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Government of Rhode Island facts for kids

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Government of Rhode Island
Seal of Rhode Island.svg
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
Chief Justice Paul Suttell
Courts Courts of Rhode Island
Rhode Island Supreme Court
Chief judge Paul Suttell
Seat Providence County Courthouse, Providence
Rhode Island State House 2
The State House in Providence is the seat of Rhode Island's state government

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.

Legislature

Pursuant 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

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.

Senate chamber at the Rhode Island State House
The Senate Chamber

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

Rhode Island government has numerous departments, agencies, and divisions. The major ones are:

  • Department of Corrections
  • Department of Transportation
  • Department of Administration
  • Department of Public Safety
  • Department of Health
  • Department of Revenue
    • Division of Motor Vehicles
    • Division of Taxation
  • Department of Environmental Management
  • Department of Children, Youths, and Families

Judicial branch

The 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.

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