Comparison of U.S. state governments

Comparison of U.S. state governments

The states of the United States have individual and unique governments with many similarities. All states are required by the constitution to have republican governments. Despite their similarities, all states have different government structures and procedures.

The following tables compare some of the features of state governments, and the District of Columbia, in the United States.

Contents

Executive

See also: Gubernatorial term limits
State Governor term length Governor term limit Lieutenant Governor First in line of succession
Alabama Four years Two consecutive terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
Alaska Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
Arizona Four years Two consecutive terms[note 1] No Secretary of State
Arkansas Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
California Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
Colorado Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
Connecticut Four years None Yes Lieutenant Governor
Delaware Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
District of Columbia Mayoral term: Four years Mayor: None No District of Columbia Council Chairman[1]
Florida Four years Two consecutive terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
Georgia Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
Hawaii Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
Idaho Four years None Yes Lieutenant Governor
Illinois Four years None Yes Lieutenant Governor
Indiana Four years Two terms in a 12-year period[note 2] Yes Lieutenant Governor
Iowa Four years None Yes Lieutenant Governor
Kansas Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
Kentucky Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
Louisiana Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
Maine Four years Two terms No President of the Senate
Maryland Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
Massachusetts Four years None Yes Lieutenant Governor
Michigan Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
Minnesota Four years None Yes Lieutenant Governor
Mississippi Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
Missouri Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
Montana Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
Nebraska Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
Nevada Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
New Hampshire Two years None No President of the Senate
New Jersey Four years Two terms Yes[note 3] Lieutenant Governor
New Mexico Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
New York Four years None Yes Lieutenant Governor
North Carolina Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
North Dakota Four years None Yes Lieutenant Governor
Ohio Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
Oklahoma Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
Oregon Four years Two consecutive terms No Secretary of State
Pennsylvania Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
Rhode Island Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
South Carolina Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
South Dakota Four years Two terms Yes Lieutenant Governor
Tennessee Four years Two terms Yes[note 4] President of the Senate
Texas Four years None Yes Lieutenant Governor
Utah Four years None Yes Lieutenant Governor
Vermont Two years None Yes Lieutenant Governor
Virginia Four years No limit on number, but terms cannot be consecutive Yes Lieutenant Governor
Washington Four years None Yes Lieutenant Governor
West Virginia Four years Two terms Yes[note 5] President of the West Virginia Senate
Wisconsin Four years None Yes Lieutenant Governor
Wyoming Four years Two terms No Secretary of State

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

Legislative

See also: Political composition of state legislatures and Historical trend of state legislature political composition

All American state legislatures have two legislative bodies, except Nebraska, which has one. Most of these bodies are bicameral, meaning there is one legislative body separated into two units. However some systems, such as New York, have two legislative bodies although never technically referring to them in the state constitution as a single body. These dual systems are generally considered bicameral.

The following table compares common legislative features of each state.


