Login
Login

Comparison of U.S. state and territory governments

{{Short description|none}}

{{main|State governments of the United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Use American English|date=October 2023}}

{{US state gov}}

In the United States, the government of each of the 50 states is structured in accordance with its individual constitution. In turn, each state constitution must be grounded in republican principles. Article IV, Section 4, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution tasks the federal government with assuring that each state's government is so organized.{{cite web|last1=Natelson|first1=Robert G.|title=Essays on Article IV: Guarantee Clause|url=http://www.heritage.org/constitution/#!/articles/4/essays/128/guarantee-clause|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421180046/http://www.heritage.org/constitution#!/articles/4/essays/128/guarantee-clause|url-status=unfit|archive-date=April 21, 2012|publisher=The Heritage Foundation}}

All state governments are modeled after the federal government and consist of three branches (although the three-branch structure is not Constitutionally required): executive, legislative, and judicial.{{cite web|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/about-the-white-house/our-government/state-local-government/|title=State & Local Government|website=White House|publisher=The White House}}{{cite web|url=http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/faq/faqtoc.aspx?subject=1|title=Frequently Asked Questions About the Minnesota Legislature|publisher=Minnesota State Legislature}} All state governments are also organized as presidential systems where the governor is both head of government and head of state (even though this too is not required). The government of each of the five permanently inhabited U.S. territories is modeled and organized in a like fashion.

Each state is itself a sovereign entity, and as such, reserves the right to organize in any way (within the above stated parameter) deemed appropriate by its people. As a result, while the governments of the various states share many similar features, they often vary greatly with regard to form and substance. No two state governments are identical. The following tables compare and contrast some of the features of U.S. state governments.

Legislative

{{See also|List of United States state legislatures|l1=Political composition of state legislatures|United States state legislatures' partisan trend|l2=Historical trend of state legislature political composition}}

With the exception of Nebraska, all American state legislatures are bicameral, meaning there is one legislative body separated into two units. Nebraska eliminated its lower house with a referendum during the 1936 elections. Also, some systems, such as the New York State Legislature, have two legislative bodies while never technically referring to them in the state constitution as a single body. These dual systems are generally considered bicameral.

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" border="1"
scope="col" rowspan="2"| State legislative branch

! scope="col" colspan="4" |Lower house

! scope="col" colspan="5" |Upper house

! scope="col"| Ratio

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Total size

Name

! scope="col" style="width: 50px;" |Size

! scope="col" style="width: 50px;" |Term length (years)

! Term limit

! Name

! scope="col" style="width: 50px;" |Size

! scope="col" style="width: 50px;" |Term length (years)

! Term limit

! scope="col" style="width: 10px;" |Filibuster possible

! scope="col" style="width: 70px;" |Lower to Upper house size

scope="row" | Alabama Legislature

| Alabama House of Representatives

| 105

| 4

| None

| Alabama Senate

| 35

| 4

| None

| {{ya}}

|3

| 140

scope="row" | Alaska Legislature

| Alaska House of Representatives

| 40

| 2

| None

| Alaska Senate

| 20

| 4

| None

| {{ya}}

|2

| 60

scope="row" | Arizona Legislature

| Arizona House of Representatives

| 60

| 2

| Four consecutive terms{{Cite web |url=http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=%2Fconst%2F4%2F21.p2.htm |title=Arizona Constitution, Art. 4, Part 2, Sec. 21 |access-date=July 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504230627/https://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=%2Fconst%2F4%2F21.p2.htm |archive-date=May 4, 2019 |url-status=dead }}

| Arizona Senate

| 30

| 2

| Four consecutive terms

| {{na}}

|2

| 90

scope="row" | Arkansas General Assembly

| Arkansas House of Representatives

| 100

| 2

| Three terms

| Arkansas Senate

| 35

| 2 or 4

| Two 4 year terms

| {{ya}}

|2.857143

| 135

scope="row" | California State Legislature

| California State Assembly

| 80

| 2

| 12 years in either house, combinedThe new limit was decided by referendum as Proposition 28, in June 2012. Between 1990 and that date, one could serve 3 terms in the House and 2 in the Senate, which means the new limit is globally earlier but roughly doubles in each body.

