155-725: The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia is the document that defines and limits the powers of the state government and the basic rights of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia . Like all other state constitutions , it is supreme over Virginia's laws and acts of government, though it may be superseded by the United States Constitution and U.S. federal law as per the Supremacy Clause . The original Virginia Constitution of 1776
310-466: A stroke in 1797 when her son John was seven years old. With his two brothers and five sisters, Tyler was reared on Greenway Plantation , a 1,200-acre (5 km ) estate with a six-room manor house his father had built. Enslaved labor tended various crops, including wheat, corn and tobacco. Judge Tyler paid high wages for tutors who challenged his children academically. Tyler was of frail health, thin and prone to diarrhea . At age 12, he continued
465-464: A "detestable and insupportable tyranny". It also established separation of governmental powers, with the creation of the bicameral Virginia General Assembly as the legislative body of the state and the Governor of Virginia as the "chief magistrate" or executive. The accompanying Virginia Declaration of Rights , written primarily by Mason, focuses on guarantees of basic human rights and freedoms and
620-510: A 1972 amendment to the federal constitution. However, § 1 denies the vote to people who have been determined to be mentally incompetent or anyone convicted of a felony . Disfranchising convicted felons has been found to be consistent with the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The General Assembly, pursuant to §4, is given wide power to regulate the time, place, and manner of all elections. §5 establishes that
775-577: A Southern slaveowner, he balanced the ticket and also assuaged the fears of Southerners who felt Harrison might have abolitionist leanings. Tyler had been a vice-presidential candidate in 1836, and having him on the ticket might win Virginia, the most populous state in the South. One of the convention managers, New York publisher Thurlow Weed , alleged that "Tyler was finally taken because we could get nobody else to accept"—though he did not say this until after
930-483: A Tyler family tradition and entered the preparatory branch of the College of William and Mary . Tyler graduated from the school's collegiate branch in 1807, at age 17. Adam Smith 's The Wealth of Nations helped form his economic views, and he acquired a lifelong love of William Shakespeare . Bishop James Madison , the college's president, served as a second father and mentor to Tyler. After graduation, Tyler read
1085-427: A Virginia corporation could not do. Article X establishes the basic structure for taxation of personal property in Virginia. Pursuant to this Article, all non-exempt real and personal property is subject to taxation at its fair market value. Section 6 sets out a lengthy list of exempt property, which includes church property, cemeteries, and non-profit school property. Significant additions to Article X include §7,
1240-614: A Virginia state legislator and governor, U.S. representative , and U.S. senator . Tyler was a regional Whig vice-presidential nominee in the 1836 presidential election ; they lost. He was the sole nominee on the 1840 Whig presidential ticket as William Henry Harrison's running mate. Under the campaign slogan " Tippecanoe and Tyler Too ", the Harrison–Tyler ticket defeated incumbent president Martin Van Buren . President Harrison died just one month after taking office, and Tyler became
1395-411: A Virginian and a former governor, who had died on July 4, 1826. Tyler was deeply devoted to Jefferson, and his eloquent eulogy was well received. Tyler's governorship was otherwise uneventful. He promoted states' rights and adamantly opposed any concentration of federal power. To thwart federal infrastructure proposals, he suggested Virginia actively expand its road system. A proposal was made to expand
1550-608: A budget amendment, which became effective in 1986, and §7-A, which establishes the "Lottery Proceeds Fund", requiring that all proceeds from the lottery be set aside for educational purposes. Article XI states that it is the general policy of the Commonwealth to preserve, protect and conserve the state's natural and historic resources. The General Assembly is permitted to further these policies by entering into public-private partnerships or partnerships with federal agencies. A 2001 amendment added §4, which establishes hunting and fishing as constitutional rights of Virginians, though
1705-409: A century. By the 1820s, Virginia was one of only two states that limited voting to landowners. In addition, because representation was by county rather than population, the residents of increasingly populous Western Virginia (the area that would become West Virginia in 1863) had grown discontented at their limited representation in the legislature. Pressure increased until a constitutional convention
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#17327729496561860-653: A clerk and sergeant-at-arms . The Senate of Virginia 's clerk is known as the clerk of the Senate (instead of as the secretary of the Senate , the title used in the United States Senate ). The General Assembly also selects the Virginia's auditor of public accounts. The statutory law enacted by the General Assembly is codified in the Code of Virginia . The judiciary of Virginia is defined under
2015-473: A governor is allowed to serve multiple non-consecutive terms). The lieutenant governor, who is not elected on the same ticket as the governor, serves as president of the Senate of Virginia and is first in the line of succession to the governor. The lieutenant governor is allowed to run for reelection. The attorney general is chief legal advisor to the governor and the General Assembly, chief lawyer of Virginia, and
2170-476: A governor's veto, and the right of the people to hunt, fish and harvest game is guaranteed. In 2006, Virginians passed an amendment limiting marriage to "unions between one man and one woman". That has since been overturned by Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), which legalized same-sex marriage throughout the United States. The current Constitution of Virginia consists of twelve Articles: Article I contains
2325-480: A majority in each house. The amendment then goes on the general ballot and becomes enacted into the Constitution if approved by a majority of the voters. Alternatively, a two-thirds vote of both Virginia houses may call for the creation of a constitutional convention . Any revisions or amendments proposed by the constitutional convention are presented to the citizens of Virginia and become law upon approval by
2480-603: A majority in the Electoral College, throwing the election into the House of Representatives, where deals could be made. Tyler hoped electors would be unable to elect a vice president, and that he would be one of the top two vote-getters, from whom the Senate, under the Twelfth Amendment , must choose. Following the custom of the times—that candidates not appear to seek the office—Tyler stayed home throughout
2635-481: A majority of voters. There is a perennial discussion over Virginia's unique Constitutional status restricting its governor to one consecutive term, and its method of selecting both trial and appellate judges by state legislature, shared only with South Carolina. Since the current constitution was ratified, there have been 53 amendments added to the constitution, concerning issues ranging from tax exemptions and voting rules to budgeting and legislative calendars. In 2020,
2790-608: A more politically expedient choice, as they hoped to ally with the conservative wing of the Democratic Party in the 1840 presidential election. This strategy was supported by Whig leader Henry Clay, who nevertheless admired Tyler at that time. With the vote split among three candidates, including Rives and Tyler, the Senate seat remained vacant for almost two years, until January 1841. When the 1839 Whig National Convention convened in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania , to choose
2945-430: A new constitutional convention was called to resolve the continuing tensions. The most significant change adopted in the 1851 Constitution was elimination of the property requirement for voting, resulting in extension of the suffrage to all white males of voting age. The 1851 Constitution established popular election for the governor , the newly created office of lieutenant governor , and all Virginia judges, rather than
