Government of Delaware facts for kids
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| Part of | United States of America |
|---|---|
| Constitution | Constitution of Delaware |
| Legislative branch | |
| Name | General Assembly |
| Type | Bicameral |
| Meeting place | Delaware Legislative Hall |
| Upper house | |
| Name | Senate |
| Presiding officer | Kyle Evans Gay, President |
| Lower house | |
| Name | House of Representatives |
| Presiding officer | Peter Schwartzkopf, Speaker |
| Executive branch | |
| Head of State and Government | |
| Title | Governor |
| Currently | Matt Meyer |
| Appointer | Election |
| Cabinet | |
| Leader | Governor |
| Deputy leader | Lieutenant Governor |
| Headquarters | Delaware Legislative Hall |
| Judicial branch | |
| Courts | Courts of Delaware |
| Delaware Supreme Court | |
| Chief judge | Collins J. Seitz Jr. |
| Seat | Wilmington |
The Government of Delaware is how the US state of Delaware is run. It follows rules set by its 1897 constitution. Just like the US federal government, Delaware's government has three main parts. These parts are the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
The Governor leads the executive branch. The General Assembly is the legislative branch. The Supreme Court is the highest court. Delaware is also divided into counties, cities, and school districts.
Contents
Executive Branch: Leading Delaware
The executive branch is in charge of carrying out laws. It is led by the Governor of Delaware. The current governor is Matt Meyer (D), who started his term on January 21, 2025.
The Lieutenant Governor is Kyle Evans Gay (D) since 2025. Other important officials include the Attorney General Kathy Jennings (D). The Treasurer is Colleen Davis (D). The Auditor is Lydia York (D). The Insurance Commissioner is Trinidad Navarro (D).
Each year, the governor gives a "State of the State" speech. This speech tells the legislature about Delaware's progress and plans.
Legislative Branch: Making Laws
The Delaware General Assembly is the law-making body for Delaware. It has two parts, which means it is bicameral. One part is the Delaware Senate with 21 senators. The other part is the Delaware House of Representatives with 41 representatives.
The General Assembly meets at Legislative Hall in Dover. They usually start their meetings on the second Tuesday of January. Sessions typically end by the last day of June. The Governor can call special meetings if needed.
Members are chosen from specific areas, called districts. These districts have about the same number of people. Elections happen on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Senators serve four-year terms, with about half elected every two years. Representatives serve two-year terms, with all of them elected every two years. There are no limits on how many terms a person can serve.
With 62 seats, Delaware's General Assembly is one of the smallest in the US. The Senate has a special job: it approves people the governor chooses for jobs, like judges. Delaware's legislature is unique because it can change the state's constitution without needing a public vote.
Delaware's U.S. Senators are Chris Coons (D) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D). Delaware's single U.S. Representative is Sarah McBride (D).
Judicial Branch: Interpreting Laws
The judicial branch makes sure laws are fair and followed. The Delaware Constitution sets up several courts:
- The Delaware Supreme Court is the highest court in the state.
- The Delaware Superior Court handles major trials.
- The Delaware Court of Chancery mainly deals with business disagreements.
- The Family Court handles issues like divorce and child custody.
- The Delaware Court of Common Pleas handles certain civil and criminal cases.
Smaller courts include the Justice of the Peace Courts.
Delaware is famous for its Court of Chancery. This court handles business law, especially for large companies. Many big companies choose to be based in Delaware. This is because Delaware's laws and courts are known for being clear and fair for businesses. About 60% of companies on the New York Stock Exchange are incorporated in Delaware.
As of 2023, there are 105 judges and judicial officers in Delaware's courts.
- The Delaware Supreme Court has one Chief Justice (Justice Seitz) and four Justices.
- The Delaware Superior Court has one President Judge (Judge Jurden) and twenty Judges.
- The Delaware Court of Chancery has one Chancellor (Chancellor McCormick) and six Vice Chancellors.
- The Family Court has one Chief Judge (Judge Newell) and sixteen Judges.
- The Delaware Court of Common Pleas has nine Judges and two Commissioners.
- The Justice of the Peace Courts have one Chief Magistrate and forty-three Justices of the Peace.
Counties: Local Divisions
Delaware is divided into only three counties. These are New Castle, Kent, and Sussex. This is the fewest counties of any US state.
Each county has its own elected group that makes local decisions. These groups are called "County Council" in New Castle and Sussex counties. In Kent County, it's called "Levy Court." They mostly deal with land use and building rules.
Many tasks that counties handle in other states are managed by the state government in Delaware. This means the state government has a lot of power. In the past, counties were divided into "hundreds" for taxes and voting. Today, hundreds are only used for describing property.