| California State Senate

| 40

| 4

| 12 years in either house, combined

| {{na}}

|2

| 120

scope="row" | Colorado General Assembly

| Colorado House of Representatives

| 65

| 2

| Four consecutive terms

| Colorado Senate

| 35

| 4

| Two consecutive terms

| {{na}}

|1.857143

| 100

scope="row" | Connecticut General Assembly

| Connecticut House of Representatives

| 151

| 2

| None

| Connecticut Senate

| 36

| 2

| None

| {{ya}}

|4.194444

| 187

scope="row" | Delaware General Assembly

| Delaware House of Representatives

| 41

| 2

| None

| Delaware Senate

| 21

| 2 or 4

| None

| {{na}}

|1.952381

| 62

scope="row" | Florida Legislature

| Florida House of Representatives

| 120

| 2

| Four terms

| Florida Senate

| 40

| 2 or 4

| Two terms

| {{ya}}

|3

| 160

scope="row" | Georgia General Assembly

| Georgia House of Representatives

| 180

| 2

| None

| Georgia Senate

| 56

| 2

| None

| {{na}}

|3.214286

| 236

scope="row" | Hawaii State Legislature

| Hawaii House of Representatives

| 51

| 2

| None

| Hawaii Senate

| 25

| 4

| None

| {{ya}}

|2.04

| 76

scope="row" | Idaho Legislature

| Idaho House of Representatives

| 70

| 2

| None

| Idaho Senate

| 35

| 2

| None

| {{ya}}

|2

| 105

scope="row" | Illinois General Assembly

| Illinois House of Representatives

| 118

| 2

| None

| Illinois Senate

| 59

| 2 or 4

| None

| {{na}}

|2

| 177

scope="row" | Indiana General Assembly

| Indiana House of Representatives

| 100

| 2

| None

| Indiana Senate

| 50

| 4

| None

| {{na}}

|2

| 150

scope="row" | Iowa General Assembly

| Iowa House of Representatives

| 100

| 2

| None

| Iowa Senate

| 50

| 4

| None

| {{na}}

|2

| 150

scope="row" | Kansas Legislature

| Kansas House of Representatives

| 125

| 2

| None

| Kansas Senate

| 40

| 4

| None

| {{na}}

|3.125

| 165

scope="row" | Kentucky General Assembly

| Kentucky House of Representatives

| 100

| 2

| None

| Kentucky Senate

| 38

| 4

| None

| {{na}}

|2.631579

| 138

scope="row" | Louisiana State Legislature

| Louisiana House of Representatives

| 105

| 4

| Three terms

| Louisiana State Senate

| 39

| 4

| Three terms

| {{na}}

|2.692308

| 144

scope="row" | Maine Legislature

| Maine House of Representatives

| 153

| 2

| Four terms

| Maine Senate

| 35

| 2

| Four terms

| {{ya}}

|4.371429

| 188

scope="row" | Maryland General Assembly

| Maryland House of Delegates

| 141

| 4

| None

| Maryland State Senate

| 47

| 4

| None

| {{na}}

|3

| 188

scope="row" | General Court of Massachusetts

| Massachusetts House of Representatives

| 160

| 2

| None

| Massachusetts Senate

| 40

| 2

| None

| {{na}}

|4

| 200

scope="row" | Michigan Legislature

| Michigan House of Representatives

| 110

| 2

| 12 years in either house, combined

| Michigan Senate

| 38

| 4

| 12 years in either house, combined

| {{na}}

|2.894737

| 148

scope="row" | Minnesota Legislature

| Minnesota House of Representatives

| 134

| 2

| None

| Minnesota Senate

| 67

| 2 or 4

| None

| {{na}}

|2

| 201

scope="row" | Mississippi Legislature

| Mississippi House of Representatives

| 122

| 4

| None

| Mississippi State Senate

| 52

| 4

| None

| {{ya}}

|2.346154

| 174

scope="row" | Missouri General Assembly

| Missouri House of Representatives

| 163

| 2

| Four terms[http://www.moga.mo.gov/const/A03008.HTM Missouri Constitution, Art. III, Sec. 8]

| Missouri Senate

| 34

| 4

| Eight years (Two terms)

