On March 24, 1930, the present Flag of the Commonwealth was officially adopted. It consists of a deep blue field with a circular white center—all of bunting or merino material. Within this white circle is embroidered or painted, in such a manner as to appear alike on both sides, the official coat-of-arms of the Commonwealth: namely, the identical design of figures and inscriptions which appears on the observe side of the Great Seal of Virginia. The outer edge of the flag, the one farthest from the flag-staff, is bounded by a white silk fringe.
On March 6, 1918, the General Assembly declared the American Dogwood, known technically as the Cornus Florida or Flowering Dogwood, as the official state flower in Virginia.
It was not until 1940 that the state legislature officially adopted its state song. At this time, "Carry Me Back to Ole Virginny," written by James A. Bland, a South Carolina Negro, was declared the state song although it had been widely recognized and sung by many generations of Virginians. The Cardinal, known technically as the Cardinalis Virginianus, is considered the official State Bird.
SUMMARY
Fundamental state laws for Virginia are found in a written constitution, originally adopted in 1776. The United States Constitution provides not only the framework for our national government but also the relationships between the national government and the individual states. With the exception of these restrictions, the state constitution determines the political structure or organization within the state area and the various powers and functions granted to each governmental agency. Like all governments established by state constitutions, the state government of Virginia consists of three departments: the legislative, executive and judiciary departments.
The Virginia Bill of Rights, written by George Mason, furnished a pattern for the Bill of Rights in the United States Constitution as well as for numerous state bills of rights. The significance attached to voting even in the early post-Revolutionary period is obvious by the location of the voting qualifications in the Virginia Constitution directly following the Bill of Rights.
Some unique features about government in Virginia include Section 58 of Article IV which lists a series of prohibitions on the General Assembly as a protection for individual liberties, the fact that the Governor cannot succeed himself (only sixteen states have this restriction), the existence of three types of county government (the County Executive, the County Manager and the County Board), the lack of a village form of local government, the existence of thirty-two independent cities and the existence of three forms of city government (Mayor-Council, Commission and City Manager).
Other articles in the Constitution concern suffrage, education, public welfare and penal institutions, taxation and finance, corporations and local government. Since constitution writers realize that living conditions change from time to time, the method of making changes in a constitution whenever necessary is included in the amendment process. Thus, a recent constitutional change was a revision of Section 141 making it legally permissible to permit the use of public funds for tuition grants for pupils in private non-sectarian schools. Virginians, like the residents of other states, will undoubtedly continue to make necessary revisions when conditions so warrant in order to keep the state governmental structure a practical, adjustable foundation for a progressively changing society.
When one understands the meaning of the various symbols used by a state in order to create a specific identity or a particular recognition of its inhabitants and their ideas, the state seal, motto and flag become more significant to the citizen. Thus, it is with pride that Virginians show reverence and respect to their HALLOWED HERITAGE.