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South Dakota is a landlocked state in the North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Dakota Sioux tribe,which comprises a large portion of the population —with nine reservations currently in the state —and has historically dominated the territory. South Dakota is the 17th-largest by area,but the fifth-least populous,and the fifth-least densely populated of the 50 United States. Pierre is the state capital,and Sioux Falls,with a population of about 213,900,is South Dakota's most populous city. The state is bisected by the Missouri River,dividing South Dakota into two geographically and socially distinct halves,known to residents as "East River" and "West River". South Dakota is bordered by North Dakota to the north,Minnesota to the east,Iowa to the southeast,Nebraska to the south,Wyoming to the west,and Montana to the northwest.
The governor of South Dakota is the head of government of South Dakota. The governor is elected to a four-year term in even years when there is no presidential election. The current governor is Kristi Noem,a member of the Republican Party who took office on January 5,2019.
Timothy Peter Johnson was an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States senator from South Dakota from 1997 to 2015. A member of the Democratic Party,he served as the United States representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district from 1987 to 1997 and in the state legislature from 1979 to 1987. Johnson is the last Democrat to hold statewide and/or congressional office in South Dakota. He and Stephanie Herseth are also the last Democrats to win a statewide election in South Dakota,as well as a federal election.
Marion Michael Rounds is an American businessman and politician serving as the junior United States senator from South Dakota since 2015. A member of the Republican Party,he served as the 31st governor of South Dakota from 2003 to 2011.
Richard Francis Kneip was an American diplomat and politician who served as the 25th governor of South Dakota from 1971 until 1978 and the 6th United States Ambassador to the Republic of Singapore. He was a member of the Democratic Party and the first Catholic Governor of South Dakota.
Ellis James Abdnor was an American politician who served as a member of the United States Senate from South Dakota. He was also the 15th Administrator of the Small Business Administration under presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush.
John Randolph Thune is an American politician serving as the senior United States senator from South Dakota,a seat he has held since 2005. A member of the Republican Party,he has been elected the Senate majority leader and Senate Republican leader,a post he is to assume in January 2025. Thune is in his fourth Senate term and is the Senate minority whip,a post he has held since 2021,and the dean of South Dakota's congressional delegation. From 1997 to 2003 he served three terms as the U.S. representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district.
The South Dakota Supreme Court is the highest court in the state of South Dakota. It is composed of a chief justice and four associate justices appointed by the governor. One justice is selected from each of five geographic appointment districts. Justices face a nonpolitical retention election three years after appointment and every eight years after that. The justices also select their own chief justice.
Robert Jackson Gamble was an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative and Senator from South Dakota. He was the father of Ralph A. Gamble and brother of John Rankin Gamble,members of South Dakota's prominent Gamble family.
Dennis Martin Daugaard is an American attorney and politician who served as the 32nd governor of South Dakota from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party,he was the first chief executive of a U.S. state to be the child of deaf parents. Before being elected governor,he was a lawyer,banker,development director for a nonprofit organization;he also served as a state senator from 1997 to 2003 and the 37th lieutenant governor of South Dakota from 2003 to 2011.
Coe Isaac Crawford was an American attorney and politician from South Dakota. He served as the sixth Governor and as a U.S. Senator.
Warren Everett Green was an American politician who served as the 13th governor of South Dakota. Green,a Republican from Hazel,South Dakota,served from 1931 to 1933. He was also a state senator from 1913 through 1915,and again from 1923 to 1927.
Francis Higbee Case was an American journalist and politician who served for 25 years as a member of the United States Congress from South Dakota. He was a Republican.
Benjamin Reifel,also known as Lone Feather,was a Lakota Sioux public administrator and politician. He had a career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs,retiring as area administrator. He ran for the US Congress from the East River region of South Dakota,and was elected as the first Lakota to serve in the House of Representatives. He served five terms as a Republican United States Congressman from the First District,from 1961 to 1971.
The structure of the government of South Dakota is based on that of the federal government,with three branches of government:executive,legislative,and judicial. The structure of the state government is laid out in the Constitution of South Dakota,the highest law in the state. The constitution may be amended either by a majority vote of both houses of the legislature,or by voter initiative.
Roger Leland Wollman is a senior United States Circuit Judge and former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. He is the older brother of Harvey Wollman,former Governor of South Dakota.
George Theodore Mickelson was an American lawyer,16th Attorney General of South Dakota and 18th Governor of South Dakota,and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. He is the patriarch of the prominent Mickelson family of South Dakota.
Larry Rhoden is an American politician and businessman serving as the 39th lieutenant governor of South Dakota since 2019.
Richard L. Sattgast is an American politician who serves as the state auditor of South Dakota for the second time having served two terms previously (2003–2011). He formerly served as state treasurer (2011–2019).
Dustin Michael Johnson is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district since 2019. A member of the Republican Party,he served as South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner from 2005 to 2011,when he was appointed chief of staff to Governor Dennis Daugaard,a position he held until 2014. Between his state political career and congressional service,Johnson was the vice president of Vantage Point Solutions in Mitchell,South Dakota.