- State governments are organized a lot like the National Government. Constitutions outline each government's structure. They set up three branches of government-legislative, executive, and judicial.
- State Constitutions
- Since the United States began, written constitutions have been a tthe base of its two levels of government-national and State. Each of the 50 States has a constitution. A State consitutionis the highest law among all the State's laws. Its constitution spells out how the State's government is organized. It also divides power among the branches of government. Each State's constitution, however, must follow the Constitution of the United States. No part of a State constitution can go against federal law.
- State Legislatures
- Every State constitution sets up a lawmaking branch. Most States call this their legislature. But some States call it the General Assembly, the LEgislative Assembly, or the General Court.
- In all States but one, the legislature is bicameral, or having two houses. Each of these 49 States calls its upper house the Senate. The lower house is usually called the House of Representatives. But some States use the name General Assembly or House of Delegates. Nebraska's legislature has only one house, called the Unicameral (one-house) Legislature.
- The State constitutions also set up rules for its legislators. For example, moste States require a representative to be at least 21 years old. Senatores usually must be 25.
- In most States, legislators attend sessions for siz months every year. Most legislatures can call extra meetings, if they need them.
- State constitutions often identify some-though not all- of the legislatures' powers. They may discuss the powers to taz, spend, borrow, and set up courts. They may also list nonlegislative powers, which may include the right to approve appointments of certain officials and the power to impeach State officers.
- Each State legislature has the same basic organization. For instance, the lower house in all States (except Nebraska) elects its leader, called the speaker. In some States the senate, the upper house, also elects its leadeer. In other States, the leader of the senate is the State's lieutenant governor. The leaders of bout houses run the legislature's floor business. They make sure members follow their house's rules. They call on members who want to speak. And they send bills to committees for study. Like Congress, State legislatures do much of their owrk in committees.
- The State Lawmaking Process
- The steps in how a bill becomes a law in a State legislature are a lot like the steps followed by Congress. Legally, a legislator must introduce a bill in either house of a State legislature. But the ideas for the bills themselves come from both public sources, like State officers and local government agenciesm and private sourcesm like interest groups or businesses. Several States let voters take a direct part in the lwmaking process through iniative and referendum.