3100-443: A parade together, though they did not discuss politics. Tyler was sworn in on March 4, 1841, in the Senate chamber , and delivered a three-minute speech about states' rights before swearing in the new senators and then attending Harrison's inauguration . Following the new president's two-hour speech before a large crowd in freezing weather, Tyler returned to the Senate to receive the president's Cabinet nominations, presiding over
3255-567: A police department. Where a police department has been established, the sheriff remains authorized to enforce the criminal laws. The sheriff, however, is responsible for the operation of the local jail, courthouse security and service of civil papers and may also execute criminal warrants. Founded in 1619, the Virginia General Assembly is still in existence as the oldest legislature in the New World. In colonial Virginia,
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#17327729496563410-625: A popular vote of 210,585 to 9,136 and went into effect in 1870. In the late nineteenth century, white Democrats regained power in state legislatures across the South. They passed Jim Crow laws establishing racial segregation in public facilities and restricting the lives of blacks. Beginning with Mississippi in 1890, legislatures began to ratify new constitutions, amendments or electoral laws that disenfranchised African American voters, devising means such as poll taxes , literacy tests and residential requirements that passed Supreme Court review but worked against poor blacks and many poor whites. By
3565-417: A position which was then appointed by the legislature. Tyler was elected 131–81 over John Floyd . The office of governor was powerless under the original Virginia Constitution (1776–1830), lacking even veto authority. Tyler enjoyed a prominent oratorical platform but could do little to influence the legislature. His most visible act as governor was delivering the funeral address for former president Jefferson,
3720-469: A result, Republicans led by Judge John Curtiss Underwood dominated the convention. Opponents called the result the "Underwood Constitution" or the "Negro Constitution", as it gave freedmen suffrage. Significant provisions included expanding the suffrage to all male citizens over the age of 21, which included freedmen ; establishing a state public school system for the first time, with mandatory funding and attendance; and providing for judges to be elected by
3875-416: A sizable minority in the Virginia legislature. They hoped to unseat Randolph by capturing the vote of states' rights supporters who were uncomfortable with the senator's reputation. They approached Tyler and promised their endorsement if he sought the seat. Tyler repeatedly declined the offer, endorsing Randolph as the best candidate, but the political pressure continued to mount. Eventually, he agreed to accept
4030-489: A state legislator, Tyler sat on the Courts and Justice Committee. His defining positions were on display by the end of his first term in 1811—strong, staunch support of states' rights and opposition to a national bank. He joined fellow legislator Benjamin W. Leigh in supporting the censure of U.S. senators William Branch Giles and Richard Brent of Virginia who had, against the Virginia legislature's instructions, voted for
4185-594: A successful speaking tour, Tyler was called upon to travel from Williamsburg to Columbus, Ohio , and there address a local convention, in a speech intended to assure Northerners that he shared Harrison's views. In his journey of nearly two months, Tyler made speeches at rallies. He could not avoid questions, and after being heckled into an admission that he supported the Compromise Tariff (many Whigs did not), resorted to quoting from Harrison's vague speeches. In his two-hour speech at Columbus, Tyler entirely avoided
4340-400: Is Virginia's first black female Lt. Governor, and Virginia's attorney general, Jason Miyares , is a Republican and the first Latino elected to statewide office. The Virginia Governor's Cabinet is a body of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch, responsible for advising the governor. It is composed of the following offices, nominated by the governor and then presented to
4495-691: Is not to be construed to exclude other rights held by the people. In 1997, a Victims' Rights Amendment was added to the Virginia Bill of Rights as §8-A. In Nobrega v. Commonwealth, the only case so far to interpret this amendment, the Virginia Supreme Court used the Victims's Rights Amendment to support its ruling that an alleged rape victim could not be compelled to submit to a psychiatric evaluation. On November 7, 2006, Virginia voters ratified an amendment, previously approved by
4650-585: Is praised for helping in the creation of the Webster–Ashburton Treaty, which peacefully settled the border between Maine and Canada . He also helped in stopping African slave trafficking, which was made illegal under the Jefferson administration . Today, Tyler is seldom remembered when in comparison to other presidents and maintains only a limited presence in American cultural memory. John Tyler
4805-462: Is unconstitutional to deny a church the option to incorporate under state law when other groups can incorporate. An amendment striking the ban on church incorporation was approved by Virginia voters in November 2006. The fifth Article similarly defines the structure and powers of the executive branch. The Governor of Virginia is invested as the chief executive, though §1 of Article V, provides that
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4960-520: The 1832 presidential election was the recharter of the Second Bank of the United States, which both Tyler and Jackson opposed. Congress voted to recharter the bank in July 1832, and Jackson vetoed the bill for constitutional and practical reasons. Tyler voted to sustain the veto and endorsed Jackson in his successful bid for reelection. Tyler's uneasy relationship with his party came to a head during
5115-596: The 1836 presidential election . He had been suggested as a vice presidential candidate since early 1835, and the same day the Virginia Democrats issued the expunging instruction, the Virginia Whigs nominated him as their candidate. The new Whig Party was not organized enough to hold a national convention and name a single ticket against Van Buren, Jackson's chosen successor. Instead, Whigs in various regions put forth their own preferred tickets, reflecting
5270-459: The 22nd Congress , as the nullification crisis of 1832–1833 began. South Carolina, threatening secession , passed the Ordinance of Nullification in November 1832, declaring the "Tariff of Abominations" null and void within its borders. This raised the constitutional question of whether states could nullify federal laws. Jackson, who denied such a right, prepared to sign a Force Bill allowing
5425-542: The 24th Amendment , and federal legislation: the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 had overturned the most controversial aspects of the 1902 Constitution – the provisions restricting voting by African Americans and mandating school segregation. Combined with the election of Governor Mills Godwin in 1965, there was impetus for governmental change. Godwin strongly advocated
5580-532: The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is established as the administrative head of the Virginia judicial system. Article VII of the Constitution sets up the basic framework for the structure and function of local government in Virginia . Local government may be established at the town (population over 1000), city (population over 5000), county or regional government level. Article VII gives
5735-782: The Confederacy . He presided over the opening of the Virginia Secession Convention and served as a member of the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States . Tyler subsequently won election to the Confederate House of Representatives but died before it assembled. Some scholars have praised Tyler's political influence, but historians have generally put Tyler near the bottom quartile when ranking U.S. presidents. Tyler
5890-599: The Confederate government, recognized the creation of the State of West Virginia , and adjusted the number and terms of office of the members of the Virginia Assembly . The foreword to the current Virginia Constitution does not include the 1864 Constitution in its list of previous constitutions. It notes that the 1864 Constitution was drafted under wartime conditions and was of uncertain legal status. After
6045-940: The Constitution and law of Virginia and is composed of the Supreme Court of Virginia and subordinate courts, including the Court of Appeals , the Circuit Courts , and the General District Courts . Its administration is headed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court, the Judicial Council, the Committee on District Courts, the Judicial Conferences, and various other officers. The political subdivisions of Virginia are