| {{ya}}

|4.794118

| 197

scope="row" | Montana State Legislature

| Montana House of Representatives

| 100

| 2

| Four terms

| Montana Senate

| 50

| 4

| Two terms

| {{na}}

|2

| 150

scope="row" | Nebraska Legislature

| {{N/A}}

| {{N/A}}

| {{N/A}}

| {{N/A}}

| Nebraska Legislature

| 49

| 4

| Two terms

| {{ya}}

| {{N/A}}

| 49

scope="row" | Nevada Legislature

| Nevada Assembly

| 42

| 2

| Six terms

| Nevada Senate

| 21

| 4

| Three terms

| {{na}}

|2

| 63

scope="row" | New Hampshire General Court

| New Hampshire House of Representatives

| 400

| 2

| None

| New Hampshire Senate

| 24

| 2

| None

| {{na}}

|16.66667

| 424

scope="row" | New Jersey Legislature

| New Jersey General Assembly

| 80

| 2

| None

| New Jersey Senate

| 40

| 2 or 4

| None

| {{na}}

|2

| 120

scope="row" | New Mexico Legislature

| New Mexico House of Representatives

| 70

| 2

| None

| New Mexico Senate

| 42

| 4

| None

| {{na}}

|1.666667

| 112

scope="row" | New York State Legislature

| New York State Assembly

| 150

| 2

| None

| New York State Senate

| 63

| 2

| None

| {{na}}

|2.380952

| 213

scope="row" | North Carolina General Assembly

| North Carolina House of Representatives

| 120

| 2

| None

| North Carolina Senate

| 50

| 2

| None

| {{na}}

|2.4

| 170

scope="row" | North Dakota Legislative Assembly

| North Dakota House of Representatives

| 94

| 4

| Two terms

| North Dakota Senate

| 47

| 4

| Two terms

| {{na}}

|2

| 141

scope="row" | Ohio General Assembly

| Ohio House of Representatives

| 99

| 2

| Four terms

| Ohio Senate

| 33

| 4

| Two terms

| {{na}}

|3

| 132

scope="row" | Oklahoma Legislature

| Oklahoma House of Representatives

| 101

| 2

| 12 years in either house, combined

| Oklahoma Senate

| 48

| 4

| 12 years in either house, combined

| {{na}}

|2.104167

| 149

scope="row" | Oregon Legislative Assembly

| Oregon House of Representatives

| 60

| 2

| NoneState representatives were limited to three terms (6 years) until term limits were repealed by Oregon Ballot Measure 3 (1992).

| Oregon State Senate

| 30

| 4

| NoneState senators were limited to two terms (8 years) until term limits were repealed by Oregon Ballot Measure 3 (1992).

| {{na}}

|2

| 90

scope="row" | Pennsylvania General Assembly

| Pennsylvania House of Representatives

| 203

| 2

| None

| Pennsylvania State Senate

| 50

| 4

| None

| {{na}}

|4.06

| 253

scope="row" | Rhode Island General Assembly

| Rhode Island House of Representatives

| 75

| 2

| None

| Rhode Island Senate

| 38

| 2

| None

| {{na}}

|1.973684

| 113

scope="row" | South Carolina General Assembly

| South Carolina House of Representatives

| 124

| 2

| None

| South Carolina Senate

| 46

| 4

| None

| {{ya}}

|2.695652

| 170

scope="row" | South Dakota State Legislature

| South Dakota House of Representatives

| 70

| 2

| Four terms

| South Dakota Senate

| 35

| 4

| Two terms

| {{na}}

|2

| 105

scope="row" | Tennessee General Assembly

| Tennessee House of Representatives

| 99

| 2

| None

| Tennessee Senate

| 33

| 4

| None

| {{na}}

|3

| 132

scope="row" | Texas Legislature

| Texas House of Representatives

| 150

| 2

| None

| Texas Senate

| 31

| 2 or 4

| None

| {{ya}}

|4.83871

| 181

scope="row" | Utah State Legislature

| Utah House of Representatives

| 75

| 2

| None

| Utah State Senate

| 29

| 4

| None

| {{ya}}

|2.586207

| 104

scope="row" | Vermont General Assembly

| Vermont House of Representatives

| 150

| 2

| None

| Vermont Senate

| 30

| 2

| None

| {{ya}}

|5

| 180

scope="row" | Virginia General Assembly

| Virginia House of Delegates

| 100

| 2

| None

| Senate of Virginia

| 40

| 4

| None

| {{na}}

|2.5

| 140

scope="row" | Washington State Legislature

| Washington House of Representatives

| 98

| 2

| None

| Washington State Senate

| 49

| 4

| None

| {{na}}

|2

| 147

scope="row" | West Virginia Legislature

| West Virginia House of Delegates

| 100

| 2

| None

| West Virginia Senate

| 34

| 4

| None

| {{na}}

|2.941176

| 134

scope="row" | Wisconsin Legislature

| Wisconsin State Assembly

| 99

| 2

| None

| Wisconsin Senate

| 33

| 4

| None

| {{na}}

|3

| 132

scope="row" | Wyoming Legislature

| Wyoming House of Representatives

| 62

| 2

| None

| Wyoming Senate

| 31

| 4

| None

| {{na}}

|2

| 90

= Supermajority requirements =

While only 13 states have a filibuster, there are often restrictions on the majority a state needs to raise taxes.

