Virginia. General Assembly. House of Delegates

In the General Assembly, members of the House of Delegates and the Senate vote on legislation entered during the legislative session. Legislative bills can originate either in the House of Delegates or in the Senate, with both chambers having the ability to establish study committees, each serves as a check upon the other to ensure a thorough debate on the merits of each bill. Currently the House of Delegates, together with the Senate, meets as the General Assembly in annual sessions, alternatively of thirty to sixty days duration. Currently there are 100 members of the House of Delegates, each representing a voting district in the Commonwealth. During these sessions journals are created to document legislative procedure.

From the description of Rough journals, <1910-1991> [ongoing]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122640731

The House of Delegates' predecessor, the House of Burgesses, was modeled after the House of Commons, in Parliament. The House of Burgesses existed from 1643 to 1776. The first session of the General Assembly, which took place in 1776, established the first constitution and made the House of Delegates the most powerful branch in state government. It was not until the constitution of 1851 was adopted that a more equitable balance among the branches of government was established. In the General Assembly, members of the House of Delegates and the Senate vote on legislation entered during the legislative session. Legislative bills can originate either in the House of Delegates or in the Senate, with both chambers having the ability to establish study committees. Each serves as a check upon the other to ensure a thorough debate on the merits of each bill. Currently the House of Delegates, together with the Senate, meets as the General Assembly in annual session, alternatively during thirty to sixty days. Currently there are 100 members of the House of Delegates, each representing a voting district in the Commonwealth.

From the description of Agency history. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 145410830