"County government as we know it today in West Virginia orginated with the passage of the Judicial Amendment of 1880. The Amendmnet provided for a three-member, elective body; removed most of the county commissioners' judicial functions except limited ones as in settlement of accounts and apppointment of guardians and committees; and retained the county court (now commission) with central authority in fiscal matters as its primary funciton.

West Virginia's counties do not possess inherent rights of self-government. They are under the State's complete control as its creation; and their authority to perform even local functions is spelled out in the Constitution or by legislative enactments. In addition to members of the county commission, the elective official are sheriff, assessor, prosecuting attorney, surveyor, county clerk and circuilt clerk."

- by Richard Shelton, 1913-2000
Founder of the West Virginia Association of Counties