State government

The United States is comprised of 50 states, so 50 state governments exist; however, there are also two state-level governments operating in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and Washington, DC. State governments are modeled similarly to the federal government system and include three branches:

• Executive branch: The top executive official is the governor, who shares executive power with a number of other officials, including the lieutenant governor (second-in-command), secretary of state (business and election official), attorney general (chief legal officer who prosecutes those who violate commercial law), treasurer (runs the state’s finances) and commissioner of agriculture (promotes state produce and ensures safety in the industry). All governors are elected through popular vote (typically every four years); the other positions are elected in some states and appointed in others.

• Legislative branch: Each state has its own legislature wherein the elected members can propose bills to become law, raise taxes and receive proposals for legislation from the governor. It plays the same role as does the legislature in the federal system.

• Judiciary: This system deals with state constitutional issues and statutes (laws made by the legislative assembly), as well as US constitutional issues and statutes. The kinds of cases heard by these courts include most criminal cases, personal injuries, family law (marriage, divorce and so on), and most contract and probate (wills and estates of dead people) cases.

Leader

A governor is the leader of a state. A mayor is the leader of a city. A president is the leader of a nation. The citizens of a state elect the governor. In most states, people vote for governor every four years. In Vermont and New Hampshire, people vote for governor every two years.

The job duties of a governor are:

• Governors make sure their states are ready for emergencies. Governors are in charge of state emergencies. For example, if a bad hurricane or tornado hits, the governor makes sure people get the help they need.

• Governors suggest laws. Governors suggest new laws to the state legislature. Governors sign or reject bills. When a law is being written, it is called a bill.

• Governors help come up with their states' budgets. Governors come up with state budgets. A state's budget is a list of how much money to spend on each of the state's programs. The state legislature must approve the governor's budget.

Legislature

The state legislature makes laws at the state level. The state legislature is a group of elected officials from across the state.

State courts decide whether someone has broken a state law.

States are split up into districts, or areas. Each district has representatives in the state legislature. Citizens vote for their district's representatives only.

A bicameral legislature has two groups of representatives. Each group is called a chamber, or house. In states with bicameral legislatures, there is an upper house and a lower house.

• The upper house is called the Senate. The Senate is smaller, and its members often serve longer terms.

• The lower house is called the House of Representatives, the Assembly, or the House of Delegates. The lower house is bigger, and its members often serve shorter terms.

Every state except Nebraska has a bicameral legislature. Nebraska has a unicameral legislature. It has only one house.

What is Does?

• coming up with standards for schools in the state. State standards say what students should learn in each grade.

• setting maximum speed limits for roads in the state. State governments come up with statewide traffic laws, like maximum speed limits. For example, in Wisconsin you can drive up to 70 miles per hour on the highway. In South Dakota, you can drive up to 75 miles per hour.

• giving out marriage licenses. State governments come up with their own marriage laws and give out marriage licenses.

• build highways. State governments build highways in their states.

• collect taxes. State governments get money from taxes. Local and federal governments also collect taxes.

• give out driver's licenses. In order to drive, you need a license. You get a driver's license from your state government. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is run by the state government.

States are in charge of many things, but they cannot go against the federal government. If a state tries to go against a federal law, the federal government can make that state stop.