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The latter is part of a system of checks and balances among the three branches of government that mirrors the federal system and prevents any branch from abusing its power.Įxcept for one state, Nebraska, all states have a bicameral legislature made up of two chambers: a smaller upper house and a larger lower house. The legislature also approves a state's budget and initiates tax legislation and articles of impeachment. No two state executive organizations are identical.Īll 50 states have legislatures made up of elected representatives, who consider matters brought forth by the governor or introduced by its members to create legislation that becomes law. States reserve the right to organize in any way, so they often vary greatly with regard to executive structure. In most states, the other leaders in the executive branch are also directly elected, including the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, the secretary of state, and auditors and commissioners. In every state, the executive branch is headed by a governor who is directly elected by the people. Constitution mandates that all states uphold a 'republican form' of government, although the three-branch structure is not required. All state governments are modeled after the federal government and consist of three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. Constitution, all powers not granted to the federal government are reserved for the states and the people. The Alabama Constitution, for example, contains 310,296 words - more than 40 times as many as the U.S. Each state has its own written constitution, and these documents are often far more elaborate than their federal counterpart.

Police departments, libraries, and schools - not to mention driver's licenses and parking tickets - usually fall under the oversight of state and local governments. Most Americans have more daily contact with their state and local governments than with the federal government.

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