[[File:US state legislatures by majoritarian operation.svg|thumb|center|600px|

Legend

{{legend|#cc6633|Effective supermajority system}}

{{legend|#cdcccc|Majority rule (22)}}

{{legend|#d4df5a|Mixed system}}]]

class="wikitable sortable"

! Key

! | State

! class="unsortable" | Notes

bgcolor="#cc6633"|

|Alabama

|The Alabama State Senate allows a filibuster, and has a general three-fifths requirement to enact cloture. A simple majority of 18 is acceptable when dealing with the budget and redistricting.{{cite web |url=http://www.legislature.state.al.us/senate/senaterules/senaterules1.html |title=Welcome to the Alabama State Legislature |access-date=June 26, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207135120/http://www.legislature.state.al.us/senate/senaterules/senaterules1.html |archive-date=February 7, 2013 }}

bgcolor="#cc6633"|

|Arkansas

|Arkansas, along with Rhode Island, is one of the only states that requires a supermajority to pass a budget. A three-fourths majority is required for appropriations, except for education, highways, and paying down the state debt, which require a simple majority.[http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/budget/supermajority-vote-requirements-to-pass-the-budget.aspx Fiscal Policy, State Budgets and Tax Actions | News and Information]

bgcolor="#cc6633"|

|California

|From 1933 to 2011 there was a two-thirds requirement for general fund appropriations for purposes other than public schools (Const., Art. IV, Sec. 12). Because the Legislature typically passes one main budget bill, the requirement effectively applied to the whole budget bill. There has been a two-thirds requirement for tax increases since Proposition 13 in 1978. In 2010, voters approved Proposition 25, eliminating the 2/3 requirement for the budget, but keeping it for tax increases.

Executive

{{See also|Term limits in the United States#Gubernatorial term limits|l1=Gubernatorial term limits}}

The governor is the chief executive official in each state.

class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
State

! Governor term length (years)

! Governor term limit

! First in line of succession

! Lieutenant Governor method of election

! Secretary of State

! Attorney General

! Treasurer

Alabama

| 4

| Two consecutive terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Separate election

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Alaska

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary

| {{na}}

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

Arizona

| 4

| Two consecutive termsThere are no limits on the number of terms a governor may serve in total as long as there is a four-year break after a second term.

| Secretary of StateOffice of lieutenant governor, created in 2022, will be implemented in 2026.

| From 2026: Same ticket

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Arkansas

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Separate election

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

California

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Separate election

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Colorado

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Connecticut

| 4

| None

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Delaware

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Separate election

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Florida

| 4

| Two consecutive terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Georgia

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Separate election

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

Hawaii

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary

| {{na}}

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

Idaho

| 4

| None

| Lieutenant Governor

| Separate election

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Illinois

| 4

| None

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Indiana

| 4

| Two terms in a 12-year periodGovernors of Indiana may serve an unlimited number of terms, but may only serve for eight years in any twelve-year period. (Constitution of Indiana Article 5)

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Iowa

| 4

| None

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Kansas

| 4

| There is no lifetime limit on the number, but one must be out of office for at least one election cycle after serving 2 consecutive terms before being eligible again.

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Kentucky

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Louisiana

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Separate election

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Maine

| 4

| Two consecutive terms

| President of the Senate

|

| {{maybe|Elected by legislature}}

| {{maybe|Elected by legislature}}

| {{maybe|Elected by legislature}}

Maryland

| 4

| Two consecutive terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{maybe|Elected by legislature}}

Massachusetts

| 4

| None

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Michigan

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

Minnesota

| 4

| None

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

Mississippi

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Separate election

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Missouri

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Separate election

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Montana

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

Nebraska

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Nevada

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Separate election

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

New Hampshire

| 2

| None

| President of the Senate

|

| {{maybe|Elected by legislature}}

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

| {{maybe|Elected by legislature}}

New Jersey

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

New Mexico

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

New York

| 4

| None

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

North Carolina

| 4

| Two consecutive terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Separate election

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

North Dakota

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Ohio

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Oklahoma

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Separate election

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Oregon

| 4

| Two consecutive terms

| Secretary of State

|

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Pennsylvania

| 4

| Two consecutive terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Rhode Island

