# Comparison of U.S. state and territory governments

In the United States, the government of each of the 50 states is structured in accordance with its individual constitution. In turn, each state constitution must be grounded in republican principles. 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.
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, and judicial. All state governments are also organized as presidential systems where the governor is both head of government and head of state (even though this too is not required). The government of each of the five permanently inhabited U.S. territories is modeled and organized in a like fashion.
Each state is itself a sovereign entity, and as such, reserves the right to organize in any way (within the above stated parameter) deemed appropriate by its people. 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. The following tables compare and contrast some of the features of U.S. state governments.

## Legislative

With the exception of Nebraska, all American state legislatures are bicameral, meaning there is one legislative body separated into two units. Nebraska eliminated its lower house with a referendum during the 1936 elections. Also, some systems, such as the New York State Legislature, have two legislative bodies while never technically referring to them in the state constitution as a single body. These dual systems are generally considered bicameral.
| State legislative branch | Lower house | Lower house | Lower house | Lower house | Upper house | Upper house | Upper house | Upper house | Upper house | Ratio | Total size |
| State legislative branch | Name | Size | Term length (years) | Term limit | Name | Size | Term length (years) | Term limit | Filibuster possible | Lower to Upper house size | Total size |
| Alabama Legislature | Alabama House of Representatives | 105 | 4 | None | Alabama Senate | 35 | 4 | None | | 3 | 140 |
| Alaska Legislature | Alaska House of Representatives | 40 | 2 | None | Alaska Senate | 20 | 4 | None | | 2 | 60 |
| Arizona Legislature | Arizona House of Representatives | 60 | 2 | Four consecutive terms | Arizona Senate | 30 | 2 | Four consecutive terms | | 2 | 90 |
| Arkansas General Assembly | Arkansas House of Representatives | 100 | 2 | Three terms | Arkansas Senate | 35 | 2 or 4 | Two 4 year terms | | 2.857143 | 135 |
| California State Legislature | California State Assembly | 80 | 2 | 12 years in either house, combined | California State Senate | 40 | 4 | 12 years in either house, combined | | 2 | 120 |
| Colorado General Assembly | Colorado House of Representatives | 65 | 2 | Four consecutive terms | Colorado Senate | 35 | 4 | Two consecutive terms | | 1.857143 | 100 |
| Connecticut General Assembly | Connecticut House of Representatives | 151 | 2 | None | Connecticut Senate | 36 | 2 | None | | 4.194444 | 187 |
| Delaware General Assembly | Delaware House of Representatives | 41 | 2 | None | Delaware Senate | 21 | 2 or 4 | None | | 1.952381 | 62 |
| Florida Legislature | Florida House of Representatives | 120 | 2 | Four terms | Florida Senate | 40 | 2 or 4 | Two terms | | 3 | 160 |
| Georgia General Assembly | Georgia House of Representatives | 180 | 2 | None | Georgia Senate | 56 | 2 | None | | 3.214286 | 236 |
| Hawaii State Legislature | Hawaii House of Representatives | 51 | 2 | None | Hawaii Senate | 25 | 4 | None | | 2.04 | 76 |
| Idaho Legislature | Idaho House of Representatives | 70 | 2 | None | Idaho Senate | 35 | 2 | None | | 2 | 105 |
| Illinois General Assembly | Illinois House of Representatives | 118 | 2 | None | Illinois Senate | 59 | 2 or 4 | None | | 2 | 177 |
| Indiana General Assembly | Indiana House of Representatives | 100 | 2 | None | Indiana Senate | 50 | 4 | None | | 2 | 150 |
| Iowa General Assembly | Iowa House of Representatives | 100 | 2 | None | Iowa Senate | 50 | 4 | None | | 2 | 150 |
| Kansas Legislature | Kansas House of Representatives | 125 | 2 | None | Kansas Senate | 40 | 4 | None | | 3.125 | 165 |
| Kentucky General Assembly | Kentucky House of Representatives | 100 | 2 | None | Kentucky Senate | 38 | 4 | None | | 2.631579 | 138 |
| Louisiana State Legislature | Louisiana House of Representatives | 105 | 4 | Three terms | Louisiana State Senate | 39 | 4 | Three terms | | 2.692308 | 144 |