6200-671: The First Seminole War . While praising Jackson's character, Tyler condemned him as overzealous for the execution of two British subjects . Tyler was elected for a full term without opposition in early 1819. The major issue of the Sixteenth Congress (1819–1821) was whether Missouri should be admitted to the Union and whether slavery would be permitted in the new state. Acknowledging the ills of slavery, he hoped that by letting it expand, there would be fewer slaves in
6355-569: The Senate of Virginia , with 40 members. Combined, the General Assembly consists of 140 elected representatives from an equal number of constituent districts across Virginia. The General Assembly holds sessions in the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond . The House of Delegates is presided over by the speaker of the House , while the Senate is presided over by the lieutenant governor of Virginia . The House and Senate each elect
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6510-406: The Supreme Court of Virginia , along with the subordinate courts created by the General Assembly. Judges are appointed by a majority vote in the General Assembly to terms of 12 years for Supreme Court Justices and 8 years for other judges. The Supreme Court, pursuant to §5, has the authority to make rules governing the practice of law and procedures in the courts of the commonwealth (see rules ), and
6665-527: The Twentieth Congress began in December 1827, Tyler served alongside his Virginia colleague and friend Littleton Waller Tazewell , who shared his strict constructionist views and uneasy support of Jackson. Throughout his tenure, Tyler vigorously opposed national infrastructure bills, feeling these were matters for individual states to decide. He and his Southern colleagues unsuccessfully opposed
6820-754: The Virginia House of Delegates alongside Benjamin Harrison V , father of William Henry Harrison . The elder Tyler served four years as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates before becoming a state court judge and later governor of Virginia and a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at Richmond . His wife, Mary Marot (Armistead), was the daughter of prominent New Kent County plantation owner and one-term delegate, Robert Booth Armistead. She died of
6975-681: The Webster–Ashburton Treaty with Britain and the Treaty of Wanghia with China . Tyler was a believer in manifest destiny and saw the annexation of Texas as economically and internationally advantageous to the United States, signing a bill to offer Texas statehood just before leaving office. When the American Civil War began in 1861, Tyler at first supported the Peace Conference . When it failed, he sided with
7130-639: The recess appointment power to name three treaty commissioners to meet with emissaries from the Ottoman Empire and introduced a bill chastising Jackson for this. In some matters, Tyler was on good terms with Jackson. He defended Jackson for vetoing the Maysville Road funding project , which Jackson considered unconstitutional. He voted to confirm several of Jackson's appointments, including Jackson's future running mate Martin Van Buren as United States Minister to Britain . The leading issue in
7285-486: The 1836 election, Tyler thought his political career was over, and planned to return to private law practice. In the fall of 1837 a friend sold him a sizable property in Williamsburg. Unable to remain away from politics, Tyler successfully sought election to the House of Delegates and took his seat in 1838. He was a national political figure by this point, and his third delegate service touched on such national issues as
7440-421: The 1850s Virginia featured a state legislature , several executive officers, and an independent judiciary. By the time of the Constitution of 1901, which lasted longer than any other state constitution, the General Assembly continued as the legislature, the Supreme Court of Appeals acted as the judiciary, and the eight executive officers were elected: the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of
7595-660: The 1864 Constitution by the Loyalist government during the Civil War, the legislature adopted the 1902 Constitution without ratification by the electorate. It was in effect far longer than any previous Virginia constitution. As a result of the Civil Rights Movement 's challenging the restrictions and discrimination practiced against blacks' exercise of constitutional rights, a series of US Supreme Court cases, beginning with Brown v. Board of Education in 1954,
7750-521: The 1902 Constitution imposed racial segregation in public schools (which already existed on a de facto basis) and abolished the county court system. The Constitution provided for the creation of the State Corporation Commission to regulate the growing power of the railroads. Because of concern over African American opposition, the convention did not honor its pledge to have the proposed constitution put to popular vote. Like
7905-422: The 39 independent cities all have their own governments. Cities are governed by an elected mayor or city council which choose a city manager or county administrator to serve as a professional, non-political chief administrator under the council-manager form of government, while counties are governed by a county board of supervisors . Many specifics are set forth in "charters", specific legislation adopted by
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#17327729496568060-594: The Bank by executive fiat. In September 1833, Jackson issued an executive order directing Treasury Secretary Roger B. Taney to transfer federal funds from the Bank to state-chartered banks immediately. Tyler saw this as "a flagrant assumption of power", a breach of contract, and a threat to the economy. After months of agonizing, he decided to join with Jackson's opponents. Sitting on the Senate Finance Committee , he voted for two censure resolutions against
8215-730: The Cabinet, especially in the first days of the administration. Tyler did not participate in selecting the Cabinet, and did not recommend anyone for federal office in the new Whig administration. Beset by office seekers and the demands of Senator Clay, Harrison twice sent Tyler letters asking his advice as to whether a Van Buren appointee should be dismissed. In both cases, Tyler recommended against, and Harrison wrote, "Mr. Tyler says they ought not to be removed, and I will not remove them." The two men met briefly in Richmond in February, and reviewed
8370-476: The Civil War, this separate or "restored" government approved the creation of West Virginia as a separate state (which was admitted to the Union in 1863) and in 1864 it approved a new Constitution. The constitution was the product of a divided state and government; it was the first since the original 1776 Constitution to be adopted by the legislature without a popular vote. The 1864 Constitution abolished slavery in Virginia, disenfranchised men who had served in
8525-549: The Committee on the Legislature. Tyler's service in various capacities at a state level included as president of the Virginia Colonization Society and much later as rector and chancellor of the College of William and Mary . In January 1827, the General Assembly considered whether to elect U.S. Senator John Randolph for a full six-year term. Randolph was a contentious figure; although he shared
8680-604: The Democratic press depicted Harrison as an old soldier, who would turn aside from his campaign if given a barrel of hard cider to drink in his log cabin , the Whigs eagerly seized on the image, and the log cabin campaign was born. The fact that Harrison lived on a palatial estate along the Ohio River and that Tyler was well-to-do was ignored, while log cabin images appeared everywhere, from banners to whiskey bottles. Cider
8835-452: The East as slaves and masters journeyed west, making it feasible to consider abolishing the institution in Virginia. Thus, slavery would be abolished through the action of individual states as the practice became rare, as had been done in some Northern states. Tyler believed that Congress did not have the power to regulate slavery and that admitting states based on whether they were slave or free
8990-543: The General Assembly and approved by the voters to conform to provisions in the U.S. Constitution, rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court and Congressional statute. The voting age has been reduced to eighteen, voting residency requirements have been removed, and voter registration conforms to the Motor Voter Act. Additionally, the Virginia Constitution now provides for a General Assembly session following
