n the United States, federal laws are made by the U.S. Congress: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Virginia General Assembly is the state law-making body. This General Assembly also has two parts—the House of Delegates and the State Senate.

Local laws are made in Albemarle County by the legislative body called the Board of Supervisors and by the City Council in Charlottesville. All legislators are elected by the people and part of their job is to listen to the people in their district and represent their views.

If you do not like a law, or want to see changes in a law, don’t be afraid to contact one of these representatives, even if you are not a citizen. It is their job to represent all people in the area.