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Arizona Government

Arizona Government. Arizona state government, like the national govt., is divided into three branches. In addition there are county governments, municipal or city governments, school districts, and tribal governments. Lawmaking Body. The Arizona Legislature consists of: 30 Senators

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Arizona Government

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  1. Arizona Government

  2. Arizona state government, like the national govt., is divided into three branches. In addition there are county governments, municipal or city governments, school districts, and tribal governments.

  3. Lawmaking Body • The Arizona Legislature consists of: • 30 Senators • 60 Representatives • Each district has 1 senator and 2 house members • Thus, AZ is broken into 30 state districts • Modeled after US Congress but dealing with state specific issues • Legislators are part-time politicians • Compensation = $28,000 and mileage • 2 year term with 4 consecutive term limit

  4. Executive Branch • The Chief Executive is the Governor • They serve a 4 year term – pseudo pres. • Has a 2 term limit, reeligible after 4 yr hiatus • Compensation = $95,000 • Arizona has no lieutenant governor • Cabinet consists of 37 members!!! • Governor determines size, not in constitution • Governor has full control over states budget

  5. Major executive offices • Sec of State – 1st in line to become governor • Keeps all records, elections, publishes laws, handles petitions • Attorney General • Directs the department of law • Treasurer • Chief financial officer, invests and collects states monies • Superintendent of public instruction • Develops state standards and tests • Mine Inspector • Supervises and inspects, new laws

  6. Executive Powers • Makes appointments, removes officers • Liaison between the state and federal govt. • Military = National Guard but pres. May nationalize • Legislative = signs or vetoes laws • The AZ governor does have the power of line-item veto • This has lead to multiple balanced budgets in Arizona • Special sessions, state of state speech • An ordinary non-emergency bill becomes a law 90 days after the legislative session ends • Judicial = pardons, amnesty

  7. Judicial Branch • 3 levels = Supreme, Court of Appeals, Superior • Supreme: 5 justices, 1 chief • Review lower court cases • Court of last resort in Az • Qualifications: • Good moral character • Practiced law in Az at least 5 years • Law school graduate • Mandatory retirement at age 70 • Appointed by Governor • Term = 6 years for re-vote

  8. Court of Appeals: • Created in 1964 to relieve the S.C. • 2 divisions North (16 in Phx); South (6 in Tuc) • Superior Courts: Primary courts • Hear civil cases using original jurisdiction • Cases involving over $5000 = jury 6/8 • Also hear crminal cases • Low level = jury must be 6/8 • High level = must be unanimous or hung jury • Jury = no less than six no more than 12

  9. City courts: • Hear cases concerning traffic, fighting, drunkenness • Justice of the Peace courts • Local judge hears less serious cases (elected judges) • Each precinct has a Justice of the Peace • Maricopa County judges are appointed by Governor and then must be re-elected after a 4 year term • Removal of Judges: RECALL and impeachment

  10. Direct Democracy • Initiative - rare • Proposed law by the people • 2 types: • Constitutional amendment • Need 15% of previous votes cast to ballot • Statutory – change in a law • 10% to ballot • These are seen on the ballots as propositions

  11. Referendum: take laws off • State legislature can place proposed law or change on the ballot as proposition • Law goes into effect 90 days after pass • Citizens can do this with 5% votes cast • State legislature can also do this

  12. Recall: • Special election to decide if elected official may finish term • To recall 25% must be collected via petition • Other people go on the ballot for the recall election by obtaining required # signatures • Highest vote getter finishes the term • Cannot start recall until the person has been in office for at least 6 months

  13. Stupid Arizona Laws • These are official laws on books but not enforced: • Hunting camels is prohibited • Any misdemeanor committed while wearing a red mask is a felony • Donkeys cannot sleep in bathtubs • It is upwards of 25 years in prison for cutting down a cactus • It is illegal to manufacture imitation cocaine • When being attacked by a criminal or burglar, you may only protect yourself with the same weapon the other possesses • It is unlawful to refuse a person a glass of water • In Maricopa county No more than 6 girls may live an any house • In Prescott it is forbidden to ride your horse up the county courthouse stairs • In Tombstone it is illegal for men and women over the age of 18 to have less than one missing tooth visible while smiling • In Tucson women may not wear pants

  14. Tribal Government • Arizona has 21 tribal nations = over 25% of the land • Tribal Sovereignty: • Tribal council = representatives elected by people • Makes laws and imposes taxes on reservation • Federal law does apply on reservation but not most state laws • Hence why casinos are only located on reservation land • Chooses one council member to be liaison between the tribe and the federal govt. (Internal affairs department) • Tribal police are in charge of law enforcement on land except in cases of serious felonies • Be careful on reservation land • Tribal courts deal with minor crimes, divorce, child custody battles, civil disputes, etc. • Most tribes try to work with the state and federal govt. Ex: 101 • Tribal state compacts Ex: gambling age to 21 in 2003

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