| Maine Legislature | Maine House of Representatives | 153 | 2 | Four terms | Maine Senate | 35 | 2 | Four terms | | 4.371429 | 188 |
| Maryland General Assembly | Maryland House of Delegates | 141 | 4 | None | Maryland State Senate | 47 | 4 | None | | 3 | 188 |
| General Court of Massachusetts | Massachusetts House of Representatives | 160 | 2 | None | Massachusetts Senate | 40 | 2 | None | | 4 | 200 |
| Michigan Legislature | Michigan House of Representatives | 110 | 2 | 12 years in either house, combined | Michigan Senate | 38 | 4 | 12 years in either house, combined | | 2.894737 | 148 |
| Minnesota Legislature | Minnesota House of Representatives | 134 | 2 | None | Minnesota Senate | 67 | 2 or 4 | None | | 2 | 201 |
| Mississippi Legislature | Mississippi House of Representatives | 122 | 4 | None | Mississippi State Senate | 52 | 4 | None | | 2.346154 | 174 |
| Missouri General Assembly | Missouri House of Representatives | 163 | 2 | Four terms | Missouri Senate | 34 | 4 | Eight years (Two terms) | | 4.794118 | 197 |
| Montana State Legislature | Montana House of Representatives | 100 | 2 | Four terms | Montana Senate | 50 | 4 | Two terms | | 2 | 150 |
| Nebraska Legislature | — | — | — | — | Nebraska Legislature | 49 | 4 | Two terms | | — | 49 |
| Nevada Legislature | Nevada Assembly | 42 | 2 | Six terms | Nevada Senate | 21 | 4 | Three terms | | 2 | 63 |
| New Hampshire General Court | New Hampshire House of Representatives | 400 | 2 | None | New Hampshire Senate | 24 | 2 | None | | 16.66667 | 424 |
| New Jersey Legislature | New Jersey General Assembly | 80 | 2 | None | New Jersey Senate | 40 | 2 or 4 | None | | 2 | 120 |
| New Mexico Legislature | New Mexico House of Representatives | 70 | 2 | None | New Mexico Senate | 42 | 4 | None | | 1.666667 | 112 |
| New York State Legislature | New York State Assembly | 150 | 2 | None | New York State Senate | 63 | 2 | None | | 2.380952 | 213 |
| North Carolina General Assembly | North Carolina House of Representatives | 120 | 2 | None | North Carolina Senate | 50 | 2 | None | | 2.4 | 170 |
| North Dakota Legislative Assembly | North Dakota House of Representatives | 94 | 4 | Two terms | North Dakota Senate | 47 | 4 | Two terms | | 2 | 141 |
| Ohio General Assembly | Ohio House of Representatives | 99 | 2 | Four terms | Ohio Senate | 33 | 4 | Two terms | | 3 | 132 |
| Oklahoma Legislature | Oklahoma House of Representatives | 101 | 2 | 12 years in either house, combined | Oklahoma Senate | 48 | 4 | 12 years in either house, combined | | 2.104167 | 149 |
| Oregon Legislative Assembly | Oregon House of Representatives | 60 | 2 | None | Oregon State Senate | 30 | 4 | None | | 2 | 90 |
| Pennsylvania General Assembly | Pennsylvania House of Representatives | 203 | 2 | None | Pennsylvania State Senate | 50 | 4 | None | | 4.06 | 253 |
| Rhode Island General Assembly | Rhode Island House of Representatives | 75 | 2 | None | Rhode Island Senate | 38 | 2 | None | | 1.973684 | 113 |
| South Carolina General Assembly | South Carolina House of Representatives | 124 | 2 | None | South Carolina Senate | 46 | 4 | None | | 2.695652 | 170 |
| South Dakota State Legislature | South Dakota House of Representatives | 70 | 2 | Four terms | South Dakota Senate | 35 | 4 | Two terms | | 2 | 105 |
| Tennessee General Assembly | Tennessee House of Representatives | 99 | 2 | None | Tennessee Senate | 33 | 4 | None | | 3 | 132 |
| Texas Legislature | Texas House of Representatives | 150 | 2 | None | Texas Senate | 31 | 2 or 4 | None | | 4.83871 | 181 |
| Utah State Legislature | Utah House of Representatives | 75 | 2 | None | Utah State Senate | 29 | 4 | None | | 2.586207 | 104 |
| Vermont General Assembly | Vermont House of Representatives | 150 | 2 | None | Vermont Senate | 30 | 2 | None | | 5 | 180 |
| Virginia General Assembly | Virginia House of Delegates | 100 | 2 | None | Senate of Virginia | 40 | 4 | None | | 2.5 | 140 |
| Washington State Legislature | Washington House of Representatives | 98 | 2 | None | Washington State Senate | 49 | 4 | None | | 2 | 147 |
| West Virginia Legislature | West Virginia House of Delegates | 100 | 2 | None | West Virginia Senate | 34 | 4 | None | | 2.941176 | 134 |
| Wisconsin Legislature | Wisconsin State Assembly | 99 | 2 | None | Wisconsin Senate | 33 | 4 | None | | 3 | 132 |
| Wyoming Legislature | Wyoming House of Representatives | 62 | 2 | None | Wyoming Senate | 31 | 4 | None | | 2 | 90 |

