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Questions and Answers
What role does the governor play in the state government?
The governor oversees the appointment of officials, vetoes legislation, and implements laws passed by the legislature.
Describe the structure and term lengths of a typical state legislature.
Most states have a bicameral legislature with an upper house (senate) and a lower house (assembly), where the upper house typically has a four-year term and the lower house has a two-year term.
How are state supreme court justices typically selected and what are their term lengths?
State supreme court justices are usually elected, with terms ranging from 6 to 12 years; some states appoint justices who may serve for life.
Explain the system of checks and balances within state governments.
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What distinguishes Nebraska's legislature from most other states?
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Study Notes
State Governments
- Structured similar to federal government, but operate at state level
Executive Branch
- Headed by governor, directly elected by popular vote every 4 years
- Governor's responsibilities:
- Appointing officials
- Vetoing legislation
- Implementing laws passed by legislature
- Preparing state budget
Legislative Branch
- Most states have bicameral legislature (2 chambers)
- Upper house: usually called senate
- Lower house: usually called assembly
- Terms:
- Lower house: typically 2-year term
- Upper house: typically 4-year term
- Some states have term limits for legislators, but Texas has no term limits
Judicial Branch
- Headed by state supreme court
- State supreme court justices:
- Typically elected with terms ranging from 6 to 12 years
- Some states appoint justices, e.g. New Hampshire (serve for life)
- State supreme court:
- Functions as appellate court
- Hears cases when lower courts may have made errors
Checks and Balances
- State governments have systems of checks and balances
- Governor's power: can veto legislation
- Legislature's power: can overturn vetoes
- Judiciary's role: usually does not play a role in this process
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Description
This quiz covers the basics of state governments, including their structure, executive and legislative branches, and their roles and responsibilities.
