Government includes the people and resources—as well as departments, agencies, programs, processes, laws, rules, and regulations—that define the relationship between federal, state, and local governments and their citizens. Some legal principles have a unique application when private citizens or entities interact with their governments.

In West Virginia (WV), the government structure is defined by the state constitution, which establishes the relationship between the state and its citizens, as well as between different levels of government—federal, state, and local. The federal government operates under the U.S. Constitution and federal laws, which take precedence over state laws due to the Supremacy Clause. West Virginia has its own set of statutes and regulations that govern the operations of state agencies and departments, the implementation of state programs, and the enforcement of state laws. Local governments in WV, such as counties and municipalities, also have their own ordinances and regulations that apply within their jurisdictions. Legal principles that govern interactions between private citizens or entities and the government include administrative law, which deals with the procedures and actions of government agencies, and constitutional law, which protects the rights of individuals when dealing with government actions. Additionally, the West Virginia Governmental Ethics Act provides guidelines for ethical conduct of public officials and employees. When private citizens or entities interact with the government, they may be subject to different rules and procedures than in private transactions, and they may have recourse through administrative appeals or judicial review if they believe their rights have been violated.