State Legislative body Lower house Size of lower house Lower house term length Lower house term limit Upper house Size of upper house Upper house term length Upper house term limit Total number of legislators
California California State Legislature California State Assembly 80 Two years Three terms California State Senate 40 Four years Two terms 120
Texas Texas Legislature Texas House of Representatives 150 Two years None Texas Senate 31 Two / Four years None 181
New York New York State Assembly and New York State Senate New York State Assembly 150 Two years None New York State Senate 62 Two years None 212
Florida Florida Legislature Florida House of Representatives 120 Two years Four terms Florida Senate 40 Two / Four years Two terms 160
Illinois Illinois General Assembly Illinois House of Representatives 118 Two years None Illinois Senate 59 Two / Four years None 177
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania General Assembly Pennsylvania House of Representatives 203 Two years None Pennsylvania State Senate 50 Four years None 253
Ohio Ohio General Assembly Ohio House of Representatives 99 Two years Four terms Ohio Senate 33 Four years Two terms 132
Michigan Michigan Legislature Michigan House of Representatives 110 Two years Three terms Michigan Senate 38 Four years Two terms 148
Georgia Georgia General Assembly Georgia House of Representatives 180 Two years None Georgia Senate 56 Two years None 236
North Carolina North Carolina General Assembly North Carolina House of Representatives 120 Two years[citation needed] None North Carolina Senate 50 Two years[citation needed] None 170
New Jersey New Jersey Legislature New Jersey General Assembly 80 Two years None New Jersey Senate 40 Two / Four years None 120
Virginia Virginia General Assembly Virginia House of Delegates 100 Two years None Senate of Virginia 40 Four years None 140
Washington Washington State Legislature Washington House of Representatives 98 Two years None Washington State Senate 49 Four years None 147
Arizona Arizona Legislature Arizona House of Representatives 60 Two years Four consecutive[citation needed] terms Arizona Senate 30 Two years Four consecutive[citation needed] terms 90
Massachusetts General Court of Massachusetts Massachusetts House of Representatives 160 Two years None Massachusetts Senate 40 Two years None 200
Indiana Indiana General Assembly Indiana House of Representatives 100 Two years None Indiana Senate 50 Four years None 150
Tennessee Tennessee General Assembly Tennessee House of Representatives 99 Two years None Tennessee Senate 33 Four years None 132
Missouri Missouri General Assembly Missouri House of Representatives 163 Two years Four terms Missouri Senate 34 Four years Two terms[citation needed] 197
Maryland Maryland General Assembly Maryland House of Delegates 141 Four years None Maryland State Senate 47 Four years None 188
Wisconsin Wisconsin Legislature Wisconsin State Assembly 99 Two years None Wisconsin Senate 33 Four years None 132
Minnesota Minnesota Legislature Minnesota House of Representatives 134 Two years None Minnesota Senate 67 Four years None 201
Colorado Colorado General Assembly Colorado House of Representatives 65 Two years Four consecutive terms Colorado Senate 35 Four years Two consecutive terms 100
Alabama Alabama Legislature Alabama House of Representatives 105 Four years None Alabama Senate 35 Four years None 140
South Carolina South Carolina General Assembly South Carolina House of Representatives 124 Two years None South Carolina Senate 46 Four years None 170
Louisiana Louisiana State Legislature Louisiana House of Representatives 105 Four years Three terms Louisiana State Senate 39 Four years Three terms 144
Kentucky Kentucky General Assembly Kentucky House of Representatives 100 Two years None Kentucky Senate 38 Four years None 138
Oregon Oregon Legislative Assembly Oregon House of Representatives 60 Two years None[note 6] Oregon State Senate 30 Four years None[note 7] 90
Oklahoma Oklahoma Legislature Oklahoma House of Representatives 101 Two years Not more than 12 years in either house, combined Oklahoma Senate 48 Four years Not more than 12 years in either house, combined 149
Connecticut Connecticut General Assembly Connecticut House of Representatives 151 Two years None Connecticut Senate 36 Two years None 187
Iowa Iowa General Assembly Iowa House of Representatives 100 Two years None Iowa Senate 50 Four years None 150
Mississippi Mississippi Legislature Mississippi House of Representatives 122 Four years None Mississippi State Senate 52 Four years None 174
Arkansas Arkansas General Assembly Arkansas House of Representatives 100 Two years Three terms Arkansas Senate 35 Four years Two terms 135
Kansas Kansas Legislature Kansas House of Representatives 125 Two years None Kansas Senate 40 Four years None 165
Utah Utah State Legislature Utah House of Representatives 75 Two years None Utah State Senate 29 Four years None 104
Nevada Nevada Legislature Nevada Assembly 42 Two years Six terms Nevada Senate 21 Four years Three terms 63
New Mexico New Mexico Legislature New Mexico House of Representatives 70 Two years None New Mexico Senate 42 Four years None 112
West Virginia West Virginia Legislature West Virginia House of Delegates 100 Two years None West Virginia Senate 34 Four years None 134
Nebraska Nebraska Legislature Unicameral and nonpartisan 49 Four years Two terms N/A N/A N/A N/A 49
Idaho Idaho Legislature Idaho House of Representatives 70 Two years None Idaho Senate 35 Two years None 105
Maine Maine Legislature Maine House of Representatives 153 Two years Four terms Maine Senate 35 Two years Four terms 188
New Hampshire New Hampshire General Court New Hampshire House of Representatives 400 Two years None New Hampshire Senate 24 Two years None 424
Hawaii Hawaii State Legislature Hawaii House of Representatives 51 Two years None Hawaii Senate 25 Four years None 76
Rhode Island Rhode Island General Assembly Rhode Island House of Representatives 75 Two years None Rhode Island Senate 38 Two years None 113
Montana Montana State Legislature Montana House of Representatives 100 Two years Four terms Montana Senate 50 Four years Two terms 150
Delaware Delaware General Assembly Delaware House of Representatives 41 Two years None Delaware Senate 21 Two / Four years None 62
South Dakota South Dakota State Legislature South Dakota House of Representatives 70 Two years Four terms South Dakota Senate 35 Four years Two terms 105
Alaska Alaska Legislature Alaska House of Representatives 40 Two years None Alaska Senate 20 Four years None 60
North Dakota North Dakota Legislative Assembly North Dakota House of Representatives 94 Two years None North Dakota Senate 47 Four years None 141
Vermont Vermont General Assembly Vermont House of Representatives 150 Two years None Vermont Senate 30 Two years None 180
Wyoming Wyoming Legislature Wyoming House of Representatives 60 Two years None Wyoming Senate 30 Four years None 90

