Comparison of U.S. state and territory governments

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In the United States, the government of each of the 50 states is structured in accordance with its individual constitution. In turn, each state constitution must be grounded in republican principles. Article IV, Section 4, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution tasks the federal government with assuring that each state's government is so organized. [1]

Contents

All state governments are modeled after the federal government and consist of three branches (although the three-branch structure is not Constitutionally required): executive, legislative, and judicial. [2] [3] All state governments are also organized as presidential systems where the governor is both head of government and head of state (even though this too is not required). The government of each of the five permanently inhabited U.S. territories is modeled and organized in a like fashion.

Each state is itself a sovereign entity, and as such, reserves the right to organize in any way (within the above stated parameter) deemed appropriate by its people. As a result, while the governments of the various states share many similar features, they often vary greatly with regard to form and substance. No two state governments are identical. The following tables compare and contrast some of the features of U.S. state governments.

Legislative

With the exception of Nebraska, all American state legislatures are bicameral, meaning there is one legislative body separated into two units. Nebraska eliminated its lower house with a referendum during the 1936 elections. Also, some systems, such as the New York State Legislature, have two legislative bodies while never technically referring to them in the state constitution as a single body. These dual systems are generally considered bicameral.

State legislative branchLower houseUpper houseRatioTotal size
NameSizeTerm length (years)Term limitNameSizeTerm length (years)Term limitFilibuster possibleLower to Upper house size
Alabama Legislature Alabama House of Representatives 1054None Alabama Senate 354NoneCheck-green.svg3140
Alaska Legislature Alaska House of Representatives 402None Alaska Senate 204NoneCheck-green.svg260
Arizona Legislature Arizona House of Representatives 602Four consecutive terms [4] Arizona Senate 302Four consecutive terms [4] Dark Red x.svg290
Arkansas General Assembly Arkansas House of Representatives 1002Three terms Arkansas Senate 352 or 4Two 4 year termsCheck-green.svg2.857143135
California State Legislature California State Assembly 80212 years in either house, combined [note 1] California State Senate 40412 years in either house, combined [note 1] Dark Red x.svg2120
Colorado General Assembly Colorado House of Representatives 652Four consecutive terms Colorado Senate 354Two consecutive termsDark Red x.svg1.857143100
Connecticut General Assembly Connecticut House of Representatives 1512None Connecticut Senate 362NoneCheck-green.svg4.194444187
Delaware General Assembly Delaware House of Representatives 412None Delaware Senate 212 or 4NoneDark Red x.svg1.95238162
Florida Legislature Florida House of Representatives 1202Four terms Florida Senate 402 or 4Two termsCheck-green.svg3160
Georgia General Assembly Georgia House of Representatives 1802None Georgia Senate 562NoneDark Red x.svg3.214286236
Hawaii State Legislature Hawaii House of Representatives 512None Hawaii Senate 254NoneCheck-green.svg2.0476
Idaho Legislature Idaho House of Representatives 702None Idaho Senate 352NoneCheck-green.svg2105
Illinois General Assembly Illinois House of Representatives 1182None Illinois Senate 592 or 4NoneDark Red x.svg2177
Indiana General Assembly Indiana House of Representatives 1002None Indiana Senate 504NoneDark Red x.svg2150
Iowa General Assembly Iowa House of Representatives 1002None Iowa Senate 504NoneDark Red x.svg2150
Kansas Legislature Kansas House of Representatives 1252None Kansas Senate 404NoneDark Red x.svg3.125165
Kentucky General Assembly Kentucky House of Representatives 1002None Kentucky Senate 384NoneDark Red x.svg2.631579138
