Issuing the "Bluebook," officially "The Report of the Secretary of the Commonwealth," an annual publication that identifies, "(a) the boards of visitors of all public institutions, and other boards appointed by the Governor; (b) all commissions issued under appointments made by the Governor, except commissions to notaries public; (c) all departments, boards, councils, commissions, and other collegial bodies created in the executive branch of state government; and (d) such other matters as the Governor requires." – The Report as defined by the Code of Virginia
Issuing a State Government Organization Chart
Handling pardons and clemencies, restoration of civil rights of former felons, extradition, and service of process. Although the secretary is involved, the governor is responsible for granting pardons, clemency, and restorations of rights, as well as authorizing extradition. The secretary of the Commonwealth's Office handles the paperwork on behalf of the Governor.
In a unique twist of Virginia law, unlike other members of the Governor's Cabinet, the secretary of the Commonwealth does not resign immediately upon the inauguration of a new Governor, but remains in office for an additional week, serving a fixed term of four years, in order to ensure a smooth transition and ensure continuity in government.
Historyedit
Although the office has evolved over the years, the job has always involved the safekeeping of the Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Under the Virginia Constitution of 1901, the secretary of the Commonwealth was an elected post, along with the governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general. Under Virginia's current constitution, enacted in 1971, and with the creation of the Governor's Cabinet during the administration of Governor A. Linwood Holton Jr., the secretary of the Commonwealth has been an appointed member of the Governor's Cabinet.
List of secretaries of the Commonwealth (1788-present)edit
Fletcher, Robert (16 February 1895), Brief memoirs of Colonel Garrick Mallery, U.S.A., who died October 24, 1894, Washington: Judd & Detweiler, pp. 3–8, briefmemoirsofco00fletrich at the Internet Archive
External linksedit
Official Website of the Secretary of the Commonwealth
Code of Virginia regarding the Appointment and Term of Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth
Code of Virginia regarding the Duties of the Secretary of the Commonwealth
Archival Records
A Guide to the Records of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1996–2006 at The Library of Virginia
Archived Web Site of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, 2006–2010 part of Governor Timothy Kaine Administration Collection, 2006–2010 at Virginia Memory
Archived Web Site of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, 2005–2006 part of Virginia's Political Landscape, Fall 2005 at Virginia Memory
April 12, 2024
secretary, commonwealth, virginia, secretary, commonwealth, member, virginia, governor, cabinet, office, currently, held, acting, secretary, kelly, seal, commonwealth, virginiaflag, virginiaincumbentkelly, geeacting, since, september, 2023member, ofvirginia, g. The secretary of the Commonwealth is a member of the Virginia Governor s Cabinet The office is currently held by acting secretary Kelly Gee Secretary of the Commonwealth of VirginiaSeal of the Commonwealth of VirginiaFlag of VirginiaIncumbentKelly GeeActing since September 1 2023Member ofVirginia Governor s CabinetReports toGovernor of VirginiaSeatRichmond VirginiaAppointerGovernor of VirginiaWebsitecommonwealth wbr virginia wbr govDuties of the secretary of the Commonwealth editServing as the Keeper of the Seal of the Commonwealth Assisting the Governor in the appointment of thousands of individuals to serve on state boards and commissions Issuing the Commissions of Notaries Public Authenticating documents Registering lobbyists Issuing the Bluebook officially The Report of the Secretary of the Commonwealth an annual publication that identifies a the boards of visitors of all public institutions and other boards appointed by the Governor b all commissions issued under appointments made by the Governor except commissions to notaries public c all departments boards councils commissions and other collegial bodies created in the executive branch of state government and d such other matters as the Governor requires The Report as defined by the Code of Virginia Issuing a State Government Organization Chart Handling pardons and clemencies restoration of civil rights of former felons extradition and service of process Although the secretary is involved the governor is responsible for granting pardons clemency and restorations of rights as well as authorizing extradition The secretary of the Commonwealth s Office handles the paperwork on behalf of the Governor In a unique twist of Virginia law unlike other members of the Governor s Cabinet the secretary of the Commonwealth does not resign immediately upon the inauguration of a new Governor but remains in office for an additional week serving a fixed term of four years in order to ensure a smooth transition and ensure continuity in government History editAlthough the office has evolved over the years the job has always involved the safekeeping of the Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia Under the Virginia Constitution of 1901 the secretary of the Commonwealth was an elected post along with the governor lieutenant governor and attorney general Under Virginia s current constitution enacted in 1971 and with the creation of the Governor s Cabinet during the administration of Governor A Linwood Holton Jr the secretary of the Commonwealth has been an appointed member of the Governor s Cabinet List of secretaries of the Commonwealth 1788 present editName Tenure PartyJohn Harvie 1788 1800Daniel L Hylton 1801 1811William Robertson 1811 1820John Burfoot 1820 1821William H Richardson 1821 1852George W Munford 1853 1865Charles H Lewis 1865 1867John M Herndon 1867 1869Brevet Col Garrick Mallery 1 1869 1870James McDonald 1870 1879Thomas T Flournoy 1880 1881William C Elam 1882 1883Henry W Flournoy 1884 1893Joseph T Lawless 1894 1900David Q Eggleston 1901 1910B O James 1910 1926Martin A Hutchinson 1927 1929Peter H Saunders 1930 1937Raymond L Jackson 1938 1941Ralph E Wilkins 1942 1944Thelma Y Gordon acting 1945 1946Jesse W Dillon 1946 1948M W Armistead 1948Thelma Y Gordon 1948 1952Martha Bell Conway 1952 1970Cynthia Newman 1970 1974Patricia Perkinson 1974 1978Stanford E Parris 1978Frederick T Gray Jr 1978 1981Marilyn Lussen acting 1981 1982Laurie Naismith 1982 1985H Benson Dendy III 1985 1986Sandra D Bowen 1986 1990Pamela M Womack 1990 1993Scott Bates 1993Ruby Grant Martin 1993 1994Betsy Davis Beamer 1994 1998Anne P Petera 1998 2002Anita A Rimler 2002 2006Daniel G LeBlanc 2006 DemocraticKatherine Hanley 2006 2010 DemocraticJanet Vestal Kelly 2010 2014 RepublicanLevar Stoney 2014 2016 DemocraticKelly Thomasson 2016 2022 DemocraticKay Coles James 2022 2023 RepublicanKelly Gee acting 2023 present RepublicanReferences editNotes Fletcher 1895 p 5 BibliographyFletcher Robert 16 February 1895 Brief memoirs of Colonel Garrick Mallery U S A who died October 24 1894 Washington Judd amp Detweiler pp 3 8 briefmemoirsofco00fletrich at the Internet ArchiveExternal links editOfficial Website of the Secretary of the Commonwealth Code of Virginia regarding the Appointment and Term of Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth Code of Virginia regarding the Duties of the Secretary of the CommonwealthArchival RecordsA Guide to the Records of the Secretary of the Commonwealth 1996 2006 at The Library of Virginia Archived Web Site of the Secretary of the Commonwealth 2006 2010 part of Governor Timothy Kaine Administration Collection 2006 2010 at Virginia Memory Archived Web Site of the Secretary of the Commonwealth 2005 2006 part of Virginia s Political Landscape Fall 2005 at Virginia Memory Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia amp oldid 1179436877, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
