The U.S. Conference of Mayors is an organization of mayors throughout the United States. The website contains a number of press releases and reports on issues facing mayors and local government, which range from a few pages to hundreds of pages in length. The Mayors at a Glance feature is perhaps the most useful feature those studying Virginia government. Users can search for mayors by last name, city, state, and population. Each mayor featured has a picture, contact information, and short biography. Does your jurisdiction have a mayor? Try finding out more about mayors in your area.

The Wise County Board of Supervisors offers a prime example of the executive branch in a local jurisdiction. This website offers meeting agendas and minutes, as well as a TV broadcast of Board meetings. The Wise County website is one among many local government websites that address this issue—you can even find your own local government!

This is the official website of the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. Similar to the official Governor’s website, this website includes news and press releases from the Lieutenant Governor’s office. Another useful section is a history of the office of Lieutenant Governor, which talks about the changing role of the Lieutenant Governor. The position stretches back to colonial times: the King of England appointed a Governor, who then appointed a Lieutenant Governor. Learning about the Governor’s second-in-command helps create a better understanding of how executive power is shared.

Interested in the executive branch in Virginia? Why not check out the Governor’s website as well?

This website offers a comprehensive index of executive orders issued by the current governor of Virginia. These downloadable documents can range from issues such as smoking in restaurants to issuing states of emergency. Examining these documents leads to interesting discussions of executive power and the role of the executive branch in Virginia's government.

This website outlines the way the Secretary of Finance implements Virginia’s budget, in cooperation with the Governor, legislature, and other departments. One important aspect of the website is Agency Information, which shows how the Secretary of Finance connects with other financial departments. A News section offers press releasees about the Governor’s financial policies. While brief, the Secretary of Finance website shows the interconnectedness of government offices.

This website, maintained by the Virginia General Assembly, offers a quick reference to each article and section of the Virginia Constitution by keywords. For example, Article I Section 1 relates to “Equality and the Rights of Men.” This feature simplifies finding a relevant section of the Virginia Constitution, and complements the U.S. Constitution Guide. The website also contains a downloadable pdf of the current Virginia Constitution.

The National Archives website features a lesson plan about the separation of powers on a federal and state level that revolves around a history of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s court packing during the 1930s. It includes background information on the time period, as well as a primary source document in which a newspaper publisher warns that FDR’s actions may lead to “absolutism and complete dictatorial power.” The website also features a document analysis worksheet and teaching activities.