Louisiana State Legislature Louisiana House of Representatives 1054Three terms Louisiana State Senate 394Three termsDark Red x.svg2.692308144
Maine Legislature Maine House of Representatives 1532Four terms Maine Senate 352Four termsCheck-green.svg4.371429188
Maryland General Assembly Maryland House of Delegates 1414None Maryland State Senate 474NoneDark Red x.svg3188
General Court of Massachusetts Massachusetts House of Representatives 1602None Massachusetts Senate 402NoneDark Red x.svg4200
Michigan Legislature Michigan House of Representatives 110212 years in either house, combined Michigan Senate 38412 years in either house, combinedDark Red x.svg2.894737148
Minnesota Legislature Minnesota House of Representatives 1342None Minnesota Senate 672 or 4NoneDark Red x.svg2201
Mississippi Legislature Mississippi House of Representatives 1224None Mississippi State Senate 524NoneCheck-green.svg2.346154174
Missouri General Assembly Missouri House of Representatives 1632Four terms [5] Missouri Senate 344Eight years [5] (Two terms)Check-green.svg4.794118197
Montana State Legislature Montana House of Representatives 1002Four terms Montana Senate 504Two termsDark Red x.svg2150
Nebraska Legislature ———— Nebraska Legislature 494Two termsCheck-green.svg—49
Nevada Legislature Nevada Assembly 422Six terms Nevada Senate 214Three termsDark Red x.svg263
New Hampshire General Court New Hampshire House of Representatives 4002None New Hampshire Senate 242NoneDark Red x.svg16.66667424
New Jersey Legislature New Jersey General Assembly 802None New Jersey Senate 402 or 4NoneDark Red x.svg2120
New Mexico Legislature New Mexico House of Representatives 702None New Mexico Senate 424NoneDark Red x.svg1.666667112
New York State Legislature New York State Assembly 1502None New York State Senate 632NoneDark Red x.svg2.380952213
North Carolina General Assembly North Carolina House of Representatives 1202None North Carolina Senate 502NoneDark Red x.svg2.4170
North Dakota Legislative Assembly North Dakota House of Representatives 944Two terms North Dakota Senate 474Two termsDark Red x.svg2141
Ohio General Assembly Ohio House of Representatives 992Four terms Ohio Senate 334Two termsDark Red x.svg3132
Oklahoma Legislature Oklahoma House of Representatives 101212 years in either house, combined Oklahoma Senate 48412 years in either house, combinedDark Red x.svg2.104167149
Oregon Legislative Assembly Oregon House of Representatives 602None [note 2] Oregon State Senate 304None [note 3] Dark Red x.svg290
Pennsylvania General Assembly Pennsylvania House of Representatives 2032None Pennsylvania State Senate 504NoneDark Red x.svg4.06253
Rhode Island General Assembly Rhode Island House of Representatives 752None Rhode Island Senate 382NoneDark Red x.svg1.973684113
South Carolina General Assembly South Carolina House of Representatives 1242None South Carolina Senate 464NoneCheck-green.svg2.695652170
South Dakota State Legislature South Dakota House of Representatives 702Four terms South Dakota Senate 354Two termsDark Red x.svg2105
Tennessee General Assembly Tennessee House of Representatives 992None Tennessee Senate 334NoneDark Red x.svg3132
Texas Legislature Texas House of Representatives 1502None Texas Senate 312 or 4NoneCheck-green.svg4.83871181
Utah State Legislature Utah House of Representatives 752None Utah State Senate 294NoneCheck-green.svg2.586207104
Vermont General Assembly Vermont House of Representatives 1502None Vermont Senate 302NoneCheck-green.svg5180
Virginia General Assembly Virginia House of Delegates 1002None Senate of Virginia 404NoneDark Red x.svg2.5140
Washington State Legislature Washington House of Representatives 982None Washington State Senate 494NoneDark Red x.svg2147
West Virginia Legislature West Virginia House of Delegates 1002None West Virginia Senate 344NoneDark Red x.svg2.941176134
Wisconsin Legislature Wisconsin State Assembly 992None Wisconsin Senate 334NoneDark Red x.svg3132
Wyoming Legislature Wyoming House of Representatives 622None Wyoming Senate 314NoneDark Red x.svg290

Supermajority requirements

While only 13 states have a filibuster, there are often restrictions on the majority a state needs to raise taxes.

