Constitutional Law in Virginia
This page covers constitutional law as it applies in Virginia — the state and federal laws that govern it, filing deadlines, where to get help, and notable in-state decisions. For what constitutional protects generally, see the national overview.
Compiled from primary legal sourcesNot legal adviceHow we source this
Laws that govern constitutional in Virginia
Virginia state law
- Civil Remedies and Procedure › Chapter 9. Personal Jurisdiction in Certain ActionsVA 8.01 § 8.01-328.1
Cited in 221 court decisions on this topic's terms.
- Domestic Relations › Chapter 6. Divorce, Affirmation and AnnulmentVA 20 § 20-107.3
Cited in 193 court decisions on this topic's terms.
- Civil Remedies and Procedure › Chapter 7. Civil Actions; Commencement, Pleadings, and Motions › Article 2. Pleadings GenerallyVA 8.01 § 8.01-271.1
Cited in 132 court decisions on this topic's terms.
- Civil Remedies and Procedure › Chapter 4. Limitations of Actions › Article 3. Personal Actions GenerallyVA 8.01 § 8.01-249
Cited in 112 court decisions on this topic's terms.
- Civil Remedies and Procedure › Chapter 17. Judgments and Decrees Generally › Article 1. In GeneralVA 8.01 § 8.01-428
Cited in 93 court decisions on this topic's terms.
- Crimes and Offenses Generally › Chapter 4. Crimes Against the Person › Article 1. HomicideVA 18.2 § 18.2-31
Cited in 85 court decisions on this topic's terms.
Federal law
- U.S. Constitution
The supreme law of the United States; its text and amendments guarantee core civil rights and liberties.
- Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution, guaranteeing fundamental individual freedoms.
- Amendments 11–27
- Civil Rights Act of 1871 / Section 1983 (Ku Klux Klan Act)
Provides the principal federal cause of action for individuals to sue state and local government officials for violations of constitutional rights "under color of" state law. Co…
- Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978
Federal law that establishes procedures for the physical and electronic surveillance and collection of "foreign intelligence information" and creates the FISA Court. Codified at…
- National Security Act of 1947
Reorganized the U.S. military and intelligence establishment. Created the Department of Defense, the National Security Council, and the Central Intelligence Agency. Codified pri…
- Real ID Act of 2005
Federal security standards for state-issued IDs accepted by federal agencies.
- Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000
Prohibits land-use regulations that impose a substantial burden on religious exercise and protects religious rights of incarcerated persons. Codified at 42 U.S.C. ch. 21C.
- Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001
Federal law passed after the September 11 attacks that significantly expanded surveillance powers of federal law enforcement agencies. Amended Title 18, Title 50, and the Bank S…
- Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993
Federal law requiring that any federal action that substantially burdens religious exercise pass strict scrutiny. Codified at 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000bb et seq.
- Espionage Act of 1917
Criminalized obtaining, disclosing, or losing national-defense information that injures the United States or aids a foreign nation. Codified at 18 U.S.C. ch. 37. Used in many re…
- USA FREEDOM Act of 2015
Reformed and ended NSA bulk collection of telephone metadata under PATRIOT Act § 215; reauthorized other surveillance provisions with modifications.
Where to go & how to get help
Government agencies and non-profit legal-help organizations for constitutional in Virginia.
Official U.S. government starting point for finding free or low-cost legal help and legal-aid programs near you.
Locate the LSC-funded legal-aid organization that serves your county for civil (non-criminal) legal problems.
Find your state or local bar association lawyer-referral service and free legal-answer programs.
Find your state attorney general to file consumer-protection, civil-rights, or other complaints.
Not legal advice. State-specific statutes, deadlines and procedures are being sourced and will appear here.