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Constitution of Virginia

Constitution of Virginia
12/11/2024

Table of Contents

Article I
Bill of RightsRead all
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 or damaging 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 15-A
Marriage.
Section 16
Free exercise of religion; no establishment of religion.
Section 17
Construction of the Bill of Rights.
Article II
Franchise and OfficersRead all
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 6-A
Virginia Redistricting Commission.
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 PowersRead all
Section 1
Departments to be distinct.
Article IV
LegislatureRead all
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
ExecutiveRead all
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
JudiciaryRead all
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 GovernmentRead all
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
EducationRead all
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
CorporationsRead all
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 FinanceRead all
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 6-A
Property tax exemption for certain veterans and their surviving spouses and surviving spouses of soldiers killed in action.
Section 6-B
Property tax exemptions for spouses of certain emergency services providers.
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; Revenue Stabilization Fund.
Section 9
State debt.
Section 10
Lending of credit, stock subscriptions, and works of internal improvement.
Section 11
Governmental employees retirement system.
Article XI
ConservationRead all
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 ChangesRead all
Section 1
Amendments.
Section 2
Constitutional convention.
Schedule
 Read all
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.