West Virginia Legislature

TERMS

Senators are elected for terms of four years, and delegates for terms of two years. These terms are staggered, meaning that not all 34 State Senate seats are up every election. Some are up for grabs during the Presidential Election years and some are up during "mid-term" elections.

SESSIONS

Regular sessions of the Legislature commence on the second Wednesday of January of each year. However, following the election of a new governor, the session starts in January with the governor's address but then adjourns until February. On the first day of the session, members of both the House and the Senate sit in joint session in the House Chamber where the governor presents his or her legislative program. The length of the general session may not go beyond 60 calendar days unless extended by a concurrent resolution adopted by a two-thirds vote of each house. The governor may convene the Legislature for extraordinary sessions. Governor Joe Manchin III has already called three special sessions of the legislature during the first year of his first term. Given the part time nature of the legislature of West Virginia, this is not uncommon.

ORIGINATION OF BILLS

Bills, even revenue bills, and resolutions may originate in either house.

VETO OVERRIDE

Two thirds of the members elected to each house are required to override the governor's veto of a bill or items or parts thereof.

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West Virginia Legislature