The Green Papers: Rhode Island State and Local Government

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Governor:1
Senators: 2 (Electoral Classes 1 and 2)
2020 Census: 1,098,163 (0.33% of 331,797,979
- 2024, 2028 Electors: 4 (0.74% of 538)
- 2022-2030 Representatives: 2 (0.46% of 435)
2010 Census: 1,055,247 (0.34% of 309,785,186)
- 2012, 2016, 2020 Electors: 4 (0.74% of 538)
- 2012-2020 Representatives: 2 (0.46% of 435)
Capital: Providence

Current Rhode Island Statewide Office Holders

Official Name/Status All States

The STATE of Rhode Island
Full Official Name: The State of Rhode Island
Status: STATE of the Union
Ratified Articles of Confederation: 9 February 1778. this State formally adhered to the Articles on 9 July 1778 when the document was signed by its delegates to the Seventh Continental Congress.
3 November 2020: The state changed its name from "The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" to "The State of Rhode Island".
Ratified Constitution of the United States: 29 May 1790
The 13th state.

Traditional Sections and Regions All States

Section: NORTHEAST
Region: New England
Survey: Metes & Bounds

Constitutions All States Links to State Constitutions

Enabling Act: [None. One of the 13 original States which declared their independence from the nascent British Empire on 4 July 1776. Rhode Island (which had formally abjured allegiance to the Crown of Great Britain, in lieu of drafting a new Constitution for itself, on 4 May 1776) operated under its colonial Charter of 1663 until 1843]
- 1st (-) [Adopted: 18 November 1841 This was the so-called "People's Constitution", framed by a Convention convened on 4 October 1841; calling for an independent Judiciary and universal manhood suffrage (both long denied by the colonial Charter of 1663 under which the State then operated), this document set the stage for "Dorr's Rebellion" (Thomas Dorr was elected Governor under this "People's Constitution" on 18 April 1842 but was strongly rebuffed by the State government under the Charter in his attempt to organize the State government along the lines of this "People's Constitution" on 3 May 1842), Ratified: 29 December 1841 ratified by the Town Meetings]
- 2nd (1843-) [Adopted: 5 November 1842 This was the so-called "Freeman's Constitution": originally adopted by a Convention called by the legislature (in an attempt to answer the "People's Constitution"), it was rejected by the Town Meetings, 23 March 1842. The Convention reconvened, 12 September 1842 and drafted a modified version of the "Freeman's Constitution" that now incorporated at least some of the features of the "People's Constitution" ratified in December 1841, Ratified: 23 November 1842 ratified by the Town Meetings; effective, 2 May 1843]

Executive Branch All States

Chief Executive
- GOVERNOR
Successor to a Vacancy
- Lieutenant Governor [elected separately from GOVERNOR]

Major Executive Officers Elected Statewide All States
- Governor: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
- Lieutenant Governor: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026
- Secretary of State: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
- Attorney General: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
- General Treasurer: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026

Legislative Branch All States

Legislature
- GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Upper House
- Senate
Lower House
- House of Representatives

Judicial Branch All States

Court of Last Resort
- Supreme Court

Local Government All States

PRIMARY CIVIL DIVISION All States
- county [Type: Vestigial, Executive and Legislative: no associated governmental structure]
  - MINOR CIVIL DIVISION
    - TOWN [Type: Very Strong, Executive: Council, Legislative: TOWN MEETING]

Localities All States
- Rhode Island Civil Divisions and Municipalities

Statutory Election Information All States

General Election All States
- A meeting of the electors ... shall be held biennially in the even years on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November ... [General Laws of RI 17-18-5]
Presidential Primary All States
- (1996-2011) 1st Tuesday in March of Presidential Election years
  [General Laws of RI 17-12.1-1]
- (2011-2023) ... fourth Tuesday in April 2012, and every fourth year thereafter
  [General Laws of RI 17-12.1-1]
- (2023--) 4th Tuesday in April 2012, and every fourth year thereafter [General Laws of RI 17-12.1-1(a)]. for the 2024 primary .. shall be conducted on April 2, 2024. [General Laws of RI 17-12.1-1.(b)]
State Primary All States
- (--2019) 2d Tuesday after 1st Monday in September of even-numbered years [General Laws of RI 17-15-1].
  In the event that the date for the ... primary election ... falls upon ... a religious holiday, the primary shall be held upon the next business day, other than Saturday .... [General Laws of RI § 17-15-2]
  Party designation. (a) Whenever any person registers to vote, that person may designate his or her party affiliation, or ... that he or she is not affiliated with any political party. ... (c) Whenever any person participates [votes -Ed] in a party primary, that act shall serve as identifying the person as being affiliated with the party... [General Laws of RI 17-9.1-23]
- (2019--) 8th Tuesday preceding biennial state elections. [General Laws of RI 17-15-1].
  In the event that the date for the ... primary election ... falls upon ... a religious holiday, the primary shall be held upon the next business day, other than Saturday .... [General Laws of RI § 17-15-2]
  Party designation. (a) Whenever any person registers to vote, that person may designate his or her party affiliation, or ... that he or she is not affiliated with any political party. ... (c) Whenever any person participates [votes -Ed] in a party primary, that act shall serve as identifying the person as being affiliated with the party... [General Laws of RI 17-9.1-23]
Polling times All States
- (--2011) Elective meetings ... shall be opened for the purpose of voting at the hours specified for each particular city or town as designated in the specific time ... (polls open 7 am to 9 am by location; as late as 12 noon by location for Presidential Primaries -Ed) [General Laws of RI 17-18-10].
  Elective meetings in all cities and towns shall be continuously kept open for voting until 9 p.m. [General Laws of RI 17-18-11, also 17-15-28].
- (2012--) Elective meetings ... shall be opened for the purpose of voting at the hours specified for each particular city or town as designated in the specific time ... (polls open 7 am to 9 am by location; as late as 12 noon by location for Presidential Primaries -Ed) [General Laws of RI 17-18-10].
  Elective meetings in all cities and towns shall be continuously kept open for voting until 8 p.m. [General Laws of 17-18-11.].

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State and Local Government Outline

Modified .