9145-455: The General Assembly in January 1969, and continued to work with them to draft a final consensus version. The proposed Constitution was overwhelmingly approved by the voters of Virginia (who by then included African American men and women, following passage of federal civil rights legislation in the mid-1960s) and took effect on July 1, 1971. Since 1971, additional amendments have been passed by
9300-489: The General Assembly rather than by popular vote. Controversy over clauses that continued the temporary disenfranchisement of former Confederate government members delayed the adoption of the Constitution. An eventual compromise provided for separate voting disenfranchisement clauses and the rest of the Constitution; the former failed to win approval. The remainder of the Underwood Constitution was ratified by
9455-402: The General Assembly the power to create general laws for the organization and governing of these political subdivisions, except that regional governments cannot be created without the consent of the majority of the voters who vote on the issue in the region. Section 4 establishes the constitutional offices of treasurer , sheriff , Commonwealth's Attorney , clerk of court and Commissioner of
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#17327729496569610-452: The General Assembly, prohibiting same-sex marriage , to be added to the Bill of Rights. This amendment also prohibits the recognition of any "union, partnership, or other legal status" between unmarried people that intends to approximate marriage or which confers the "rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage." The Virginia Attorney General issued an opinion stating that
9765-513: The General Assembly. The death of U.S. Representative John Clopton in September 1816 created a vacancy in Virginia's 23rd congressional district . Tyler sought the seat, as did his friend and political ally Andrew Stevenson . Since the two men were politically alike, the race was, for the most part, a popularity contest. Tyler's political connections and campaigning skills narrowly won him
9920-477: The General Assembly. Other forms of local government are also provided by statute. Virginia limits the authority of cities and counties to enact ordinances by what is known as the Dillon's Rule . Counties and cities may only pass laws expressly allowed by the state legislature or which are necessary to effect powers granted by the state. Dillon's Rule will invalidate local ordinances that exceed authority granted by
10075-417: The House of Delegates in 1823. Neither member from Charles City County was seeking reelection, and Tyler was elected easily that April, finishing first among the three candidates seeking the two seats. As the legislature convened in December, Tyler found the chamber debating the impending presidential election of 1824 . The congressional nominating caucus , an early system for choosing presidential candidates,
10230-420: The Revenue to be elected within each city and county in Virginia. A compulsory and free primary and secondary public education for every Virginia child is the focus of Article VIII. The General Assembly is empowered to determine the funding for the educational system and apportion the cost between state and local government. A state Board of Education is established to create school divisions and effectuate
10385-403: The Virginia Commission on Constitutional Revision, in its 1969 report, had recognized that the prohibition was probably invalid. The federal district court for the Western District of Virginia ruled in April 2002 that this provision of the Virginia Constitution was in fact unconstitutional, because it violates the federal constitutional right to the free exercise of religion. The court found that it
10540-448: The Virginia General Assembly for confirmation: Many executive branch agencies have the authority to promulgate regulations. Proposals to create or amend state regulations are often subject to review by the executive branch. The legislative branch or state legislature is the General Assembly . The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house , the Virginia House of Delegates , with 100 members, and an upper house ,
10695-414: The Virginia House of Delegates. Tyler was offered a judgeship in exchange for resigning his seat, but he declined. He understood what was to come: the legislature would soon force him to vote against his constitutional beliefs. Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri had introduced a bill expunging Jackson's censure. By resolution of the Democratic-controlled legislature, Tyler could be instructed to vote for
10850-416: The Virginia constitution arrived too late to be incorporated into the final document. James Madison's work on the Virginia Constitution helped him develop the ideas and skills that he would later use as one of the main architects of the United States Constitution . The 1776 Constitution declared the dissolution of the rule of Great Britain over Virginia and accused England's King George III of establishing
11005-401: The Whigs ran on their opposition to Van Buren, blaming him and his Democrats for the recession. In campaign materials, Tyler was praised for integrity in resigning over the state legislature's instructions. The Whigs initially hoped to muzzle Harrison and Tyler, lest they make policy statements that alienated segments of the party. But after Tyler's Democratic rival, Vice President Johnson, made
11160-554: The amendment does not change the legal status of documents such as contracts, wills, or Advanced Medical Directives between unmarried people. The amendment was declared to be in violation the United States Constitution by a U.S. District Court Judge on February 13, 2014. (In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that the failure to provide for same-sex marriage by any U.S. state had
11315-520: The areas into which the state is divided for political and administrative purposes. In Virginia, the political subdivisions have only the legal powers specifically granted to them by the General Assembly and set forth under the Code of Virginia. Some are local governments ; others are not. However, all local governments (cities, counties, and incorporated towns) are political subdivisions of the state. All public school divisions are political subdivisions of
11470-476: The basic structure and authority of the Virginia legislature. The legislative power of the state is vested in the Virginia General Assembly , which consists of the Virginia Senate and the Virginia House of Delegates . §17 of Article IV gives the legislature the power to impeach members of the executive and judicial branches. The original §14 of Article IV forbade the incorporation of churches, though
11625-509: The bill. If he disregarded the instructions, he would violate his own principles: "the first act of my political life was a censure on Messrs. Giles and Brent for opposition to instructions", he noted. Over the next few months he sought the counsel of his friends, who gave him conflicting advice. By mid-February he felt that his Senate career was likely at an end. He issued a letter of resignation to Vice President Van Buren on February 29, 1836, saying in part: I shall carry with me into retirement
11780-427: The campaign, and made no speeches. He received only 47 electoral votes, from Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee, in the November 1836 election, trailing both Granger and the Democratic candidate, Richard Mentor Johnson of Kentucky. Harrison was the leading Whig candidate for president, but he lost to Van Buren. The presidential election was settled by the Electoral College, but for the only time in American history,
11935-404: The campaign, and the question of presidential succession was on every politician's mind. The first few weeks of the presidency took a toll on Harrison's health, and after being caught in a rainstorm in late March he came down with pneumonia and pleurisy . Secretary of State Daniel Webster sent word to Tyler of Harrison's illness on April 1; two days later, Richmond attorney James Lyons wrote with
12090-468: The colony. Each county chose two people or burgesses to represent it, while the College of William and Mary and the cities of Norfolk , Williamsburg and Jamestown each chose one burgess. The Burgesses met to make laws for the colony and set the direction for its future growth; the council would then review the laws and either approve or disapprove them. The approval of the Burgesses, the council, and
12245-452: The commonwealth, state treasurer, auditor of public accounts, superintendent of public instruction, and commissioner of agriculture and immigration. The Constitution of 1901 was amended many times, notably in the 1930s and 1950s, before it was abandoned in favor of more modern government, with fewer elected officials, reformed local governments and a more streamlined judiciary. John Tyler John Tyler (March 29, 1790 – January 18, 1862)
