The Green Papers
The Green Papers
Executive and Legislative Branches
of the Several states

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State Executive Legislative
Chief Executive Successor to a Vacancy Legislature Upper House Lower House
Alabama
  • GOVERNOR
  • President of the State Senate (1819-1867) [under State's 1st and 2nd Constitutions: would merely become "acting Governor"; next in line of succession: Speaker of the State House of Representatives]
  • Lieutenant Governor (1867-1875) [under State's 3rd Constitution: elected separately from GOVERNOR; next in line of succession: President pro Tempore of the State Senate]
  • President of the State Senate (1875-1901) [under State's 4th Constitution: would merely become "acting Governor"; next in line of succession: Speaker of the State House of Representatives]
  • Lieutenant Governor (1901--) [under State's 5th Constitution: elected separately from GOVERNOR; next in line of succession: President pro Tempore of the State Senate, then Speaker of the State House of Representatives, followed- if ever necessary- by Statewide Elected Executive Officers]
  • LEGISLATURE (1817-1819) [as a Territory]
  • GENERAL ASSEMBLY (1819-1901)
  • LEGISLATURE (1901--) [Name changed upon the adoption of the State's 5th Constitution]
  • Legislative Council (1817-1819) [as a Territory]
  • Senate (1819--) [currently 35 Senators by DISTRICT: 4-year terms]
  • House of Representatives (1817--) [as both a Territory and a State]
    [currently 105 Representatives by DISTRICT: 4-year terms]
Alaska
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor (1959--) [under State's 1st Constitution]
  • LEGISLATURE (1912--) [as both a Territory and a State]
  • Senate (1912--) [as both a Territory and a State]
  • House of Representatives (1912--) [as both a Territory and a State]
American Samoa
  • Governor
  • Lieutenant Governor
  • Legislative Assembly (Fono)
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Arizona
  • GOVERNOR
  • Secretary of State (1912--) [under State's 1st Constitution; next in line of sucession: State Attorney General]
  • LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (1863-1912) [as a Territory]
  • LEGISLATURE (1912--)
  • Council (1863-1912) [as a Territory]
  • Senate (1912--)
  • House of Representatives (1863--) [as both a Territory and a State]
Arkansas
  • GOVERNOR
  • President of the State Senate (1836-1864) [under State's 1st Constitution: would merely become "acting Governor"; next in line of succession: Speaker of the State House of Representatives]
  • Lieutenant Governor (1864-1874) [under State's 2nd and 3rd Constitutions: elected separately from Governor; next in line of succession: President (pro Tempore) of the Senate]
  • President of the State Senate (1874-1914) [under State's 4th Constitution: would merely become "acting Governor"; next in line of succession: Speaker of the State House of Representatives]
  • Lieutenant Governor (1914--) [via Amendment to the State's 4th Constitution: elected separately from GOVERNOR]
  • GENERAL ASSEMBLY (1819--) [as both a Territory and a State]
  • Legislative Council (1819-1836) [as a Territory]
  • Senate (1836--)
  • House of Representatives (1819--) [as both a Territory and a State]
California
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor (1850--) [under State's 1st and 2nd Constitutions: elected separately from GOVERNOR; originally, next in line of succession: President (pro Tempore) of the State Senate, then (after State Constitutional Amendment of 1898) Speaker of the State Assembly... subsequently, the Legislature was authorized to determine a line of succession beyond the Lieutenant Governor by statute]
  • LEGISLATURE (1850--)
  • Senate (1850--)
  • Assembly (1850--)
Colorado
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor
  • LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (1861-1876) [as a Territory]
  • General Assembly (1876--)
  • Council (1861-1876) [as a Territory]
  • Senate (1876--)
  • House of Representatives (1861--) [as a Territory and a State]
Connecticut
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor
  • GENERAL COURT (1638-1818) [CONNECTICUT operated under its colonial Charter of 1662 into Statehood; until 1784, also functioned as- in effect- the "court of Last Resort".]