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  Effective supermajority system
  Majority rule (22)
  Mixed system
Key StateNotes
AlabamaThe Alabama State Senate allows a filibuster, and has a general three-fifths requirement to enact cloture. A simple majority of 18 is acceptable when dealing with the budget and redistricting. [6]
ArkansasArkansas, along with Rhode Island, is one of the only states that requires a supermajority to pass a budget. A three-fourths majority is required for appropriations, except for education, highways, and paying down the state debt, which require a simple majority. [7]
California From 1933 to 2011 there was a two-thirds requirement for general fund appropriations for purposes other than public schools (Const., Art. IV, Sec. 12). Because the Legislature typically passes one main budget bill, the requirement effectively applied to the whole budget bill. [7] There has been a two-thirds requirement for tax increases since Proposition 13 in 1978. In 2010, voters approved Proposition 25, eliminating the 2/3 requirement for the budget, but keeping it for tax increases.

Executive

The governor is the chief executive official in each state.

StateGovernor term length (years)Governor term limitFirst in line of successionLieutenant Governor method of electionSecretary of StateAttorney GeneralTreasurer
Alabama 4Two consecutive terms Lieutenant Governor Separate election Elected Elected Elected
Alaska 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Same ticket in general election, separate election in primaryDark Red x.svg Appointed by Governor Appointed by Governor
Arizona 4Two consecutive terms [note 4] Secretary of State [note 5] From 2026: Same ticket Elected Elected Elected
Arkansas 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Separate election Elected Elected Elected
California 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Separate election Elected Elected Elected
Colorado 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Same ticket Elected Elected Elected
Connecticut 4None Lieutenant Governor Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary Elected Elected Elected
Delaware 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Separate election Appointed by Governor Elected Elected
Florida 4Two consecutive terms Lieutenant Governor Same ticket Appointed by Governor Elected Elected
Georgia 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Separate election Elected Elected Appointed by Governor
Hawaii 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Same ticket in general election, separate election in primaryDark Red x.svg Appointed by Governor Appointed by Governor
Idaho 4None Lieutenant Governor Separate election Elected Elected Elected
Illinois 4None Lieutenant Governor Same ticket Elected Elected Elected
Indiana 4Two terms in a 12-year period [note 6] Lieutenant Governor Same ticket Elected Elected Elected
Iowa 4None Lieutenant Governor Same ticket Elected Elected Elected
Kansas 4There is no lifetime limit on the number, but one must be out of office for at least one election cycle after serving 2 consecutive terms before being eligible again. Lieutenant Governor Same ticket Elected Elected Elected
Kentucky 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Same ticket Elected Elected Elected
Louisiana 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Separate election Elected Elected Elected
Maine 4Two consecutive terms President of the Senate Elected by legislature Elected by legislature Elected by legislature
Maryland 4Two consecutive terms Lieutenant Governor Same ticket Appointed by Governor Elected Elected by legislature
Massachusetts 4None Lieutenant Governor Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary Elected Elected Elected
Michigan 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Same ticket Elected Elected Appointed by Governor
Minnesota 4None Lieutenant Governor Same ticket Elected Elected Appointed by Governor
Mississippi 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Separate election Elected Elected Elected
Missouri 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Separate election Elected Elected Elected
Montana 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Same ticket Elected Elected Appointed by Governor
Nebraska 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Same ticket Elected Elected Elected
Nevada 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Separate election Elected Elected Elected
New Hampshire 2None President of the Senate Elected by legislature Appointed by Governor Elected by legislature
New Jersey 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Same ticket Appointed by Governor Appointed by Governor Appointed by Governor
New Mexico 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary Elected Elected Elected
New York 4None Lieutenant Governor Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary Appointed by Governor Elected Elected
North Carolina 4Two consecutive terms Lieutenant Governor Separate election Elected Elected Elected
North Dakota 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Same ticket Elected Elected Elected
Ohio 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Same ticket Elected Elected Elected
Oklahoma 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Separate election Appointed by Governor Elected Elected
Oregon 4Two consecutive terms Secretary of State Elected Elected Elected
Pennsylvania 4Two consecutive terms [note 4] Lieutenant Governor Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary Appointed by Governor Elected Elected
Rhode Island 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Separate election Elected Elected Elected
South Carolina 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Same ticket Elected Elected Elected
South Dakota 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Same ticket Elected Elected Elected
Tennessee 4Two terms Speaker of the Senate Title given to Speaker of the Senate Elected by legislature Appointed by Supreme Court Elected by legislature
Texas 4None Lieutenant Governor Separate election Appointed by Governor Elected Elected
Utah 4None Lieutenant Governor Same ticketDark Red x.svg Elected Elected
Vermont 2None Lieutenant Governor Separate election Elected Elected Elected
Virginia 4No limit on number, but terms cannot be consecutive Lieutenant Governor Separate election Appointed by Governor Elected Appointed by Governor
Washington 4None Lieutenant Governor Separate election Elected Elected Appointed by Governor
West Virginia 4Two terms Lieutenant Governor Title given to President of the Senate Elected Elected Elected
Wisconsin 4None Lieutenant Governor Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary Elected Elected Elected
Wyoming 4Two terms Secretary of State Elected Appointed by Governor Elected

Note: Table does not distinguish between consecutive term limits and total term limits, unless otherwise noted.

Judicial

StateHighest courtHigh court seatsHigh court termHigh court judicial placement methodMandatory retirement age [note 7]
Alabama Supreme Court of Alabama 96 yearsPartisan election
Alaska Alaska Supreme Court 510 years Missouri Plan
Arizona Arizona Supreme Court 76 years Missouri Plan 70
Arkansas Arkansas Supreme Court 78 yearsNon-partisan election
California Supreme Court of California 712 yearsModified Missouri Plan
Colorado Colorado Supreme Court 710 years Missouri Plan
Connecticut Connecticut Supreme Court 78 years [8] Election by State Legislature70
Delaware Delaware Supreme Court 512 yearsAppointment by Governor
Florida Florida Supreme Court 76 yearsModified Missouri Plan 70 (or end of current term)
Georgia Supreme Court of Georgia 76 yearsNon-partisan election
Hawaii Supreme Court of Hawaii 510 yearsAppointment by Governor70
Idaho Idaho Supreme Court 56 yearsNon-partisan election
Illinois Supreme Court of Illinois 710 yearsPartisan election
Indiana Indiana Supreme Court 510 years [note 8] Missouri Plan 75 [note 9]
Iowa Iowa Supreme Court 78 years Missouri Plan 72
Kansas Kansas Supreme Court 76 years Missouri Plan 70 (or end of current term)
Kentucky Kentucky Supreme Court 78 yearsNon-partisan election
Louisiana Supreme Court of Louisiana 710 yearsPartisan election
Maine Maine Supreme Judicial Court 77 yearsAppointment by Governor
Maryland Supreme Court of Maryland [note 10] 710 yearsAppointment by Governor70
Massachusetts Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court 7LifetimeAppointment by Governor70
Michigan Michigan Supreme Court 78 yearsNon-partisan election [note 11] Must be under 70 at time of election
Minnesota Minnesota Supreme Court 76 yearsNon-partisan election70
Mississippi Supreme Court of Mississippi 98 yearsNon-partisan election
Missouri Supreme Court of Missouri 712 years Missouri Plan
Montana Montana Supreme Court 78 yearsNon-partisan election
Nebraska Nebraska Supreme Court 76 years Missouri Plan
Nevada Supreme Court of Nevada 76 yearsNon-partisan election
New Hampshire New Hampshire Supreme Court 5LifetimeAppointment by Governor70
New Jersey New Jersey Supreme Court 77 years [9] Appointment by Governor70
New Mexico New Mexico Supreme Court 58 yearsPartisan election/Retention election
New York New York Court of Appeals 714 yearsAppointment by Governor70 (at end of calendar year)
North Carolina North Carolina Supreme Court 78 yearsNon-partisan election
North Dakota North Dakota Supreme Court 510 yearsNon-partisan election
Ohio Ohio Supreme Court 76 yearsPartisan election70 (at end of term)
Oklahoma Oklahoma Supreme Court
Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals 		Supreme Court: 9
Court of Criminal Appeals: 5		6 years (both) Missouri Plan
Oregon Oregon Supreme Court 76 yearsNon-partisan election75
Pennsylvania Supreme Court of Pennsylvania 710 yearsPartisan election78
Rhode Island Rhode Island Supreme Court 5Lifetime [10] Missouri Plan None [10]
South Carolina South Carolina Supreme Court 510 yearsElection by State Legislature72
South Dakota South Dakota Supreme Court 58 yearsNon-partisan election
Tennessee Tennessee Supreme Court 58 years Tennessee Plan (Modified Missouri Plan)
Texas Texas Supreme Court
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals 		9 (both)6 years (both)Partisan election75 (may finish term or 4 years of term, whichever is shorter)
Utah Utah Supreme Court 54 years Missouri Plan
Vermont Vermont Supreme Court 56 yearsElection by State Legislature
Virginia Supreme Court of Virginia 712 yearsElection by State Legislature70 [11]
Washington Washington Supreme Court 96 yearsNon-partisan election75
West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia 512 yearsPartisan election
Wisconsin Wisconsin Supreme Court 710 yearsNon-partisan election
Wyoming Wyoming Supreme Court 58 years Missouri Plan