12400-591: The confirmations the following day—a total of two hours as president of the Senate. Expecting few responsibilities, he then left Washington, quietly returning to his home in Williamsburg . Seager later wrote, "Had William Henry Harrison lived, John Tyler would undoubtedly have been as obscure as any vice-president in American history." Meanwhile, Harrison struggled to keep up with the demands of Clay and others who sought offices and influence in his administration. Harrison's age and fading health were no secret during
12555-405: The constitutions of 1830, 1851, 1864, 1870, 1902, and by commission for 1971 amendments). These new constitutions have been part of, and in reaction to, periods of major regional or social upheaval in Virginia. For instance, the 1902 constitution included provisions to disenfranchise African Americans , who in 1900 made up nearly 36% of the state's population. They did not regain suffrage until after
12710-495: The country, including women, who could not then vote. This was the first time that an American political party included women in campaign activities on a widespread scale, and women in Tyler's Virginia were active on his behalf. The party hoped to avoid issues and win through public enthusiasm, with torchlight processions and alcohol-fueled political rallies. The interest in the campaign was unprecedented, with many public events. When
12865-422: The duties and powers, and limitations thereupon in response to multiple lawsuits filed by other locally elected officials. Local government consists of city and county officers, as well as people who are known as constitutional officers. The positions of these constitutional officers are provided for by the Virginia Constitution. Article 7, Section 4 of the Virginia constitution provides, "There shall be elected by
13020-473: The effect of violating the rights of homosexuals to equal protection of law required under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution .) The second Article of the Constitution sets out the procedures and mechanisms for voting, elections and holding office. Pursuant to Section 1, any Virginia resident over age 18 may vote in state elections; the voting age was reduced from 21 by
13175-464: The election of the top two state officers by the legislature, or political appointment for judges. Because of these changes, the 1851 Virginia Constitution became known as the "Reform Constitution". When in 1861, the Virginia legislature voted for secession in the events leading up to the American Civil War , all of the western and several of the northern counties dissented. They set up a separate government with Francis H. Pierpont as governor. During
13330-984: The election. He was sworn into the Fourteenth Congress on December 17, 1816, to serve as a Democratic-Republican, the major political party in the Era of Good Feelings . While the Democratic-Republicans had supported states' rights, many members urged a stronger central government in the wake of the War of 1812. A majority in Congress wanted to see the federal government help to fund internal improvements such as ports and roadways. Tyler held fast to his strict constructionist beliefs, rejecting such proposals on constitutional and personal grounds. He believed each state should construct necessary projects within its borders using locally generated funds. Virginia
13485-637: The enactment of federal civil rights legislation in the mid-1960s. The preparation of the first Virginia Constitution began in early 1776, in the midst of the early events of the American Revolution . Among those who drafted the 1776 Constitution were George Mason and James Madison . Thomas Jefferson was Virginia's representative to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia at the time, and his drafts of
13640-426: The end of the Civil War, Virginia came briefly under military rule during Reconstruction, with the district commanded by John M. Schofield . Pursuant to federal Reconstruction legislation, Schofield called for a new constitutional convention to meet in Richmond from December 1867 to April 1868. In protest of freedmen 's suffrage, many of Virginia's conservative whites refused to participate in voting for delegates. As
13795-549: The entire original Virginia Declaration of Rights from the 1776 Constitution. Several of the sections have been expanded to incorporate concepts from the United States Bill of Rights , including the right to due process , the prohibition against double jeopardy , and the right to bear arms . Like the Federal Constitution, the Virginia Bill of Rights, in §17, states that the listing of certain rights
13950-404: The federal government to use military action to enforce the tariff. Tyler, who sympathized with South Carolina's reasons for nullification, rejected Jackson's use of military force against a state and gave a speech in February 1833 outlining his views. He supported Clay's Compromise Tariff , enacted that year, to gradually reduce the tariff over ten years, alleviating tensions between the states and
14105-527: The federal government. In voting against the Force Bill, Tyler knew he would permanently alienate the pro-Jackson faction of the Virginia legislature, even those who had tolerated his irregularity up to this point. This jeopardized his reelection in February 1833 , in which he faced the pro-administration Democrat James McDowell , but with Clay's endorsement, Tyler was reelected by a margin of 12 votes. Jackson further offended Tyler by moving to dissolve
14260-529: The first vice president to succeed to the presidency . Amid uncertainty as to whether a vice president succeeded a deceased president, or merely took on his duties, Tyler immediately took the presidential oath of office , setting a lasting precedent. He signed into law some of the Whig-controlled Congress's bills, but he was a strict constructionist and vetoed the party's bills to create a national bank and raise tariff rates. He believed that
14415-443: The following year. Virginia is one of only five states that elects its state officials in odd numbered years (the others are Kentucky, Louisiana , Mississippi , and New Jersey ). The last gubernatorial election was in 2021, and the next will occur in 2025. The governor serves as chief executive officer of Virginia and as commander-in-chief of its militia. The Constitution does not allow a governor to succeed himself in office (though
14570-486: The fundamental purpose of government. It, in turn, served as a model for a number of other historic documents, including the United States Bill of Rights . Critically, the 1776 Constitution limited the right to vote primarily to property owners and men of wealth. This effectively concentrated power in the hands of the landowners and aristocracy of Southeastern Virginia. Dissatisfaction with this power structure would come to dominate Virginia's constitutional debate for almost
14725-430: The future Senator Carter Glass , the convention created requirements that all prospective voters had to pay poll taxes or pass a literacy test administered by white registrars. An exemption was granted, in a kind of grandfather clause , for military veterans and sons of veterans, who were virtually all white. The changes effectively disenfranchised black voters, though many illiterate whites were also unable to meet
14880-419: The governor may not run for successive terms. The offices of lieutenant governor and attorney general are established as supporting elected constitutional positions. The constitutional powers of the governor include the ability to sign legislation, veto bills (which veto may then be overridden by a two-thirds majority of both houses of the assembly), and issue pardons . Article VI vests judicial power in
15035-467: The governor was needed to pass a law. The idea of electing burgesses was important and new. It gave Virginians a chance to control their own government for the first time. At first, the burgesses were elected by all free men in the colony. Women, indentured servants, and Native Americans could not vote. Later the rules for voting changed, making it necessary for men to own at least fifty acres (200,000 m ) of land in order to vote. Like many other states, by
15190-523: The head of the Department of Law. The attorney general is second in the line of succession to the governor. Whenever there is a vacancy in all three executive offices of governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general, then the speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates becomes governor. Glenn Youngkin , a Republican, is the Governor. The Lieutenant Governor is Winsome Sears , a Republican, and