### Supermajority requirements

While only 13 states have a filibuster, there are often restrictions on the majority a state needs to raise taxes.
| State | Notes |
| Alabama | The Alabama State Senate allows a filibuster, and has a general three-fifths requirement to enact cloture. A simple majority of 18 is acceptable when dealing with the budget and redistricting. |
| Arkansas | Arkansas, along with Rhode Island, is one of the only states that requires a supermajority to pass a budget. A three-fourths majority is required for appropriations, except for education, highways, and paying down the state debt, which require a simple majority. |
| California | From 1933 to 2011 there was a two-thirds requirement for general fund appropriations for purposes other than public schools (Const., Art. IV, Sec. 12). Because the Legislature typically passes one main budget bill, the requirement effectively applied to the whole budget bill. There has been a two-thirds requirement for tax increases since Proposition 13 in 1978. In 2010, voters approved Proposition 25, eliminating the 2/3 requirement for the budget, but keeping it for tax increases. |

## Executive

The governor is the chief executive official in each state.
| State | Governor term length (years) | Governor term limit | First in line of succession | Lieutenant Governor method of election | Secretary of State | Attorney General | Treasurer |
| Alabama | 4 | Two consecutive terms | Lieutenant Governor | Separate election | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Alaska | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary | | Appointed by Governor | Appointed by Governor |
| Arizona | 4 | Two consecutive terms | Secretary of State | From 2026: Same ticket | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Arkansas | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Separate election | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| California | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Separate election | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Colorado | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Connecticut | 4 | None | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Delaware | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Separate election | Appointed by Governor | Elected | Elected |
| Florida | 4 | Two consecutive terms | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket | Appointed by Governor | Elected | Elected |
| Georgia | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Separate election | Elected | Elected | Appointed by Governor |
| Hawaii | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary | | Appointed by Governor | Appointed by Governor |
| Idaho | 4 | None | Lieutenant Governor | Separate election | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Illinois | 4 | None | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Indiana | 4 | Two terms in a 12-year period | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Iowa | 4 | None | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Kansas | 4 | There is no lifetime limit on the number, but one must be out of office for at least one election cycle after serving 2 consecutive terms before being eligible again. | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Kentucky | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Louisiana | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Separate election | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Maine | 4 | Two consecutive terms | President of the Senate | | Elected by legislature | Elected by legislature | Elected by legislature |
| Maryland | 4 | Two consecutive terms | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket | Appointed by Governor | Elected | Elected by legislature |
| Massachusetts | 4 | None | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Michigan | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket | Elected | Elected | Appointed by Governor |
| Minnesota | 4 | None | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket | Elected | Elected | Appointed by Governor |
| Mississippi | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Separate election | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Missouri | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Separate election | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Montana | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket | Elected | Elected | Appointed by Governor |
| Nebraska | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Nevada | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Separate election | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| New Hampshire | 2 | None | President of the Senate | | Elected by legislature | Appointed by Governor | Elected by legislature |
| New Jersey | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket | Appointed by Governor | Appointed by Governor | Appointed by Governor |
| New Mexico | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| New York | 4 | None | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary | Appointed by Governor | Elected | Elected |
| North Carolina | 4 | Two consecutive terms | Lieutenant Governor | Separate election | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| North Dakota | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Ohio | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Oklahoma | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Separate election | Appointed by Governor | Elected | Elected |
| Oregon | 4 | Two consecutive terms | Secretary of State | | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Pennsylvania | 4 | Two consecutive terms | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary | Appointed by Governor | Elected | Elected |
| Rhode Island | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Separate election | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| South Carolina | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| South Dakota | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Tennessee | 4 | Two terms | Speaker of the Senate | Title given to Speaker of the Senate | Elected by legislature | Appointed by Supreme Court | Elected by legislature |
| Texas | 4 | None | Lieutenant Governor | Separate election | Appointed by Governor | Elected | Elected |
| Utah | 4 | None | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket | | Elected | Elected |
| Vermont | 2 | None | Lieutenant Governor | Separate election | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Virginia | 4 | No limit on number, but terms cannot be consecutive | Lieutenant Governor | Separate election | Appointed by Governor | Elected | Appointed by Governor |
| Washington | 4 | None | Lieutenant Governor | Separate election | Elected | Elected | Appointed by Governor |
| West Virginia | 4 | Two terms | Lieutenant Governor | Title given to President of the Senate | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Wisconsin | 4 | None | Lieutenant Governor | Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary | Elected | Elected | Elected |
| Wyoming | 4 | Two terms | Secretary of State | | Elected | Appointed by Governor | Elected |
Note: Table does not distinguish between consecutive term limits and total term limits, unless otherwise noted.