Judicial

See also: State supreme court methods of composition
State Highest court High court seats High court term High court judicial placement method Mandatory retirement age[note 8]
Alabama Supreme Court of Alabama 9 6 years Partisan election
Alaska Alaska Supreme Court 5 10 years Missouri Plan
Arizona Arizona Supreme Court 5 6 years Missouri Plan 70
Arkansas Arkansas Supreme Court 7 8 years Non-partisan election
California Supreme Court of California 7 12 years Missouri Plan
Colorado Colorado Supreme Court 7 10 years Missouri Plan
Connecticut Connecticut Supreme Court 7 8 years[2] Election by the state legislature 70
Delaware Delaware Supreme Court 5 12 years Appointment by governor
Florida Florida Supreme Court 7 6 years Modified Missouri Plan 70 (or end of current term)
Georgia Supreme Court of Georgia 7 6 years Non-partisan election
Hawaii Supreme Court of Hawaii 5 10 years Appointment by the Governor 70
Idaho Idaho Supreme Court 5 6 years Non-partisan election
Illinois Supreme Court of Illinois 7 10 years Partisan election
Indiana Supreme Court of Indiana 5 10 years[note 9] Missouri Plan 75[note 10]
Iowa Iowa Supreme Court 7 8 years Missouri Plan 72
Kansas Kansas Supreme Court 7 6 years Missouri Plan 70 (or end of current term)
Kentucky Kentucky Supreme Court 7 8 years Non-partisan election
Louisiana Supreme Court of Louisiana 7 10 years Partisan election
Maine Maine Supreme Judicial Court 7 7 years Appointment by the Governor
Maryland Maryland Court of Appeals 7 10 years Appointment by the Governor 70
Massachusetts Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court 7 Lifetime Appointment by the Governor 70
Michigan Michigan Supreme Court 7 8 years Non-partisan election[note 11] Must be under 70 at time of election
Minnesota Minnesota Supreme Court 7 6 years Non-partisan election 70
Mississippi Supreme Court of Mississippi 9 8 years Non-partisan election
Missouri Supreme Court of Missouri 7 12 years Missouri Plan
Montana Montana Supreme Court 7 8 years Non-partisan election
Nebraska Nebraska Supreme Court 7 6 years Missouri Plan
Nevada Supreme Court of Nevada 7 6 years Non-partisan election
New Hampshire New Hampshire Supreme Court 5 Lifetime Appointment by Governor 70
New Jersey New Jersey Supreme Court 7 7 years[3] Appointment by Governor 70
New Mexico New Mexico Supreme Court 5  ? Partisan election
New York New York Court of Appeals 7 14 years Appointed by the governor 70 (at end of calendar year)
North Carolina North Carolina Supreme Court 7 8 years Non-partisan election
North Dakota North Dakota Supreme Court 5 10 years Non-partisan election
Ohio Ohio Supreme Court 7 6 years Non-partisan election 70 (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 7 6 years Non-partisan election
Pennsylvania Supreme Court of Pennsylvania 7 10 years Partisan election 78
Rhode Island Rhode Island Supreme Court 5 Lifetime[4] Modified Missouri Plan None[4]
South Carolina South Carolina Supreme Court 5 10 years Election by State Legislature 72
South Dakota South Dakota Supreme Court 5 8 years Non-partisan election
Tennessee Tennessee Supreme Court 5 8 years Tennessee Plan (Modified Missouri Plan)
Texas Texas Supreme Court
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals		 9 (both) 6 years (both) Partisan election 75 (may finish term or 4 years of term, whichever is shorter)
Utah Utah Supreme Court 5 4 years Missouri Plan
Vermont Vermont Supreme Court 5 6 years Election by State Legislature
Virginia Supreme Court of Virginia 7 12 years Election by State Legislature 70[5]
Washington Washington Supreme Court 9 6 years Non-partisan election 75
West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia 5 12 years Partisan election
Wisconsin Wisconsin Supreme Court 7 10 years Non-partisan election
Wyoming Wyoming Supreme Court 5 8 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.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Governor may serve unlimited terms but only two in a row.
  2. ^ 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)
  3. ^ Office created in 2005 and implemented in 2009
  4. ^ The President of the Senate is also the Lieutenant Governor.
  5. ^ The President of the Senate is also the Lieutenant Governor.
  6. ^ State representatives were limited to three terms (6 years) until term limits were repealed by Oregon Ballot Measure 3 (1992).
  7. ^ State senators were limited to two terms (8 years) until term limits were repealed by Oregon Ballot Measure 3 (1992).
  8. ^ 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".
  9. ^ Retention election held after two years of service. Mandatory retirement at age 75.
  10. ^ The Indiana retirement age is the same regardless of the length of the Justice's remaining term.
  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. ^ http://www.wtop.com/?nid=428&sid=1634019
  2. ^ Judgepedia.org, Connecticut Supreme Court, found here.
  3. ^ Refers to initial "probation" period. If the governor reappoints them (almost universally true) they then serve for life
  4. ^ a b Linda Greenhouse, "The Case for Term Limits on the Supreme Court with Linda Greenhouse", Yale Political Union, May 28, 2009, [1]
  5. ^ Aaron Applegate, Mike Saewitz, "Bill seeks to raise mandatory retirement age for judges to 73", The Virginian-Pilot, February 4, 2010, [2]

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