Washington State Government2-column notes

Washington State Government• Three branches• Legislative- makes laws for Washington State

• Executive- runs state government, implements and enforces laws

• Judicial- courts, interprets laws

• Rule of Law = CONSTITUTION

Legislative Branch

• Makes laws for Washington State• Makes the budget for spending tax money• Elected from 49 districts• Bicameral= two parts (chambers)• Senate- 49 members• One from each district• Elected for 4yr term

• House of Representatives- 98 members• Two from each district• Elected for 2yr term

• Cacuses= meetings within political parties

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

• Implements & enforces laws• Runs state government• Nine elected officials• Governor- Christine Gregoire• Head of the executive branch• Signs bills to become laws• “line-item-veto” = special power to single out parts

of a bill

• Brad Owen – D, Lt. Governor• Sam Reed, Secretary of State• James McIntire, State Treasurer• Brian Sontag , State Auditor• Rob McKenna, Attorney General• Peter Goldmark, Commissioner of Public Lands• Randy Dorn, Superintendent of Public Instruction• Mike Kreidler, Insurance Commissioner

Judicial Branch

• Interprets the law• Criminal cases• A person is accused of a crime

• Civil cases• Dispute between two people/groups, usually over

money• Levels of courts• Municipal/district court• Superior court• Appeals court• State Supreme court