15345-445: The issue of the Bank of the United States, one of the major questions of the day. What has caused this great commotion, motion, Our country through? It is the ball a-rolling on, For Tippecanoe and Tyler too, Tippecanoe and Tyler too. And with them, we'll beat the little Van, Van, Van Van is a used-up man. — Campaign song from the 1840 election To win the election, Whig leaders decided they had to mobilize people across
15500-677: The law with his father, then a state judge, and later with Edmund Randolph , former United States Attorney General . Tyler was admitted to the Virginia bar at the age of 19 (too young to be eligible, but the admitting judge neglected to ask his age). By this time, his father was governor of Virginia , and Tyler started a legal practice in Richmond, the state capital. According to the 1810 federal census, one "John Tyler" (presumably his father) owned eight slaves in Richmond, and possibly five slaves in adjoining Henrico County, and possibly 26 slaves in Charles City County. In 1813,
15655-406: The legislature because of the continued property requirement for voting; not all held sufficient property to vote. This compounded their dissatisfaction with the apportionment scheme adopted in 1830, which was based on counties rather than population, thus giving disproportionate power to the fewer, but propertied whites who lived in the eastern part of the state and kept a grip on the legislature. As
15810-408: The legislature may enact appropriate regulations and restrictions on these rights. The last Article creates the mechanism for future changes to the Constitution. Any amendment to the Constitution must first be passed by a majority in each of the two legislative houses. The proposed amendment must then be held over for consideration by the succeeding elected legislature, where it must again be passed by
15965-430: The loosening of the strict constitutional restrictions on state-issued bonds and borrowing and used his power and popularity to push for a new constitution. In 1968 a joint resolution of the Virginia General Assembly approved a new commission, chaired by former Governor Albertis Harrison , to revise the constitution. The Commission on Constitutional Revision presented its report and recommendations to Governor Godwin and
16120-557: The lower house of the legislature was called the House of Burgesses . Together with the Governor's Council, the House of Burgesses made up the "General Assembly". The Governor's Council was composed of 12 men appointed by the British monarch to advise the governor. The council also served as the "General Court" of the colony, a colonial equivalent of a Supreme Court . Members of the House of Burgesses were chosen by all those who could vote in
16275-423: The more populated capital at Richmond, as some suggested, Tyler proposed administrative and financial reforms. These were passed into law and were successful; by 1840, the school achieved its highest enrollment. Tyler's political fortunes were growing; he was considered a possible candidate in the legislative deliberation for the 1824 U.S. Senate election. He was nominated in December 1825 for governor of Virginia,
16430-451: The more populous and liberal counties of western Virginia an opportunity to expand their influence. A slaveowner from eastern Virginia, Tyler supported the existing system, but largely remained on the sidelines during the debate, not wishing to alienate any of the state's political factions. He was focused on his Senate career, which required a broad base of support, and gave speeches during the convention promoting compromise and unity. After
16585-553: The morning before. Tyler left Williamsburg and arrived in Washington at dawn the next day. Harrison's death in office was an unprecedented event that caused considerable uncertainty about presidential succession. Article II, Section 1, Clause 6 of the United States Constitution, which governed intra-term presidential succession at the time (now superseded by the Twenty-fifth Amendment ), states: In Case of
16740-554: The new requirements. In 1900 blacks made up nearly 36 percent of the population. In succeeding elections, the Virginia electorate was reduced by nearly half as a result of the changes. When adjusted for the Nineteenth Amendment , voter turnout would not return to 1900 levels until 1952 within a statewide population almost twice the size. The small electorate was key to maintaining the dominant Democratic Organization in power for sixty years. Other significant provisions of
16895-497: The news that the president had taken a turn for the worse, remarking, "I shall not be surprised to hear by tomorrow's mail that Gen'l Harrison is no more." Tyler decided not to travel to Washington, not wanting to appear unseemly in anticipating Harrison's death. At dawn on April 5, Webster's son Fletcher , chief clerk of the State Department, arrived at Tyler's Williamsburg home to officially inform him of Harrison's death
17050-415: The nomination by concealing his views, and responded that he had not been asked about them. His biographer Robert Seager II held that Tyler was selected because of a dearth of alternative candidates. Seager concluded, "He was put on the ticket to draw the South to Harrison. No more, no less." There was no Whig platform —the party leaders decided that trying to put one together would tear the party apart. So
17205-448: The number of delegates and senators to the Virginia General Assembly . The resulting constitution was ratified by a popular majority, though most of the voters in the western part of the state ended up voting against it. Thus, the underlying intrastate tensions remained, and would have to be addressed later. As of the 1840 census , the majority of the white residents of the state lived in western Virginia, but they were underrepresented in
17360-527: The only qualifications to hold office in Virginia are that a person must have been a Virginia resident for at least one year and eligible to vote. Any statute or rule requiring other qualifications is constitutionally invalid under this section. But, the General Assembly can impose local residency requirements for election to local governmental bodies or for election to the Assembly in representation of particular districts. Article III has one section, confirming
17515-640: The overall educational policies. Supervision of the individual schools is delegated to local school boards, provided for in §7. The primary purpose of Article IX is to create the Virginia State Corporation Commission , which is charged with administering the laws that regulate corporations . The State Corporation Commission also issues charters for Virginia corporations and licenses to do business for "foreign" (non-Virginia) corporations. Section 5 of Article IX prohibits such foreign corporations from doing anything in Virginia that
17670-756: The party's tenuous coalition: the Massachusetts Whigs nominated Daniel Webster and Francis Granger , the Anti-Masons of the Northern and border states backed William Henry Harrison and Granger, and the states' rights advocates of the middle and lower South nominated Hugh Lawson White and John Tyler. In Maryland, the Whig ticket was Harrison and Tyler and in South Carolina it was Willie P. Mangum and Tyler. The Whigs wanted to deny Van Buren
17825-457: The party's ticket, the nation was in the third year of a serious recession following the Panic of 1837 . Van Buren's ineffective efforts to deal with the situation cost him public support. With the Democratic Party torn into factions, the head of the Whig ticket would likely be the next president. Harrison, Clay, and General Winfield Scott all sought the nomination. Tyler attended the convention and
17980-446: The position, as his opposing votes were largely symbolic and did little to change the political culture in Washington; he also observed that funding his children's education would be difficult on a congressman's low salary. He left office on March 3, 1821, endorsing his former opponent Stevenson for the seat, and returned to private law practice full-time. Restless and bored after two years at home practicing law, Tyler sought election to
18135-536: The president in March 1834. By this time, Tyler had become affiliated with Clay's newly formed Whig Party , which held control of the Senate. On March 3, 1835, with only hours remaining in the congressional session , the Whigs voted Tyler President pro tempore of the Senate as a symbolic gesture of approval. He is the only U.S. president to have held this office. Shortly after that, the Democrats took control of
