What
is a resolution?
A resolution is a formal expression of a request, mandate, order, constitutional
amendment, opinion, sense, feeling, or sentiment of one or both houses of the
General Assembly. It may also direct that an interim legislative study be conducted
by a special legislative study commission, a subcommittee, or joint subcommittee
of one or more standing committees, or request such a study by a state agency.
A resolution does not have the force of law and does not require the signature
of the Governor. There is a statutory requirement for a joint resolution amending
the Constitution of Virginia to be enrolled and signed by the presiding officer
of each house - chapterized and placed in the Acts of Assembly. The Rules of
the Senate also make certain requirements for the readings of the title of a
resolution. There are two types of resolutions:
A joint resolution may be initiated in either house but must have the concurrence
of the other house. Such a resolution is captioned as Senate Joint Resolution
or House Joint Resolution, depending upon the house of origin.
A Senate Resolution or House Resolution does not go beyond the bounds of its
respective house and deals with its internal affairs or interests alone.
How
can I get a copy of a law/chapter/act?
First you need the bill number to identify your request.
The bill number is different from
the number that is assigned to a piece of legislation that
has passed the General Assembly and has been signed into
law. A bill passed by the General Assembly and signed by
the Governor, is assigned a Chapter number for placement
into the Acts of Assembly.
If you do not know the bill number you may research the number
through the Subject Index for the current
year.
If you know the bill number you
may access a copy by typing the number under Bills and Resolutions
on the homepage.
If you want a copy of existing
law you need to know the current code section. You may research
the Code of Virginia via the Legislative Information System.
The Code of
Virginia is a compilation of the laws of the Commonwealth.
The Code is arranged alphabetically by subject. Each subject
heading is referred to as a title (i.e., Administration of
the Government Generally is Title 2.1).
You may also contact either the
House [ (804) 698-1500] or the Senate [(804) 698-7410] to
request a copy.
What is the Calendar?
A Calendar is
the printed agenda of business (legislation) to be considered
by each house. During the session, the House of Delegates
and the Senate have a separate calendar printed each day
their respective chamber meets.
What
is the Journal?
A Journal is the official record of a legislative house, kept
by the Clerk and published as directed by that house. The Journal
contains minutes of the introduction and reference of bills,
reports of committees, motions, votes, and other actions, but
does not report debates. This publication is printed and made
available to public libraries. The Senate
Journal is available online.
What
is the Mini Journal? What is the Minute Book?
The House
of Delegates Mini-Journal is a record of the action taken
on legislation in the House of Delegates for a particular day.
A Mini-Journal is produced for each day the House of Delegates
meets.
The Senate
Minute Book is a record of the action taken on legislation
in the Senate for a particular day. A Minute Book is produced
for each day the Senate meets.
What
is the difference between an engrossed bill and an enrolled
bill?
An engrossed bill is a bill that has passed second reading
in its body of origin and that has been reprinted to include
amendments adopted by that body. All bills on third reading
are technically engrossed; however only those with amendments
are reprinted.
An enrolled bill is the final
printed version of the bill as passed by the House of Delegates
and the Senate, signed by the Speaker of the House and the
President of the Senate (the Lieutenant Governor) and transmitted
to the Governor for his signature.
What
do the strike-outs and italics that are in bills mean?
Language to be deleted in the Code of Virginia in a bill is
shown with strike-outs, e.g., deleted material or words. New
language that is to be added to the Code of Virginia is represented
by italics.
How
are bills assigned their numbers?
Bills are assigned numbers in their respective chambers by
the Clerk. A bill is numbered in the order it is introduced.
Senate or House Bill 50 would be the 50th bill introduced in
that respective chamber.
What and when is the Reconvened
Session?
Article IV, Section 6 of the Constitution
of Virginia defines the reconvened session as follows:
"The General Assembly shall reconvene on the sixth Wednesday after adjournment
of each regular or special session for the purpose of considering bills which
may have been returned by the Governor with recommendations for their amendment
and bills and items of appropriation bills which may have been returned by
the Governor with his objections. No other business shall be considered at
a reconvened session. Such reconvened session shall not continue longer than
three days unless the session be extended, for a period not exceeding seven
additional days, upon the vote of the majority of the members elected to each
house."
What
is the deadline for the Governor to sign bills?
Pursuant to Article V, Section 6 of the Constitution
of Virginia, if a bill is presented to the Governor with
at least seven days remaining in the session, he is required
to act within seven days and shall either sign, veto, offer
recommendation for amendment, or choose not to take action,
whereby such inaction shall allow the bill to become law without
the signature of the Governor. If there are less than seven
days remaining in the session then the Governor is allowed
thirty days to act on the legislation.
In either case, all legislation
that is either vetoed or has recommendations offered are
returned to the original body where it was introduced where
action is initiated to either overturn the veto, agree to
the recommendations, or enact the bill as originally presented
to the Governor.
On what date do bills passed
by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor become
effective?
According to Article IV, Section 13 of the Constitution
of Virginia, laws enacted at a regular session take effect
on the first day of July following the adjournment of the session
of the General Assembly. For exceptions, see Article IV, Section
13.
Can
a bill become law without the signature of the Governor?
Yes, according to Article V, Section 6(c) of the Constitution
of Virginia.
Is
there a written record of debates in committee meetings
and floor sessions?
No.
Where
can I find a copy of the Constitution of Virginia?
A copy of the current Constitution
of Virginia can be found online or may be ordered through
our Publications page.
Is
the Code of Virginia available on the Internet?
The Code of
Virginia contains all statutes and laws of the Commonwealth.
The Code of Virginia is updated annually on July 1 to reflect
changes adopted during the previous session.
You can search the Code of Virginia
database using keywords and phrases. You may also search
the Code for sections or acts that are known to the public
with "Popular Names, i. e. Freedom of Information Act,
FOIA.
You may also search the Code of
Virginia through its Table of Contents, which is a list of
all Code Titles with links to Chapters and Sections.
Is
the Virginia Administrative Code available on the Internet?
The Virginia
Administrative Code contains regulations of all of the
Administrative State Agencies.
You can search the Virginia Administrative
Code database using keywords and phrases. There is a Table
of Contents so you can view all Titles with links to Agencies,
Chapters and Sections.
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