegates introduce bills, which are then assigned to a committee. 2. **Committee Review**: The assigned committee reviews the bill, holds hearings, and may make amendments. 3. **Floor Debate**: If the committee approves the bill, it goes to the House floor for debate and voting. 4. **Passage**: If the bill passes the House, it is sent to the Virginia Senate for consideration. 5. **Governor's Approval**: If both the House and Senate pass the bill, it is sent to the Governor of Virginia for approval or veto.

Related Pages

• Virginia General Assembly
• Virginia Senate
• Governor of Virginia
• Richmond, Virginia
• Republican Party (United States)
• Democratic Party (United States)

See Also

• List of Speakers of the Virginia House of Delegates
• List of Virginia state legislatures
• Politics of Virginia

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