  • GENERAL ASSEMBLY (1818--)
  • Court of Assistants (--1784) [under the colonial Charter of 1662, also functioned as the Governor's Council (hence their name); from 1666 through 1715, also functioned as a "superior court" which tried major cases and exercised some appellate judicial jurisdiction]
  • Senate (1784--) [under Connecticut's colonial Charter of 1662 (in force till 1818), this body functioned as the "Supreme Court of Errors", the highest court in the State]
  • General Assembly (--1818) [under Connecticut's colonial Charter of 1662]
  • House of Representatives (1818--)
Delaware
  • PRESIDENT (1776-1792) [under the State's 1st Constitution]
  • GOVERNOR (1792--) [under the State's 2nd, 3rd and 4th Constitutions]
  • Speaker of the Legislative Council (1776-1792) [under State's 1st Constitution: would merely become "acting President"; next in line of succession: Speaker of the House of Assembly]
  • Speaker of the State Senate (1792-1897) [under the State's 2nd and 3rd Constitutions: would merely become "acting Governor"; next in line of succession: Speaker of the State House of Representatives]
  • Lieutenant Governor (1897--) [under State's 4th Constitution; next in the line of succession: Secretary of State, then Attorney General, President pro Tempore of the State Senate, Speaker of the State House of Representatives]
  • GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  • [Legislative] Council (1776-1792)
  • Senate (1792--) [Name changed with the adoption of the State's 2nd Constitution]
  • [House of] Assembly (1776-1792)
  • House of Representatives (1792--) [Name changed with the adoption of the State's 2nd Constitution]
District of Columbia
Florida
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected on same ticket with GOVERNOR]
  • President of the State Senate [under State's 4th Constitution; next in line of succession: Speaker of the State House of Representatives]
  • President of the State Senate (1845-1865) [under State's 1st Constitution; next in line of succession: Speaker of the State House of Representatives]
  • Lieutenant Governor (1865-1887) [under State's 2nd and 3rd Constitutions; next in line of succession: Speaker of the State House of Representatives (1865-1868), President pro Tempore of the State Senate (1868-1887)]
  • General Assembly (1845-1868) [under State's 1st and 2nd Constitutions]
  • LEGISLATURE (1868--) [under State's 3rd, 4th and 5th Constitutions]
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives (1845-1868) [under State's 1st and 2nd Constitutions]
  • Assembly (1868-1887) [under State's 3rd Constitution]
  • House of Representatives (1887--) [under State's 4th and 5th Constitutions]
Georgia
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected separately from GOVERNOR]
  • GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Guam
  • Governor
  • Legislature
Hawaii
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [Elected on same ticket with GOVERNOR; nominated separately from Governor]
  • LEGISLATURE
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Idaho
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected separately from GOVERNOR]
  • LEGISLATURE
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Illinois
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected on same ticket with GOVERNOR; nominated separately from Governor]
  • GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Indiana
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected on same ticket with GOVERNOR; next in line of succession: President pro Tempore of the State Senate (1816-1851)]
  • GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Iowa
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected separately from GOVERNOR]
  • GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Kansas
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected on same ticket with GOVERNOR; nominated with Governor as well]
  • LEGISLATURE
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Kentucky
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected on same ticket with GOVERNOR; nominated with Governor as well]
  • GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Louisiana
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected separately from GOVERNOR]
  • LEGISLATURE
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Maine
  • GOVERNOR
  • President of the State Senate
  • LEGISLATURE
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Maryland
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected on same ticket with GOVERNOR]
  • GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  • Senate
  • House of Delegates
Massachusetts
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected separately from GOVERNOR]
  • GENERAL COURT
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Michigan
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [Nominated by convention separately from the gubernatorial primary; elected on same ticket with Governor.]
  • LEGISLATURE
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Minnesota
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected on same ticket with GOVERNOR; nominated with Governor as well]
  • LEGISLATURE
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Mississippi
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected separately from GOVERNOR]
  • LEGISLATURE
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Missouri
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected separately from GOVERNOR]
  • GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Montana
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected on same ticket with GOVERNOR; nominated separately from Governor]
  • LEGISLATURE
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Nebraska
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected on same ticket with GOVERNOR]
  • Legislature
Nevada
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected separately from GOVERNOR]
  • LEGISLATURE
  • Senate
  • Assembly
New Hampshire
  • GOVERNOR
  • President of the State Senate
  • GENERAL COURT
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
New Jersey
  • GOVERNOR
  • President of the State Senate (--2009) [prior to the creation of the Lt. Governor position (first elected in 2009), became "acting Governor" only and had to remain a member of the State Senate in order to hold such position; next in the line of succession (only where the office of State Senate President were itself vacant) was the Speaker of the General Assembly (who, likewise, would have to remain a member of that body during his/her tenure as 'acting Governor').]
