Preamble to the State Constitution
"Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia, in and through the provisions of this Constitution, reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God and seek diligently to promote, preserve and perpetuate good government in the state of West Virginia for the common welfare, freedom and security of ourselves and our posterity."
West Virginia adopted its First Constitution in 1863, when it became the 35th state in the Union. The state is now governed by its Second Constitution.
The Executive Branch
The governor of West Virginia is the state's chief executive and is elected to a four-year term. He may serve any number of terms, but no more than two terms in succession. The governor receives a yearly salary of $90,000.
Other constitutional officers include the Treasurer, Secretary of State, Auditor, Attorney General and the Commissioner of Agriculture. They are elected to four-year terms and can succeed themselves as many times as they are elected.
The Judicial Branch
The three levels of courts in West Virginia include the Supreme Court of Appeals, Circuit Court and Magistrate Court. The highest court is the Supreme Court of Appeals which has five Justices, who are elected to 12-year terms.
There are 31 Judicial Circuits and each has at least one circuit judge. Circuit judges are elected to four-year terms and their salaries, which are set by the Legislature, depend upon the population of the county in which they serve. Each county has at least two magistrates.
The Legislature
The Legislature of West Virginia consists of a Senate and a House of Delegates. The voters of the state's 17 senatorial districts elect two senators to four-year terms. Each of the state's 56 delegate districts elects 1 to 13 delegates, depending on population.
The legislature meets every year. Regular sessions meet on the second Wednesday of January, except in the year after a gubernatorial election. In that year, the regular session starts on the second Wednesday of February. Sixty calendar days are in the regular session, but the session can be extended by a two-thirds vote of the members elected to each house. The governor may also call for special sessions.