| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
Under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, all governmental powers not granted to the United States Federal Government by the Constitution are reserved for the states. The governments of the 13 colonies which formed the original union under the Constitution trace their history back to the royal charters which established them during the era of colonialism. Most other states were organized as federal territories before forming their own governments and requesting admittance into the union. Notable exceptions are Vermont, Texas and Hawaii, which were sovereign nations before joining the union.
All U.S. states have a written constitution and a three-branch government modeled on the U.S. federal government, although this particular structure is not mandatory.
The executive branch of every state is headed by an elected governor, and many states have a position of lieutenant governor.
The legislative branch is typically a bicameralIn government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. Thus, a bicameral parliament or bicameral legislature is a parliament or legislature which consists of two Chambers or Houses. Theory Although the ideas on wh legislature. ( NebraskaNebraska ( In Detail) (Full size) State nickname: Cornhusker State Other U. States Capital Lincoln Largest City Omaha Governor Mike Johanns Area Total Land Water % water Ranked 16th 200,520 kmē 199,099 kmē 1,247 kmē 0. 6% Population Total ( 2000) Density has a unicameralUnicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or parliamentary chamber. Many countries with unicameral legislatures are unitary states and consider an upper house or second chamber unnecessary. In many instances these states had a second ch legislature.) The upper house of state legislatures is usually called the senate and the lower house is usually called the house of representatives. ( New YorkNew York is a state in the northeastern United States whose U. postal abbreviation is NY . It is sometimes called New York State when there is need to distinguish it from New York City. History See: History of New York New York was one of the thirteen col's lower house is called the Assembly. ConnecticutConnecticut is a state of the United States, part of the New England region. Connecticut was one of the thirteen colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution. USS Connecticut was named in honor of this state. History Main article's house and senate together are called the General Assembly, and the bicameral legislature of MassachusettsMassachusetts is a state of the United States of America, part of the New England region. postal abbreviation is MA and its traditional abbreviation is Mass . It is properly called the Commonwealth of Massachusetts although there is no legal distinction b is called the General Court.)
The judicial branch is typically headed by a supreme courtThe supreme court in some countries, provinces and states, is the highest court in that jurisdiction and functions as a court of last resort whose rulings cannot be appealed. In the United States, for example, there is a federal Supreme Court as well as s which hears appeals from lower state courts. The structure of courts and the methods by which judges are elected or appointed is a determined by legislation or the state constitution. (New York's highest court is called the Court of Appeals.)
See also: