The government of the state of Rhode Island 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.
Government of Rhode Island | |
|---|---|
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| Polity type | Presidential Republic |
| Constitution | Constitution of Rhode Island |
| Legislative branch | |
| Name | General Assembly |
| Type | Bicameral |
| Meeting place | Rhode Island State House |
| Upper house | |
| Name | Senate |
| Presiding officer | Dominick J. Ruggerio, President |
| Lower house | |
| Name | House of Representatives |
| Presiding officer | Joe Shekarchi, Speaker |
| Executive branch | |
| Head of state and government | |
| Title | Governor |
| Currently | Daniel McKee |
| Appointer | Election |
| Cabinet | |
| Leader | Governor |
| Deputy leader | Lieutenant Governor |
| Headquarters | State House |
| Judicial branch | |
| Name | Judiciary of Rhode Island |
| Courts | Courts of Rhode Island |
| Rhode Island Supreme Court | |
| Chief judge | Paul Suttell |
| Seat | Providence County Courthouse, Providence |
Legislature
editPursuant to Articles VI, VII, and VIII of the Rhode Island Constitution, the legislature is vested in the Rhode Island General Assembly. The General Assembly is bicameral, composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The House of Representatives has a total of 75 members currently. The Senate has 38 members. The General Assembly meets in the State House.
Executive branch
edit- Elected Executive Officials of Rhode Island
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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.
Departments and agencies
editRhode Island government has numerous departments, agencies, and divisions. The major ones are:
- Department of Administration
- Department of Business Regulation
- Department of Corrections
- Department of Education
- Department of Environmental Management
- Department of Labor and Training
- Department of Public Safety
- State Police
- Capitol Police
- Division of Sheriffs
- Department of Revenue
- Division of Motor Vehicles
- Division of Taxation
- Department of Transportation
- Executive Office of Commerce
- Executive Office of Health and Human Services
- Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals
- Department of Children, Youths, and Families
- Department of Health
- Department of Human Services
- Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency
- Rhode Island National Guard
Judicial branch
editThe judicial branch of the state government consists of the Rhode Island Supreme Court and the lower courts, which consist of the Superior Court, Family Court, District Court, Workers' Compensation Court and the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal.