How to get to the General Assembly and what to do when you get there.

Prior to this year’s session, I had visited the Virginia General Assembly only a few times. I’d followed it closely in the news and via their website, I’ve met delegates and senators here and there, and I’ve been acquainted with people at all levels of state government. But to actually attend a GA session and sit in and watch the carryings-on is to get a different (and superior) view altogether.

Here’s how you can do the same.

The first thing to realize is that Virginia has a part-time legislature. You can only go when they’re in session, which is ostensibly six weeks on odd-numbered years and eight weeks on even-numbered years, but they’ve been going long recently. So if you’re intending to go in July, you’re (probably) out of luck.

The second thing to do is to pick a day. It’s got to be between Monday and Friday. Realistically, you can go any of those days and have an enjoyable and interesting time. But there are some caveats for the discerning visitor. Fridays the legislators like to cut out early to go home, so the first four days of the week are best. Check the meeting schedule for the coming days and see what appeals to you. Were I going today, I think I’d have wanted to get there by the 8:30am House Transportation committee meeting or, failing that, when the House and the Senate convened at noon. Then I think I’d go to the Senate Transportation meeting, half an hour after the Senate adjourned, and I think I’d cut out after that. But that’s just because I’m interested in transportation. You’ll want to tailor your schedule to your interests.

The third thing to do is to figure out how to get there. I’m a country boy. I’d like to think of myself as a city boy, having lived in downtown Charlottesville, but that is, by the definition of many city-dwellers, actually country. I don’t handle traffic well. Merging is no good. Traffic is unfathomable. I quake at the thought of driving in any place that promotes “traffic and weather on the eights” or where news outlets have helicopters to see where there’s traffic. The fact that 95, 64, and 295 convene in Richmond tells me that I should stay away. Somehow, I handle getting to Richmond. For me it’s straight east on 64 for an hour, and then I follow the signs to downtown. Getting around in Richmond can be infuriating. Just know that you’re going to the corner of 9th and Broad, and circle around that area until you follow some signs to a parking garage. Once you’ve parked, leave a trail of breadcrumbs as you walk to the General Assembly. Try not to feel awkward when passing the bus stops, where everybody waiting for the bus is black and everybody walking by briskly bearing briefcases is white.

Congratulations, you’ve made it to the General Assembly. Now what do you do?

First, understand that there are two buildings. There’s the General Assembly Building (known as the GAB) which, confusingly, does not contain the General Assembly. That’s where the committee rooms and all of the representatives’ offices are. Two doors down is the temporary home of the General Assembly itself (known as the Patrick Henry Building). Just follow the flow of foot traffic. As a peon, you may not enter the building the way that everybody else does — you have to circle around to the Broad Street entrance. Getting into either building requires going through a metal detector. I could not possibly tell you why, since both guns and knives are permitted — nay, encouraged — at the General Assembly. So pack that Glock.

Second, it’s a good thing that you printed out a copy of the day’s meeting schedule, because otherwise you won’t know where to go. (You did print one out, didn’t you? No? That’s OK — there’s a copy hanging just inside the doors of the GAB, straight ahead.) Go up to the front counter and ask for a copy of today’s floor calendar. You will be handed a booklet of the legislative agendas. Now you can follow what’s being discussed. Good for you. Pat yourself on the back for your resourcefulness.

Third, understand the layout of the building. To your left are the two Senate committee rooms. To your right are the two House committee rooms. The middle of the building is where the banks of elevators are, where the coatroom is and — this is very important — where the bathrooms are. (It’s my understanding that there are bathrooms elsewhere in the building, but why take the risk? If you hang out in these bathrooms just after the end of the floor session, you can see which representatives wash their hands and which ones don’t. If you’re male, you can see which representatives piss hands-free, which I’m convinced that they do just to show off.) Over your head, for many levels, are the offices of representatives. You can find who is where using the directory on the wall in the back left of the building. Alternately, you can ask at the front desk for the directory of legislators, which is pretty handy — it’s got pictures and everything. Somewhere up there is a cafeteria, too, but I forget what level it’s on. (Last time I went there I shared an elevator with Sen. John Edwards. I asked him where it was, but he pushed the button for me. I’m thinking the seventh floor.)

Fourth, match up your schedule with your surroundings. Want to be in House Room C? Go to the right side of the building. Senate Room A? Left side. House Room B? Ha! That’s a trick question — there is no House Room B. (I think.) Want to watch the proceedings of the House or the Senate? They’re broadcast via closed-circuit TV from the Patrick Henry Building and shown on projection screens in their respective committee rooms.

Congratulations, you’re oriented. Here are a few miscellaneous tips.

• Feel free to visit your representative or, in fact, anybody’s representative. You won’t have much luck doing so while she is in a meeting, of course, so make sure that her committee isn’t meeting. Mornings are good, in my experience. You can always call and make an appointment first. Make sure you have something to say. I’ve called on a couple of dozen representatives so far and, without exception, they have been polite and friendly, Democrats and Republicans alike. Bonus hint: Try not to surprise Del. Jack Reid. Knock first. Better yet, call ahead. You’re packing that Glock, right?
• Most of the people around you have no idea of what’s going on. They, too, are day-trippers. So the good news is that you don’t need to pretend to be an old hand. The bad news is that the people around you generally know less than you do.
• Don’t try to get into Richmond between 8-9 or out of Richmond between 4:30-6:00. At least, don’t try if you’re a country boy (or girl). It’s maddening.
• If possible, find time to witness a floor session, a committee meeting, and a subcommittee meeting. They’re all different beasts with different interactions and different processes, and seeing all three helps to get a full sense of things.
• Don’t be nervous about attending committee meetings or subcommittee meetings. It’s OK to arrive or depart in the middle of the meeting — nobody cares. Just sit and watch for as long as you’re interested and leave if you get too bored. This is not a mandatory assignment, so don’t make it torturous.
• Parking is $3 an hour, $12 if you stay for 4 hours or longer. You’ll need to have cash or a check. It costs me $12 every time I go. I’m told by people smarter than me that there are garages that take credit cards and that are cheaper than $12. This is a filthy lie.
• If possible, blog about your visit. What bills were considered, what surprised you, what did you learn, who did you meet with, etc?

Have fun!