Legislative power in Virginia rests with the General Assembly, which is composed of the Senate and the House of Delegates.  Article IV of the Virginia Constitution outlines the power of the legislative branch.  The General Assembly's chief responsibilities are to:

• represent citizens in the formulation of public policy

• enact laws of the Commonwealth

• approve the budget

• levy taxes

• elect judges

• confirm appointments by the Governor

Virginia created its first state constitution in 1776, which established a bicameral legislature for the Commonwealth.  The upper chamber is known as the Senate while the House of Delegates is the lower chamber.  The 1776 Constitution outlined the following in relation to the Senate: 

• All bills originated in the House of Delegates.  The Senate could only approve, reject, or amend bills with the consent of the House of Delegates.  The one exception to the Senate's power was in relation to money bills; the Senate could only approve or reject money bills or send them back to the House without amendments.

• The Senate consisted of 24 Senatorial districts, which were divided into four classes: Class One, Class Two, Class Three, and Class Four.  Terms were four years and staggered, with one-fourth of the Senate districts holding an election each year.

• The Senate chose its own Presiding Officer (known as the Speaker of the Senate), appointed its own officers, and adopted its own rules of procedure.

Since 1776, the Constitution of Virginia has gone through five complete revisions.  The current Constitution of Virginia became effective on July 1, 1971.  Under this current Constitution: 

• Bills can originate in either house.  All legislation approved by one house has to be approved, rejected, or amended by mutual consent of the other.

• The Senate shall consist of not more than 40 and not less than 33 members who shall be elected to a four-year term.  Currently, there are 40 members.  Elections for Senate districts are no longer staggered; all terms begin and end at the same time.

• The Presiding Officer of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.  The Senate elects a member from its own body as the President pro tempore who acts as Presiding Officer in the absence of the Lieutenant Governor.

• The Senate adopts its own rules of procedure and elects its own officers (excluding the Presiding Officer).