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Separate election

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

South Carolina

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

South Dakota

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Tennessee

| 4

| Two terms

| Speaker of the Senate

| Title given to Speaker of the Senate

| {{maybe|Elected by legislature}}

| {{maybe|Appointed by Supreme Court}}

| {{maybe|Elected by legislature}}

Texas

| 4

| None

| Lieutenant Governor

| Separate election

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Utah

| 4

| None

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket

| {{na}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Vermont

| 2

| None

| Lieutenant Governor

| Separate election

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Virginia

| 4

| No limit on number, but terms cannot be consecutive

| Lieutenant Governor

| Separate election

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Appointed by Governor}}

Washington

| 4

| None

| Lieutenant Governor

| Separate election

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

West Virginia

| 4

| Two terms

| Lieutenant Governor

| Title given to President of the Senate

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Wisconsin

| 4

| None

| Lieutenant Governor

| Same ticket in general election, separate election in primary

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Wyoming

| 4

| Two terms

| Secretary of State

|

| {{yes|Elected}}

| {{maybe|Appointed by Governor}}

| {{yes|Elected}}

Note: Table does not distinguish between consecutive term limits and total term limits, unless otherwise noted.

Judicial

{{See also|State supreme court#Selection|l1=State supreme court methods of composition}}

class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
State

! Highest court

! High court seats

! High court term

! High court judicial placement method

! Mandatory retirement ageUncompleted entries do not indicate the lack of a retirement age, only a lack of data in this article. States without a mandatory retirement age will indicate "None".

Alabama

| Supreme Court of Alabama

| 9

| 6 years

| Partisan election

|

Alaska

| Alaska Supreme Court

| 5

| 10 years

| Missouri Plan

|

Arizona

| Arizona Supreme Court

| 7

| 6 years

| Missouri Plan

| 70

Arkansas

| Arkansas Supreme Court

| 7

| 8 years

| Non-partisan election

|

California

| Supreme Court of California

| 7

| 12 years

| Modified Missouri Plan

|

Colorado

| Colorado Supreme Court

| 7

| 10 years

| Missouri Plan

|

Connecticut

| Connecticut Supreme Court

| 7

| 8 yearsJudgepedia.org, Connecticut Supreme Court, found [https://web.archive.org/web/20081024213016/http://judgepedia.org/index.php/Connecticut_Supreme_Court here].

| Election by State Legislature

| 70

Delaware

| Delaware Supreme Court

| 5

| 12 years

| Appointment by Governor

|

Florida

| Florida Supreme Court

| 7

| 6 years

| Modified Missouri Plan

| 70 (or end of current term)

Georgia

| Supreme Court of Georgia

| 7

| 6 years

| Non-partisan election

|

Hawaii

| Supreme Court of Hawaii

| 5

| 10 years

| Appointment by Governor

| 70

Idaho

| Idaho Supreme Court

| 5

| 6 years

| Non-partisan election

|

Illinois

| Supreme Court of Illinois

| 7

| 10 years

| Partisan election

|

Indiana

| Indiana Supreme Court

| 5

| 10 yearsRetention election held after two years of service. Mandatory retirement at age 75.

| Missouri Plan

| 75The Indiana retirement age is the same regardless of the length of the Justice's remaining term.

Iowa

| Iowa Supreme Court

| 7

| 8 years

| Missouri Plan

| 72

Kansas

| Kansas Supreme Court

| 7

| 6 years

| Missouri Plan

| 70 (or end of current term)

Kentucky

| Kentucky Supreme Court

| 7

| 8 years

| Non-partisan election

|

Louisiana

| Supreme Court of Louisiana

| 7

| 10 years

| Partisan election

|

Maine

| Maine Supreme Judicial Court

| 7

| 7 years

| Appointment by Governor

|

Maryland

| Supreme Court of MarylandName officially changed from Maryland Court of Appeals in 2022.

| 7

| 10 years

| Appointment by Governor

| 70

Massachusetts

| Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

| 7

| Lifetime

| Appointment by Governor

| 70

Michigan

| Michigan Supreme Court

| 7

| 8 years

| Non-partisan electionWhile Michigan law stipulates that State Supreme Court judges be listed on the "non-partisan" section on the ballot, only candidates who have been nominated by political parties with ballot access at their respective state conventions are allowed to stand in the succeeding general election. Subsequently, each party is only allowed to nominate as many candidates as there are supreme court seats up for election in a given year.

