List of Governors of Virginia

The following is a list of the Governors of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Virginia's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bill passed by the Virginia General Assembly, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment. [VA Const. art. V]

The first constitution of 1776 created the office of governor, to be elected annually by the state legislature. The governor could serve up to three years at a time, and once out of office, could not serve again for four years. [1776 Const.] The 1830 constitution increased the term length to three years, and set the start date at the first day in January following an election. [1830 Const. Art IV sec 1] This constitution also prevented governors from succeeding themselves, a prohibition that exists to the present day. [VA Const. Art V sec 1] The 1851 constitution increased terms to four years [1851 Const. art V sec 1] and made the office elected by the people, rather than the legislature. [1851 Const. Art V sec 2] The commencement of the governor's term was moved to the first day in February by the 1902 constitution [1902 Const. Art V sec 69] , and then to the second Wednesday in February by the 1971 and current constitution. [VA Const. art V sec 1]

If the office of governor is vacant due to disqualification, death, or resignation, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. [VA Const. Art V sec 16] The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1851 [1851 Const. art V sec 8] Prior to then, a Council of State existed, which chose a president among its members who would be "Lieutenant-Governor", who would act as governor in a time of absence in the office. [1776 Const.] [1830 Const. art IV sec 5]

There have officially been 70 governors of Virginia; the acting governors are not counted.

Colonial Governors

President of the Committee for Public Safety

*Edmund Pendleton (16 August 1775 - 5 July 1776) [http://www.worldstatesmen.org/US_states_V-W.html]

List of Governors

Notes

References

;General
* [http://www.virginia.gov/cmsportal/visiting_883/history_3815/governors_1413/ Virginia State Government Website]
*"Congressional Quarterly"
**Virginia governors. (2000). In Congressional Quarterly (Ed.), American political leaders 1789-2000. Washington: CQ Press. Retrieved January 10, 2006, from CQ Electronic Library, CQ Voting and Elections Collection, . Document ID: amldrs-147-7136-390228. (Requires Subscription)
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=Usg9AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA3852&lpg=PA3852&dq=1864+constitution+of+virginia&source=web&ots=34vN5U_vep&sig=Ybn5TJeOo27dbAmiGSnO8mOhWUE&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result#PPA3844,M1]

;Constitutions
*cite web|url=http://legis.state.va.us/Laws/search/ConstitutionTOC.htm|title=Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia|year=1971|publisher=Virginia General Assembly | accessdate=2008-06-17
*cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Usg9AAAAIAAJ | title=Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia |year=1902 | publisher=Scholarly Press | accessdate=2008-06-17
*cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Usg9AAAAIAAJ | title=Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia |year=1870 | publisher=Scholarly Press | accessdate=2008-06-17
*cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Usg9AAAAIAAJ | title=Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia |year=1864 | publisher=Scholarly Press | accessdate=2008-06-17
*cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Usg9AAAAIAAJ | title=Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia |year=1851 | publisher=Scholarly Press | accessdate=2008-06-17
*cite web|url=http://www.wvculture.org/history/government/1830constitution01.html | title=Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia |year=1830 | publisher=West Virginia Division of Culture and History | accessdate=2008-06-17
*cite web|url=http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/states/va05.htm | title=Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia | year=1776 | publisher=Avalon Project | accessdate=2008-06-17

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