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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>79827</law_id><section_number>2.2-600</section_number><catch_line>Standard nomenclature to be employed</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="2.2">Administration of Government</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">Organization of State Government</unit><unit label="part" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="C">State Agencies Related to the General Operation of Government</unit><unit label="chapter" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="6">General Provisions</unit><unit label="article" level="5" order_by="1" identifier="1">In General</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Every independent administrative entity established by <span class="dictionary">law</span> and every collegial body established by <span class="dictionary">law</span> or executive <span class="dictionary">order</span> within the executive branch of state government shall be designated according to a standard nomenclature system. The following definitions shall be applied:
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Department</span>&#x201D; means an independent administrative agency within the executive branch.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Board</span>&#x201D; means a permanent collegial body affiliated with an agency.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Commission</span>&#x201D; or &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Council</span>&#x201D; means a permanent collegial body either affiliated with more than one agency or independent of an agency within the executive branch.
		&#x201C;Division,&#x201D; &#x201C;Bureau,&#x201D; &#x201C;Section,&#x201D; &#x201C;Unit&#x201D; or other similar titles shall be reserved for internal groupings within agencies.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Office</span>&#x201D; means an administrative <span class="dictionary">office</span> of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> or a governor&#x2019;s secretary.
		Exceptions to this standard nomenclature shall be used only for agencies and entities with unique characteristics requiring unique descriptive titles, including museums, libraries and historic or commemorative attractions.</p></section></text><history>1984, c. 393, &#xA7; 2.1-1.2; 2001, c. 844.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
