Government of West Virginia Government of West Virginia The Government of West Virginia is modeled after the Government of the United States, with three branches: the executive, consisting of the Governor of West Virginia and the other elected constitutional officers; the legislative, consisting of the West Virginia Legislature which includes the Senate and the House of Delegates; and the judicial, consisting of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and lower courts. The capital and seat of government in West Virginia is the city of Charleston, located in the southwest area of the state. Like all states except Nebraska, West Virginia has a bicameral
Secretary of State of West Virginia becomes vacant, it is the duty of the governor to fill the position by appointment. The appointee serves until a new commissioner is elected. Qualifications for being elected to the office are that one is a citizen entitled to vote, who has been a resident of West Virginia for at least the preceding 5 years. The West Virginia Secretary of State is the smallest constitutional office in the state - physically, fiscally, and in terms of the number of staff. The duties of the office, though, are extensive. The primary responsibility of the secretary is to serve as the chief