State and Local Government
Session 2: State Government, Executive and Legislative Branches: Part 2

Materials

• Overhead transparencies of maps completed during previous sessions
• Overhead transparency quiz of selected locations from previous sessions

Instructional Activities

1. Review with students the content covered to this point in the unit.
   
   
2. Divide the students into groups, and instruct each group to develop a chart that depicts the organization of the Virginia Government. Provide resources in the classroom to assist students. The chart may include the following information and should be large enough to be displayed in the classroom during class discussion: Students may find the following Web site helpful: <http://www.governor.virginia.gov/>.
   
   

   Virginia Government Executive Branch Governor -        (insert name and political party)              Date he/she took office ____________             One interesting fact about the Governor ___________________             Lieutenant Governor (insert name and political party)             Date he/she took office ____________             One interesting fact about the Lieutenant Governor _______________ Attorney General  (insert name and political party)             Date he/she took office ____________             One interesting fact about the Attorney General ________________ Governor’s Cabinet Title of Cabinet                                                 Name of individual that currently heads this cabinet.                                                        Legislative Branch (General Assembly) House of Delegates             Number of members  _____________             Length of term __________             Which political party is currently the majority party? ___________            How long has the Delegate from the student’s district been in the General            Assembly? (If working in groups, there may be more than one Delegate            depending on where students live. Identify each Delegate by name. )            _______________ Virginia Senate             Number of members  _____________             Length of term __________             Which political party is currently the majority party? ___________            How long has the state Senator from the student’s district been in the            General Assembly? (If students are working in groups, there may be more            than one state Senator. Identify each state Senator by name.)            ______________

   
   
3. When students have completed their charts, display them in the classroom and encourage students to check the charts for accuracy. Discuss any discrepancies.