| Must be under 70 at time of election

Minnesota

| Minnesota Supreme Court

| 7

| 6 years

| Non-partisan election

| 70

Mississippi

| Supreme Court of Mississippi

| 9

| 8 years

| Non-partisan election

|

Missouri

| Supreme Court of Missouri

| 7

| 12 years

| Missouri Plan

|

Montana

| Montana Supreme Court

| 7

| 8 years

| Non-partisan election

|

Nebraska

| Nebraska Supreme Court

| 7

| 6 years

| Missouri Plan

|

Nevada

| Supreme Court of Nevada

| 7

| 6 years

| Non-partisan election

|

New Hampshire

| New Hampshire Supreme Court

| 5

| Lifetime

| Appointment by Governor

| 70

New Jersey

| New Jersey Supreme Court

| 7

| 7 yearsRefers to initial "probation" period. If the governor reappoints them (almost universally true) they then serve for life

| Appointment by Governor

| 70

New Mexico

| New Mexico Supreme Court

| 5

| 8 years

| Partisan election/Retention election

|

New York

| New York Court of Appeals

| 7

| 14 years

| Appointment by Governor

| 70 (at end of calendar year)

North Carolina

| North Carolina Supreme Court

| 7

| 8 years

| Non-partisan election

|

North Dakota

| North Dakota Supreme Court

| 5

| 10 years

| Non-partisan election

|

Ohio

| Ohio Supreme Court

| 7

| 6 years

| Partisan election

| 70 (at end of term)

Oklahoma

| Oklahoma Supreme Court
Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals

| Supreme Court: 9
Court of Criminal Appeals: 5

| 6 years (both)

| Missouri Plan

|

Oregon

| Oregon Supreme Court

| 7

| 6 years

| Non-partisan election

| 75

Pennsylvania

| Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

| 7

| 10 years

| Partisan election

| 78

Rhode Island

| Rhode Island Supreme Court

| 5

| LifetimeLinda Greenhouse, "The Case for Term Limits on the Supreme Court with Linda Greenhouse", Yale Political Union, May 28, 2009, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/yale-political-union/the-case-for-term-limits_b_208445.html]

| Missouri Plan

| None

South Carolina

| South Carolina Supreme Court

| 5

| 10 years

| Election by State Legislature

| 72

South Dakota

| South Dakota Supreme Court

| 5

| 8 years

| Non-partisan election

|

Tennessee

| Tennessee Supreme Court

| 5

| 8 years

| Tennessee Plan (Modified Missouri Plan)

|

Texas

| Texas Supreme Court
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

| 9 (both)

| 6 years (both)

| Partisan election

| 75 (may finish term or 4 years of term, whichever is shorter)

Utah

| Utah Supreme Court

| 5

| 4 years

| Missouri Plan

|

Vermont

| Vermont Supreme Court

| 5

| 6 years

| Election by State Legislature

|

Virginia

| Supreme Court of Virginia

| 7

| 12 years

| Election by State Legislature

| 70Aaron Applegate, Mike Saewitz, "Bill seeks to raise mandatory retirement age for judges to 73", The Virginian-Pilot, February 4, 2010, [http://hamptonroads.com/2010/02/bill-seeks-raise-mandatory-retirement-age-judges-73]

Washington

| Washington Supreme Court

| 9

| 6 years

| Non-partisan election

| 75

West Virginia

| Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia

| 5

| 12 years

| Partisan election

|

Wisconsin

| Wisconsin Supreme Court

| 7

| 10 years

| Non-partisan election

|

Wyoming

| Wyoming Supreme Court

| 5

| 8 years

| Missouri Plan

|

Note: Table does not distinguish between term lengths that result in a new election and term lengths that result in a retention vote but not a full election.

g

See also

Notes

References

{{reflist}}

Sources

  • [http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=14844 National Conference of State Legislatures Term Limit Chart]
  • Term Limits.Org, Term limit data for AZ AR CA CO FL LA MA MI MO MT NB NV OH OK SD WY [https://web.archive.org/web/20081006003405/http://www.termlimits.org/content.asp?pl=18&sl=19&contentid=19], Accessed on June 27, 2009.
  • {{cite book|last=Little|first=Thomas H.|title=The legislative branch of state government: people, process, and politics|year=2006|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=1-85109-761-9|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/legislativebranc0000litt}}

{{USStateLists}}

Category:State government in the United States

U.S. state and territory governments