The political subdivisions of Virginia are 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 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.
Structure and authority Every location in Virginia is within a county or an independent city, but never both. The 95
counties and 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 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 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 the duties and powers, and limitations thereupon in response to multiple lawsuits filed by other locally elected officials.
Officers 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 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 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 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. ==History==