| A | B |
|---|
| popular sovereignty | the power to rule rests with the people |
| limited government | government powers are regulated by laws |
| initiative | process where voters propose laws |
| referendum | when voters directly decide legislation |
| recall | removal of an official prior to his term ending |
| statutory law | laws that are written down |
| house of delegates | Virginia's lower house in the legislature |
| state senate | Virginia's upper house in the legislature |
| general assembly | Virginia's legislative bodies |
| item veto | governor's power to sign parts of a bill to law |
| governor | the chief executive at the state level |
| lieutenant governor | serves as presiding officer in state senate |
| attorney general | state's chief prosecutor |
| pardon | governor's power to erase a person's crime |
| commute | governer can reduce a sentence |
| repreive | governor can postpone a sentence |
| parole | early release of a prisonor |
| common law | tradition of court decisions based on precedent |
| criminal law | laws that violate statutes |
| civil law | law that deals with individuals |
| misdemeanor | laws punishable by less than a year in jail |
| felony | laws punishable by more than a year in prison |
| state supreme court | highest court in state judiciary |
| executive clemency | when the governor reduces a pushisment that was particularly harsh |
| fundamental law | part of virginia law that deals whith the Constitution |
| common law | portion of law that comes from judicial interpretations and traditions |
| criminal law | law that people are expected to follow or face prosecution |
| civil law | laws that deal with relationships between people |
| cabinet | the governor's official advisors |
| budget | the plan for spending proposed by the Govenor |