18290-458: The president, rather than Congress, should set policy, and he sought to bypass the Whig establishment led by Senator Henry Clay . Almost all of Tyler's cabinet resigned shortly into his term and the Whigs expelled him from the party and dubbed him "His Accidency". Tyler was the first president to have his veto of legislation overridden by Congress. He faced a stalemate on domestic policy, although he had several foreign-policy achievements, including
18445-403: The principle of separation of powers between the legislative , executive and judicial branches of government. Unlike the U.S. federal Constitution, the Virginia Constitution explicitly provides that no branch may exercise powers that properly belong to the others. Separation between the branches of government is also listed as a right of the people in §5 of Article I. Article IV establishes
18600-412: The principles which I brought with me into public life, and by the surrender of the high station to which I was called by the voice of the people of Virginia, I shall set an example to my children which shall teach them to regard as nothing place and office, when either is to be attained or held at the sacrifice of honor. While Tyler wished to attend to his private life and family, he was soon occupied with
18755-479: The protectionist Tariff of 1828 , known to its detractors as the "Tariff of Abominations". Tyler suggested that the tariff's only positive outcome would be a national political backlash, restoring a respect for states' rights. He remained a strong supporter of states' rights, saying, "they may strike the Federal Government out of existence by a word; demolish the Constitution and scatter its fragments to
18910-618: The qualified voters of each county and city a treasurer, a sheriff, an attorney for the Commonwealth, a clerk, who shall be clerk of the court in the office of which deeds are recorded, and a commissioner of revenue." The local constitutional offices are not appointed by the city or county. The judges of the Circuit Court, the General District Court and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court are appointed by
19065-409: The rank of captain . No attack came, and he dissolved the company two months later. For his military service, Tyler received a land grant near what later became Sioux City, Iowa . Tyler's father died in 1813, and Tyler inherited 13 slaves along with his father's plantation. In 1816, he resigned his legislative seat to serve on the Governor's Council of State , a group of eight advisers elected by
19220-657: The recharter of the First Bank of the United States . Like most Southern Americans of his day, Tyler was anti-British , and at the onset of the War of 1812 , he urged support for military action in a speech to the House of Delegates. After the British capture of Hampton, Virginia , in the summer of 1813, Tyler eagerly organized a militia company, the Charles City Rifles, to defend Richmond, which he commanded with
19375-439: The sale of public lands. Tyler's successor in the Senate was William Cabell Rives , a conservative Democrat. In February 1839, the General Assembly considered who should fill that seat, which was to expire the following month. Rives had drifted away from his party, signalling a possible alliance with the Whigs. As Tyler had already fully rejected the Democrats, he expected the Whigs would support him. Still, many Whigs found Rives
19530-468: The seat if chosen. On the day of the vote, one assemblyman argued there was no political difference between the candidates—Tyler was more agreeable than Randolph. The incumbent's supporters contended that Tyler's election would be a tacit endorsement of the Adams administration. The legislature selected Tyler in a vote of 115–110, and he resigned his governorship on March 4, 1827, as his Senate term began. By
19685-541: The songfests in support of the Whig Party to be unforgettable. Among the lyrics sung were "We shall vote for Tyler therefore/Without a why or wherefore". Louis Hatch, in his history of the vice presidency, noted, "the Whigs roared, sang, and hard-cidered the 'hero of Tippecanoe' into the White House". Clay, though embittered by another of his many defeats for the presidency, was appeased by Tyler's withdrawal from
19840-415: The state legislature also elected the governor and the United States senators, Western Virginians felt they had little influence on state leadership. Their attempts to win electoral reform in the Virginia legislature were defeated each time. Some began to openly discuss the abolition of slavery or secession from the state. Ultimately, the eastern planters could not continue to ignore their discontent, and
19995-409: The state legislature. The constitutional officers have salaries set by the state through its compensation board, although the locality may supplement the salaries. This structure allows those officers a measure of independence within the local government setting. Virginia's attorney is the elected prosecuting attorney for the locality. The sheriff is the law enforcement officer for localities without
20150-408: The state redistricting process was dramatically reshaped, establishing a bipartisan redistricting commission with judicial oversight. Government of Virginia The government of Virginia combines the executive, legislative and judicial branches of authority in the Commonwealth of Virginia . The current governor of Virginia is Glenn Youngkin . The State Capitol building in Richmond
20305-685: The state's poorly funded public school system, but no significant action was taken. Tyler was unanimously reelected to a second one-year term in December 1826. In 1829, Tyler was elected as a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829–1830 from the district encompassing the cities of Richmond and Williamsburg and Charles City County, James City County, Henrico County, New Kent County, Warwick County, and York County. There, he served alongside Chief Justice John Marshall (a Richmond resident), Philip N. Nicholas and John B. Clopton. The leadership assigned him to
20460-461: The state, although each has local and some controlling relationships of varying types with the counties, cities and/or towns they serve. Some political subdivisions are defined geographically; others by function. Many authorities (such as water, or transportation districts) are created by specific legislation as political subdivisions of the state. Every location in Virginia is within a county or an independent city, but never both. The 95 counties and
20615-461: The state. There are exceptions to the general structure for counties and cities, notably the City of Richmond, which has a popularly elected mayor who serves as chief executive separate from the city council, an innovative arrangement which has caused some local turmoil under the first mayor so elected, former Governor Douglas Wilder . As of November 2007, the courts were in the process of clarifying
20770-490: The states' powers. His unexpected rise to the presidency posed a threat to the presidential ambitions of Henry Clay and other Whig politicians and left Tyler estranged from both of the nation's major political parties at the time. Tyler was born into a prominent slaveholding Virginia family. He became a national figure at a time of political upheaval. In the 1820s, the Democratic-Republican Party , at
20925-489: The staunch views on states' rights held by most of the Virginia legislature, he had a reputation for fiery rhetoric and erratic behavior on the Senate floor, which put his allies in an awkward position. Furthermore, he had made enemies by fiercely opposing President John Quincy Adams and Kentucky Senator Henry Clay. The nationalists of the Democratic-Republican Party, who supported Adams and Clay, were
21080-694: The still-unresolved Senate race, which would permit the election of Rives, and campaigned in Virginia for the Harrison/Tyler ticket. Tyler predicted the Whigs would easily take Virginia; he was embarrassed when he was proved wrong, but was consoled by an overall victory—Harrison and Tyler won by an electoral vote of 234–60 and with 53% of the popular vote. Van Buren took only seven states out of 26. The Whigs gained control of both houses of Congress. As vice president-elect , Tyler remained quietly at his home in Williamsburg. He privately expressed hopes that Harrison would prove decisive and not allow intrigue in
21235-484: The subsequent break between President Tyler and the Whig Party. Other Tyler foes claimed that he had wept himself into the White House, after crying at Clay's defeat; this was unlikely, as the Kentuckian had backed Tyler's opponent Rives in the Senate election. Tyler's name was submitted in the balloting, and though Virginia abstained, he received the necessary majority. As president, Tyler was accused of having gained