## Judicial

| State | Highest court | High court seats | High court term | High court judicial placement method | Mandatory retirement age |
| Alabama | Supreme Court of Alabama | 9 | 6 years | Partisan election | |
| Alaska | Alaska Supreme Court | 5 | 10 years | Missouri Plan | |
| Arizona | Arizona Supreme Court | 7 | 6 years | Missouri Plan | 70 |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Supreme Court | 7 | 8 years | Non-partisan election | |
| California | Supreme Court of California | 7 | 12 years | Modified Missouri Plan | |
| Colorado | Colorado Supreme Court | 7 | 10 years | Missouri Plan | |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Supreme Court | 7 | 8 years | Election by State Legislature | 70 |
| Delaware | Delaware Supreme Court | 5 | 12 years | Appointment by Governor | |
| Florida | Florida Supreme Court | 7 | 6 years | Modified Missouri Plan | 70 (or end of current term) |
| Georgia | Supreme Court of Georgia | 7 | 6 years | Non-partisan election | |
| Hawaii | Supreme Court of Hawaii | 5 | 10 years | Appointment by Governor | 70 |
| Idaho | Idaho Supreme Court | 5 | 6 years | Non-partisan election | |
| Illinois | Supreme Court of Illinois | 7 | 10 years | Partisan election | |
| Indiana | Indiana Supreme Court | 5 | 10 years | Missouri Plan | 75 |
| Iowa | Iowa Supreme Court | 7 | 8 years | Missouri Plan | 72 |
| Kansas | Kansas Supreme Court | 7 | 6 years | Missouri Plan | 70 (or end of current term) |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Supreme Court | 7 | 8 years | Non-partisan election | |
| Louisiana | Supreme Court of Louisiana | 7 | 10 years | Partisan election | |
| Maine | Maine Supreme Judicial Court | 7 | 7 years | Appointment by Governor | |
| Maryland | Supreme Court of Maryland | 7 | 10 years | Appointment by Governor | 70 |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court | 7 | Lifetime | Appointment by Governor | 70 |
| Michigan | Michigan Supreme Court | 7 | 8 years | Non-partisan election | Must be under 70 at time of election |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Supreme Court | 7 | 6 years | Non-partisan election | 70 |
| Mississippi | Supreme Court of Mississippi | 9 | 8 years | Non-partisan election | |
| Missouri | Supreme Court of Missouri | 7 | 12 years | Missouri Plan | |
| Montana | Montana Supreme Court | 7 | 8 years | Non-partisan election | |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Supreme Court | 7 | 6 years | Missouri Plan | |
| Nevada | Supreme Court of Nevada | 7 | 6 years | Non-partisan election | |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Supreme Court | 5 | Lifetime | Appointment by Governor | 70 |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Supreme Court | 7 | 7 years | Appointment by Governor | 70 |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Supreme Court | 5 | 8 years | Partisan election/Retention election | |
| New York | New York Court of Appeals | 7 | 14 years | Appointment by Governor | 70 (at end of calendar year) |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Supreme Court | 7 | 8 years | Non-partisan election | |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Supreme Court | 5 | 10 years | Non-partisan election | |
| Ohio | Ohio Supreme Court | 7 | 6 years | Partisan election | 70 (at end of term) |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Supreme Court Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals | Supreme Court: 9 Court of Criminal Appeals: 5 | 6 years (both) | Missouri Plan | |
| Oregon | Oregon Supreme Court | 7 | 6 years | Non-partisan election | 75 |
| Pennsylvania | Supreme Court of Pennsylvania | 7 | 10 years | Partisan election | 78 |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Supreme Court | 5 | Lifetime | Missouri Plan | None |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Supreme Court | 5 | 10 years | Election by State Legislature | 72 |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Supreme Court | 5 | 8 years | Non-partisan election | |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Supreme Court | 5 | 8 years | Tennessee Plan (Modified Missouri Plan) | |
| Texas | Texas Supreme Court Texas Court of Criminal Appeals | 9 (both) | 6 years (both) | Partisan election | 75 (may finish term or 4 years of term, whichever is shorter) |
| Utah | Utah Supreme Court | 5 | 4 years | Missouri Plan | |
| Vermont | Vermont Supreme Court | 5 | 6 years | Election by State Legislature | |
| Virginia | Supreme Court of Virginia | 7 | 12 years | Election by State Legislature | 70 |
| Washington | Washington Supreme Court | 9 | 6 years | Non-partisan election | 75 |
| West Virginia | Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia | 5 | 12 years | Partisan election | |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Supreme Court | 7 | 10 years | Non-partisan election | |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Supreme Court | 5 | 8 years | Missouri Plan | |
Note: Table does not distinguish between term lengths that result in a new election and term lengths that result in a retention vote but not a full election. g