U.S. Government and Civics / Unit 11: State and Local Government and Public Policy
11.1 State Governments
Notes
Each of the 50 states has its own constitution with three branches, much like the national government.
- State constitutions are usually longer and more detailed than the U.S. Constitution and are amended more often, sometimes by voters.
- Governor: the state's chief executive. Governors can veto bills, and most have a line-item veto to reject parts of spending bills, which the president does not have (Clinton v. City of New York, 1998).
- State legislatures: 49 are bicameral; Nebraska has a unicameral (one-house) legislature. Many states have term limits for legislators or governors.
- State courts: hear most criminal and civil cases. Many states elect at least some judges; others use appointment.
- States handle reserved powers: education, elections, licensing, criminal law, roads and public health.
Practice
Which power do most governors have that the president does not?
The Supreme Court struck down a federal line-item veto in 1998.
Which state has a one-house legislature?
Nebraska's legislature has been unicameral since 1937.
Compared with the U.S. Constitution, most state constitutions are:
State constitutions contain many detailed provisions and change frequently.
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