21390-491: The ticket, which would probably go to a Northerner to assure geographic balance. The convention deadlocked among the three main candidates, with Virginia's votes going to Clay. Many Northern Whigs opposed Clay, and some, including Pennsylvania's Thaddeus Stevens , showed the Virginians a letter by Scott in which he apparently displayed abolitionist sentiments. The influential Virginia delegation then announced that Harrison
21545-606: The time of Tyler's senatorial election, the 1828 campaign for president was in progress. Adams, the incumbent president, was challenged by Andrew Jackson. The Democratic-Republicans had splintered into Adams's National Republicans and Jackson's Democrats . Tyler disliked both candidates for their willingness to increase the federal government's power, but was increasingly drawn to Jackson, hoping that he would not seek to spend as much federal money on internal improvements as Adams. Of Jackson, he wrote, "Turning to him I may at least indulge in hope; looking on Adams I must despair." When
21700-415: The time the nation's only political party , split into several factions. Initially a Jacksonian Democrat , Tyler opposed President Andrew Jackson during the nullification crisis as he saw Jackson's actions as infringing on states' rights and criticized Jackson's expansion of executive power during Jackson's veto on banks . This led Tyler to ally with the southern faction of the Whig Party . He served as
21855-521: The turn of the 20th century, six Southern states had essentially eliminated the black vote, and pressure mounted among whites in Virginia to do the same, ostensibly as a way to stop electoral fraud and corruption. The 1901 constitutional convention met in this climate. Members were focused on restricting black voting rights without violating the Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution or disenfranchising poor whites. Led by
22010-583: The vice-presidential election was decided by the Senate, which selected Johnson over Granger on the first ballot. Tyler had been drawn into Virginia politics as a U.S. senator. From October 1829 to January 1830, he served as a member of the state constitutional convention , a role he had been reluctant to accept. The original Virginia Constitution gave outsize influence to the state's more conservative eastern counties, as it allocated an equal number of legislators to each county regardless of population and granted suffrage only to property owners. The convention gave
22165-441: The winds". Tyler was soon at odds with President Jackson, frustrated by Jackson's newly emerging spoils system , describing it as an "electioneering weapon". He voted against many of Jackson's nominations when they appeared to be unconstitutional or motivated by patronage. Opposing the nominations of a president of his party was considered "an act of insurgency" against his party. Tyler was particularly offended by Jackson's use of
22320-576: The year of his father's death, the younger Tyler purchased Woodburn plantation , where he lived until 1821. As of 1820, Tyler owned 24 enslaved persons at Woodburn, after having inherited 13 enslaved persons from his father, although only eight were listed as engaged in agriculture in that census. In 1811, at age 21, Tyler was elected to represent Charles City County in the House of Delegates. He served five successive one-year terms (the first alongside Cornelius Egmon and later with Benjamin Harrison). As
22475-574: Was a recipe for sectional conflict; therefore, the Missouri Compromise was enacted without Tyler's support. It admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free one, and it also forbade slavery in states formed from the northern part of the territories . Throughout his time in Congress, he voted against bills that would restrict slavery in the territories. Tyler declined to seek renomination in late 1820, citing frequently ill health. He privately acknowledged his dissatisfaction with
22630-499: Was born on March 29, 1790, to a prominent slave-owning Virginia family. Tyler hailed from Charles City County, Virginia , and was descended from the First Families of Virginia . The Tyler family traced its lineage to English settlers and 17th-century colonial Williamsburg . His father, John Tyler Sr. , commonly known as Judge Tyler, was a personal and political friend and college roommate of Thomas Jefferson and served in
22785-546: Was convened in 1829–1830. This convention became largely a contest between eastern Virginia planters of the slaveholding elite and the less affluent yeomen farmers of Western Virginia. Issues of representation and suffrage dominated the debate. Delegates to the convention included such prominent Virginians as James Madison , James Monroe , John Tyler , and John Marshall . Western leaders included Philip Doddridge and Alexander Campbell . The convention ultimately compromised by loosening suffrage requirements. It also reduced
22940-584: Was designed by Thomas Jefferson , and the cornerstone was laid by Governor Patrick Henry in 1785 . Virginia currently functions under the 1971 Constitution of Virginia . It is Virginia's seventh constitution . Under the Constitution, the government is composed of three branches: the legislative, the executive and the judicial. The statewide elected officials are governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general. All three officers are separately elected four-year terms in years following presidential elections (1997, 2001, 2005, etc.) and take office in January of
23095-463: Was enacted at the time of the Declaration of Independence by the first thirteen states of the United States of America. Virginia was an early state to adopt its own Constitution on June 29, 1776, and the document was widely influential both in the United States and abroad. In addition to frequent amendments , there have been six major subsequent revisions of the constitution (by Conventions for
23250-412: Was its second choice, causing most Scott supporters to abandon him in favor of Harrison, who gained the presidential nomination. The vice presidential nomination was considered immaterial ; no president had failed to complete his elected term. Not much attention was given to the choice, and the specifics of how Tyler came to gain it are unclear. Chitwood pointed out that Tyler was a logical candidate: as
23405-549: Was not "in so poor a condition as to require a charitable donation from Congress", he contended. He was chosen to participate in an audit of the Second Bank of the United States in 1818 as part of a five-man committee, and was appalled by the corruption which he perceived within the bank. He argued for the revocation of the bank charter, although Congress rejected any such proposal. His first clash with General Andrew Jackson followed Jackson's 1818 invasion of Florida during
23560-593: Was still used despite its growing unpopularity. Tyler tried to convince the lower house to endorse the caucus system and choose William H. Crawford as the Democratic-Republican candidate. Crawford captured the legislature's support, but Tyler's proposal was defeated. His most enduring effort in this second legislative tenure was saving the College of William and Mary, which risked closure from waning enrollment. Rather than move it from rural Williamsburg to
23715-504: Was the favored beverage of many farmers and tradesmen, and Whigs claimed that Harrison preferred that drink of the common man. The presidential candidate's military service was emphasized, thus the well-known campaign jingle, " Tippecanoe and Tyler Too ", referring to Harrison's victory at the Battle of Tippecanoe . Glee clubs sprouted all over the country, singing patriotic and inspirational songs: one Democratic editor stated that he found
23870-512: Was the tenth president of the United States , serving from 1841 to 1845, after briefly holding office as the tenth vice president in 1841. He was elected vice president on the 1840 Whig ticket with President William Henry Harrison , succeeding to the presidency following Harrison's death 31 days after assuming office. Tyler was a stalwart supporter and advocate of states' rights , including regarding slavery , and he adopted nationalistic policies as president only when they did not infringe on
24025-403: Was with the Virginia delegation, although he had no official status. Because of bitterness over the unresolved Senate election, the Virginia delegation refused to make Tyler its favorite son candidate for vice president. Tyler himself did nothing to aid his chances. If his favored candidate for the presidential nomination, Clay, was successful, he would likely not be chosen for the second place on
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