©Melissa Matusevich ©Melissa Matusevich The King’s Charters House of Burgesses The King of England granted charters to the Virginia Company of London. A charter is an official document that tells the limits of the rights and duties of the group it is given to. The charters were important for many reasons: 1. The charters gave the Virginia Company The Virginia House of Burgesses was the the right to establish (set up) a settlement first elected legislative body in America in North America. 2. The first charter of the Virginia Company giving settlers the opportunity to control of London established companies to begin their own government. colonies in the New World. It became the General Assembly of 3. The charters extended English rights to Virginia, which continues to this day. the colonists. ©Melissa Matusevich . Government in the New Colony . g g n n i House of Burgesses i d d l l i i u u b b l l d d o o n n t t i i o o p p a a m m c c h h c c s s i ’ i ’ a a R R i i n n n n i i i i g g r r g g i i n n V V i i d d d d l l e e i i n n u u g g B B i i s s l In 1619 only adult men were considered citizens. l e e o o t d t Men who served as representatives in the government d i i n n p were called “burgesses.” p o o a In 1619, the governor of Virginia called a meeting of the a s s C C r r Virginia Assembly. e e e e f The Assembly included two citizen representatives— f f f h h e called “burgesses”—from each of the divisions of Virginia. e T T J J Also included in the Assembly were the governor’s s council, and the governor. s a a By the 1640s, the burgesses became a separate m m o legislative body, called the Virginia House of Burgesses. o h h T T ©Melissa Matusevich ©Melissa N. Matusevich ©Melissa Matusevich Virginia’s Branches of Government The Government of Virginia The Government of Virginia The government of Virginia is divided into three branches. The General Assembly is the legislative branch of the Virginia government that makes state laws. Executive Judicial Legislative It is divided into two parts—the It is divided into two parts—the Senate and the House of Delegates. The governor heads The judicial branch is The General the executive branch the state’s court Assembly is the of the state system. The judicial legislative branch of government. The branch decides cases the Virginia The governor heads the executive executive branch about people accused government that branch of the state government. The makes sure that state of breaking the law makes state laws. It executive branch makes sure that laws are carried out. and whether or not a is divided into two law agrees with parts—the Senate state laws are carried out. Virginia’s and the House of constitution. Delegates. The judicial branch is the state’s court system. The judicial branch decides cases about people accused of breaking the law and whether or not a law agrees with Virginia’s constitution. Mark Warner is the The Supreme Court of The General governor of Virginia Virginia is located in Assembly meets in Richmond. There are the Capitol building also local courts in Richmond. The government of Virginia is divided found in each county. into three branches or parts: Legislative Branch (makes laws) Executive Branch (enforces laws) Judicial Branch (court system) .