The Virginia legislature consists of the House of Delegates and Senate of Virginia. The present House of Delegates consists of 100 members and the Senate consists of 40 members. The terms of office are two years for members of the House and four years for members of the Senate.
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 and confirm appointments by the Governor.
Citizens can impact the process by finding out who their representatives are and what they stand for, reading the newspaper, volunteering in the community, being aware of issues and how they affect you; realizing that you can initiate change and remember that every vote counts. Your vote and your voice can always make a difference!
The Arc's advocacy season kicks into gear in September as we set our priorities and make our agenda public. During the fall months we provide information to our members so that they can contact their representatives and make our needs known.
The General Assembly members go into session right after the winter holidays and The Arc works to find families and individuals who can provide testimony at public hearings and continue meetings with legislators. We also work to generate letters, emails and phone calls as needed by our members. At the same time, staff from The Arc of Virginia work directly with legislators in Richmond to ensure that our needs are considered as they pass legislation and work up budgets.
Visit the Virginia General Assembly Web site
and enter your address to find out who your state senator and delegate are.
There are several ways individuals can contact state legislators. During the General Assembly session that runs from January through March you can reach your senators and delegates at their offices in Richmond. Other times of the year it is best to contact them at their home offices.
Find your legislator on the list below for a link to his or her webpage with contact information.
