State and Local Government
Session 6: Executive Branch

Materials

• Textbook
• Newspaper or reprints from Internet newspaper sites
• Construction paper
• Markers or colored pencils

Instructional Activities

NOTE: Online editions of Virginia newspapers may be accessed at <http://www.usnpl.com/vanews.html>.

1. Explain that the executive branch of the Virginia government is made up of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, cabinet officials, state boards, and agencies. (List the current Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and any other members of the executive branch in the news.) The powers of the executive branch are defined in the Constitution of Virginia.
   
   
2. Explain that the executive branch at the state level carries out state laws.
   
   
3. Ask students to list in their notebook all of the powers they think a Governor of Virginia has.
   
   
4. Lead a whole class discussion and compile a master list of student responses on the board.
   
   
5. Divide students into groups of 3 or 4 members, and distribute daily newspapers from several days and reprints from Internet newspaper sites.
   
   
6. Ask the groups to look for articles that show the governor exhibiting his power, and create a poster.
   •    Label the poster "Powers of the Virginia Governor."
   •    Cut out each article.
   •    Glue the article on construction paper.
   •    Underline the sentences that show the Governor exercising his power.
   •    List each power next to the article.
   
   
7. Ask each group to write one list of the governor’s action and the powers they found in the news articles, and to bring the lists to class for a discussion the next day.