  • Lieutenant Governor (2010--) [next in line of succession: President of the State Senate, followed by Speaker of the General Assembly, still subject to the reservations [that is, remaining in their respective legislative body while serving as, in their cases, 'acting Governor'] which existed prior to the creation of the office of Lt. Gov.; however, if someone has served as 'acting Governor' continuously for at least 180 days without the election of a new Governor, that person then becomes 'Governor' in full name and title.
    "The Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall be elected conjointly and for concurrent terms by the legally qualified voters of this State, and the manner of election shall require each voter to cast a single vote for both offices. The candidate of each political party for election to the office of Lieutenant Governor shall be selected by the candidate of that party nominated for election to the office of Governor. The selection of the candidate for election to the office of Lieutenant Governor shall be made within 30 days following the nomination of the candidate for election to the office of Governor. A person shall not seek election to both offices simultaneously. The joint candidates receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected; but if two or more joint candidacies shall be equal and greatest in votes, one set of joint candidates shall be elected by the vote of a majority of all the members of both houses in joint meeting at the regular legislative session next following the election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor by the people. Contested elections for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall be determined in such manner as may be provided by law." [Article V, Section I, paragraph 4: New Jersey State Constitution (as amended)]]
  • LEGISLATURE
  • Senate
  • General Assembly
New Mexico
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected on same ticket with GOVERNOR; nominated separately from Governor]
  • LEGISLATURE
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
New York
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [Elected on a ticket with (but may be nominated separately from) the Governor]
  • LEGISLATURE
  • Senate
  • Assembly
North Carolina
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected separately from GOVERNOR]
  • GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
North Dakota
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected on same ticket with GOVERNOR]
  • LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Northern Marianas
  • Governor
  • Legislature
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Ohio
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected on same ticket with GOVERNOR; nominated with Governor as well]
  • GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Oklahoma
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected separately from GOVERNOR]
  • LEGISLATURE
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Oregon
  • GOVERNOR
  • Secretary of State
  • LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Pennsylvania
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected on same ticket with GOVERNOR]
  • GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Puerto Rico
  • Governor
  • Secretary of State (1952--) [appointed by the Governor with the consent of both houses of the Legislative Assembly]
  • Legislative Assembly
  • Senate
  • Chamber of Representatives
Rhode Island
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected separately from GOVERNOR]
  • GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
South Carolina
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected separately from GOVERNOR]
  • GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
South Dakota
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected on same ticket with GOVERNOR; nominated with Governor as well]
  • LEGISLATURE
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Tennessee
  • GOVERNOR
  • Speaker of the State Senate
  • GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Texas
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected separately from GOVERNOR]
  • LEGISLATURE
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Utah
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected on same ticket with GOVERNOR]
  • LEGISLATURE
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Vermont
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected separately from GOVERNOR]
  • GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
Virgin Islands
  • Governor
  • Senate
Virginia
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected separately from GOVERNOR]
  • GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  • Senate
  • House of Delegates
Washington
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected separately from GOVERNOR]
  • LEGISLATURE
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
West Virginia
  • GOVERNOR
  • President of the State Senate
  • LEGISLATURE
  • Senate
  • House of Delegates
Wisconsin
  • GOVERNOR
  • Lieutenant Governor [elected on same ticket with GOVERNOR]
  • LEGISLATURE
  • Senate
  • Assembly
Wyoming
  • GOVERNOR
  • Secretary of State
  • LEGISLATURE
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
State Executive Legislative
Chief Executive Successor to a Vacancy Legislature Upper House Lower House
 

State and Local Government Outline


Modified .