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In the United States, state governments are institutional units exercising functions of government at a level below that of the federal government. Each U.S. state 's government holds legislative, executive, and judicial authority over [ 1 ] a defined geographic territory.
A state, unlike the federal government, has un-enumerated police power, that is, the right to generally make all necessary laws for the welfare of its people. [18] As a result, while the governments of the various states share many similar features, they often vary greatly with regard to form and substance. No two state governments are identical.
A state government is the government that controls a subdivision of a country in a federal form of government, which shares political power with the federal or national government. A state government may have some level of political autonomy , or be subject to the direct control of the federal government.
The sole federal district, the District of Columbia, elects a mayor to oversee its government in a similar manner. [2] [3] In the event of a vacancy, the governor is succeeded by the second-highest-ranking state official; in 45 states and 4 territories, the lieutenant governor is the first in the line of succession. [4] [5]
This is a list of U.S. statewide elected executive officials.These state constitutional officers have their duties and qualifications mandated in state constitutions. This list does not include those elected to serve in non-executive branches of government, such as justices or clerks of the state supreme courts or at-large members of the state legislatures.
Each state has its own constitution, grounded in republican principles, and government, consisting of three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. [3] Also, due to the shared sovereignty between each state and the federal government, Americans are citizens of both the federal republic and of the state in which they reside. [4]
Article IV, Section 4, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution tasks the federal government with assuring that each state's government is so organized. [1] All state governments are modeled after the federal government and consist of three branches (although the three-branch structure is not Constitutionally required): executive, legislative ...
State legislatures also approve budget for state government. They may establish government agencies, set their policies, and approve their budgets. For instance, a state legislature could establish an agency to manage environmental conservation efforts within that state. In some states, state legislators elect other officials, such as governor.