Note: Table does not distinguish between term lengths that result in a new election and term lengths that result in a retention vote but not a full election. g

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 The new limit was decided by referendum as Proposition 28, in June 2012. Between 1990 and that date, one could serve 3 terms in the House and 2 in the Senate, which means the new limit is globally earlier but roughly doubles in each body.
  2. ↑ State representatives were limited to three terms (6 years) until term limits were repealed by Oregon Ballot Measure 3 (1992).
  3. ↑ State senators were limited to two terms (8 years) until term limits were repealed by Oregon Ballot Measure 3 (1992).
  4. 1 2 There are no limits on the number of terms a governor may serve in total as long as there is a four-year break after a second term.
  5. ↑ Office of lieutenant governor, created in 2022, will be implemented in 2026.
  6. ↑ Governors of Indiana may serve an unlimited number of terms, but may only serve for eight years in any twelve-year period. (Constitution of Indiana Article 5)
  7. ↑ Uncompleted entries do not indicate the lack of a retirement age, only a lack of data in this article. States without a mandatory retirement age will indicate "None".
  8. ↑ Retention election held after two years of service. Mandatory retirement at age 75.
  9. ↑ The Indiana retirement age is the same regardless of the length of the Justice's remaining term.
  10. ↑ Name officially changed from Maryland Court of Appeals in 2022.
  11. ↑ While Michigan law stipulates that State Supreme Court judges be listed on the "non-partisan" section on the ballot, only candidates who have been nominated by political parties with ballot access at their respective state conventions are allowed to stand in the succeeding general election. Subsequently, each party is only allowed to nominate as many candidates as there are supreme court seats up for election in a given year.

References

  1. ↑ Natelson, Robert G. "Essays on Article IV: Guarantee Clause". The Heritage Foundation. Archived from the original on April 21, 2012.
  2. ↑ "State & Local Government". White House . The White House.
  3. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions About the Minnesota Legislature". Minnesota State Legislature.
  4. 1 2 "Arizona Constitution, Art. 4, Part 2, Sec. 21". Archived from the original on May 4, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Missouri Constitution, Art. III, Sec. 8
  6. ↑ "Welcome to the Alabama State Legislature". Archived from the original on February 7, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  7. 1 2 Fiscal Policy, State Budgets and Tax Actions | News and Information
  8. ↑ Judgepedia.org, Connecticut Supreme Court, found here.
  9. ↑ Refers to initial "probation" period. If the governor reappoints them (almost universally true) they then serve for life
  10. 1 2 Linda Greenhouse, "The Case for Term Limits on the Supreme Court with Linda Greenhouse", Yale Political Union, May 28, 2009,
  11. ↑ Aaron Applegate, Mike Saewitz, "Bill seeks to raise mandatory retirement age for judges to 73", The Virginian-Pilot, February 4, 2010,

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