Government Information

Introduction to West Virginia Resources

This guide is designed for new researchers to locate West Virginia government information. Use the navigation on the left to see specific branch resources. If you would like to discuss your research needs further, please contact Matt Steele, the government information librarian.

Key Resources

State of West Virginia | WV
WV.gov is the entry point to West Virginia State government information and services including the Governor, state, local, region and tribal governments and links to government services.
West Virginia Legislature | WV
Allows you to track current legislation and find bills from 1993 to present. User can access committee information, the WV Code, WV Constitution, and agency information.

Nexis Uni This link opens in a new window
Nexis Uni can search state constitutions, statutes, codes, court cases, bills, and laws. Additionally, entries are annotated and hyperlinked.
HeinOnline This link opens in a new window
HeinOnline has several state specific collections, including, the State Constitutions Illustrated, State Attorney General Reports and Opinions, Subject Compilations of State Laws, and more.

West Virginia Blue Book | WV
Published each year, the Blue Book is an extensive guide containing information on current officials in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of state government; federal officers, including the president, congressional representatives and judges; and, political leaders, including party committee chairs and members.

Executive Branch

Governor's Office of West Virginia | WV
Provides information about the West Virginia Governor's Office.
West Virginia State Agencies | WV
Provides a list of West Virginia Agencies.
West Virginia Register | WV
Provides up-to-date information regarding official actions of state government.
West Virginia Code of State Rules | Nexis Uni
Regulations that dictate the functions of government bodies. Searchable using Nexis Uni interface. Entries are annotated and hyperlinked.
West Virginia Code of State Rules | WV
Regulations that dictate the functions of government bodies. Entries are searchable using WV's Secretary of State interface.

Legislative Branch

West Virginia Legislature | WV
Allows you to track current legislation and find bills from 1993 to present. User can access committee information, the WV Code, WV Constitution, and agency information.
West Virginia Legislature - Live | WV
West Virginia Legislature Live streams proceedings on the floor of House of Delegates and Senate. Also streams all committee sessions. Includes archived streams.
West Virginia Sessions Law Library | HeinOnline
West Virginia Legislative Histories. Searchable using the HeinOnline interface.
Political Science | Nexis Uni
Find and track bills using the Nexis Uni interface. Entries are annotated and hyperlinked.

Judicial Branch

West Virginia Code | Nexis Uni
Search the WV Code using Nexis Uni's interface. Entries are annotated and hyperlinked.
West Virginia Code | WV
Official government listing for the code of West Virginia.
West Virginia Judiciary
Explore the court system and the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.
West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Opinions (Current Year)
Links to all decisions filed in the current term of court.
West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Opinions (1991-Present)
Opinions from the September 1991 term of court to the present day.
U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
Opinions issued by the court from 1996 to present.
U.S. District Court, Southern District of West Virginia
The Southern District of West Virginia offers a database of opinions for the years 2000 to present.
United States District Court Northern District of West Virginia
The Norther District of West Virginia opinions for the years 1989 - Present

Primary and Historical Collections

West Virginia Constitution and Other Related Works | HeinOnline
This collection contains the WV Constitution as well as formative documents that led to its creation. Additional has a collection of scholarly articles discussing the Constitution.
West Virginia Constitution | WV
Constitution from official WV government website
West Virginia Constitution | Nexis Uni
Search the Constitution of West Virginia using Nexis Uni's interface. Entries are annotated and hyperlinked.
Va. v. W. Va., 78 U.S. 39
Supreme Court case in which the validity of West Virginia’s statehood was challenged.
West Virginia Prestatehood Legal Materials | HeinOnline
Collection of legal materials leading up to the formation of West Virginia as a state.
Debates and Proceedings of the First Constitutional Convention of West Virginia (1861-1863)
West Virginia Blue Book (1916-1963) | Hathitrust
Historic collection of WV Blue Books.
West Virginia and Regional History Collection
Search the WVRHC for great primary documents on the state.
American Memory Historical Collections | West Virginia State Guide
Materials related to West Virginia are provided for most of the collections listed below. Search on the term West Virginia to locate additional resources within these American Memory collections.

Guide for West Virginia Government Information

Government Information Librarian