Government of Arizona facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Government of Arizona

The Great Seal of the State of Arizona
Part of	United States of America
Constitution	Constitution of Arizona
Legislative branch
Name	Legislature
Type	Bicameral
Meeting place	Arizona Capitol
Upper house
Name	Senate
Presiding officer	Warren Petersen, President
Presiding officer	Steve Montenegro, Speaker
Executive branch
Head of State and Government
Title	Governor
Currently	Katie Hobbs
Appointer	Election
Cabinet
Name	Cabinet
Leader	Governor
Deputy leader	Lieutenant Governor
Headquarters	State Capitol
Judicial branch
Name	Judiciary of Arizona
Courts	Courts of Arizona
Supreme Court of Arizona
Chief judge	Robert M. Brutinel
Seat	Phoenix, Arizona

The government of Arizona is how the state of Arizona is run. It's set up by the Arizona Constitution and has three main parts:

• The executive branch, led by the Governor, which carries out the laws.
• The legislative branch, called the Arizona Legislature, which makes the laws.
• The judicial branch, which includes the Arizona Supreme Court and other courts, and interprets the laws.

Arizona also has local governments, like those for counties and cities.

Executive Branch

The executive branch is in charge of making sure the state's laws are followed. It includes the Governor and several other officials who are elected by the people of Arizona.

Most of these elected officials serve for four years. They can usually serve two terms in a row. For a long time, Arizona was one of the few states without a Lieutenant Governor. This meant the Secretary of State would take over if the Governor couldn't do their job.

However, in November 2022, voters approved a change. Starting with the 2026 elections, Arizona will have a Lieutenant Governor. This person will run for office alongside the Governor and will be next in line to become Governor if needed.

Governor's Cabinet

The Governor works with a team of leaders called the Cabinet. These leaders manage different state departments and agencies. Each department handles specific tasks to serve the people of Arizona.

The Arizona State Capitol Executive Tower in Phoenix

Some of the important state departments include:

• Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) - Helps manage state government operations.
• Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) - Manages state prisons.
• Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) - Provides social services.
• Arizona Department of Education (ADE) - Oversees public schools.
• Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) - Manages wildlife and outdoor recreation.
• Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) - Works on public health.
• Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) - Is the state police force.
• Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) - Manages roads and transportation.

Legislative Branch

The Arizona State Legislature is the part of government that makes laws for the state. It has two parts, which is called bicameral:

• The Arizona House of Representatives, with 60 members.
• The Arizona Senate, with 30 members.

The State House Chamber of the Arizona State Capitol Building

Each of Arizona's 30 legislative districts elects one Senator and two Representatives. These lawmakers serve two-year terms. They can serve up to four terms in a row in either the House or the Senate.

The Legislature meets every year. The main session starts in January and usually ends by late April or early May.

Judicial Branch

The judicial branch is responsible for interpreting the laws and making sure justice is served. It includes different levels of courts.

The Cochise County courthouse in Bisbee

Arizona Courts

• Arizona Supreme Court: This is the highest court in Arizona. It has a Chief Justice and several other justices. They hear important cases, especially those involving the death penalty. They can also decide if a law goes against the state's constitution.
• Arizona Court of Appeals: This court handles appeals from lower courts. It's divided into two main parts, one in Phoenix and one in Tucson.
• Arizona Superior Court: This is the main trial court in Arizona. It handles a wide range of cases, from serious crimes to major civil disputes.
• Arizona justice courts: These courts handle smaller civil lawsuits, landlord-tenant issues, small claims, and traffic offenses like DUIs and minor crimes.
• Arizona municipal courts: Also known as city courts, these handle misdemeanor crimes and traffic cases that happen within a city or town. They also deal with violations of city rules.

How Judges Are Chosen

In Arizona, many judges and justices are chosen through a process called merit selection. This means they are not elected by voters in the usual way. Instead:

• A special commission suggests a list of qualified people to the Governor.
• The Governor then chooses a judge from that list.
• After a judge is appointed, voters decide if they should keep their job in a "retention election." This happens after their first two years, and then every four or six years after that, depending on the court.

This system is used for judges on the Arizona Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and trial court judges in the larger counties like Maricopa County, Pima County, and Pinal County.

Local Government

Arizona is divided into areas called counties. These counties get their power from the state government. Cities and towns in Arizona have their own local governments, usually led by a city or town council. These local governments handle things like local services, police, and fire departments.

See also

• Politics of Arizona
• Political party strength in Arizona
• Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission