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 andgovernment | |
| 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 |
Thegovernment of the state of Rhode Island is prescribed from a multitude of sources; the main sources are theRhode Island Constitution, the General Laws, and executive orders. The governmental structure is modeled on thegovernment of the United States in having three branches:executive,legislative, andjudicial.
Pursuant to Articles VI, VII, and VIII of the Rhode Island Constitution, the legislature is vested in theRhode Island General Assembly. The General Assembly isbicameral, composed of theHouse of Representatives and theSenate.
The House of Representatives has a total of 75 members currently. The Senate has 38 members. The General Assembly meets in theState House.
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The state elects agovernor, alieutenant governor, asecretary of state, ageneral treasurer, and anattorney 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 agovernor's mansion.
Rhode Island government has numerous departments, agencies, and divisions. The major ones are:
The judicial branch of the state government consists of theRhode 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.
