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The government of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations is prescribed from a multitude of sources; the main sources are the Rhode Island Constitution, the General Laws, and Executive Orders. The governmental structure is modeled on the Government of the United States in having three branches: executive, legislative,and judicial.
The State elects a Governor, a Lieutenant Governor, a Secretary of State, a General Treasurer, and an Attorney General. The Governor appoints a Sheriff, who unlike most other sheriffs has statewide jurisdiction. The Governor appoints many officers to act as Commissioners, Directors, or other officers.
The executive authority is vested in the Governor, typically through various directors and commissioners. The Lieutenant Governor, though nominally in the Executive Branch, is a largely ceremonial position. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor are elected on separate tickets by the electorate of Rhode Island. The Governor's offices are located in the State House. Rhode Island is one of the few states that lacks a governor's mansion.
Rhode Island has numerous departments and agencies. The major ones are:
