State Representative
A member of the lower chamber of the state legislature, which writes state law and the state budget.
One of sixty members of the Arizona House — two from each of the thirty legislative districts, so your ballot asks you to vote for two (Article 4, Part 2, Section 1(1)). Two-year terms, four consecutive terms at most (Article 4, Part 2, Section 21).
Who it works with, and what passes between them:
- To State Senator: A bill has to pass both chambers in the same form before it can reach the governor, so one chamber's vote only gets it halfway. In most states a bill that raises revenue has to start in the lower chamber.
State Senator
One of thirty senators, one from each legislative district, serving two years and limited to four consecutive terms (Article 4, Part 2, Sections 1(1) and 21).
One of thirty senators, one from each legislative district, serving two years and limited to four consecutive terms (Article 4, Part 2, Sections 1(1) and 21). Arizona's legislature meets annually from the second Monday of January and passes a bill on a majority of all members elected to each house (Article 4, Part 2, Sections 3 and 15).
Who it works with, and what passes between them:
- From State Representative: A bill has to pass both chambers in the same form before it can reach the governor, so one chamber's vote only gets it halfway. In most states a bill that raises revenue has to start in the lower chamber.
- To Governor: What both chambers pass goes to the governor to sign or veto. The share of each chamber needed to override a veto is set by this state's own constitution and is on the legislature's office page.
- To Counties, cities, towns and school districts: The legislature writes the property tax, local tax and budget rules that every county, city, town and school district in the state has to work inside. A local council choosing a rate is choosing among options set here.
Governor
Arizona's chief executive, elected for four years, who "shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed" (Article 5, Sections 1 and 4).
Arizona's chief executive, elected for four years, who “shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed” (Article 5, Sections 1 and 4). This is the first Arizona election in which the governor runs with a running mate: each nominee “shall name a lieutenant governor nominee and shall run on a ticket as a joint candidate”, and “a single vote for a nominee for governor shall constitute a vote for that nominee's ticket” (Article 5, Section 1).
Who it works with, and what passes between them:
- From State Senator: What both chambers pass goes to the governor to sign or veto. The share of each chamber needed to override a veto is set by this state's own constitution and is on the legislature's office page.
- To Attorney General: The state's lawyer is elected separately in most states, so the governor cannot pick or remove the person who decides which laws to defend, which cases to bring, and which opinions to issue. Where the office is appointed instead, that page says so.
- To Secretary of State: In most states this is the chief election official, elected on the same ballot it administers and not answerable to the governor. A few states put elections elsewhere; that office's page says which.
- To State Treasurer: The governor proposes a budget and the legislature appropriates, but the money itself sits with a separately elected treasurer. What that office may do with it is set by this state's own law.
- To Counties, cities, towns and school districts: State agencies under the governor license, inspect, fund and audit the counties, cities and school districts below. Much of what a local government can do in practice depends on a state agency's rules.
Secretary of State
Keeps the state's official records and, in most states, is its chief election official.
One of the six officers of Arizona's executive department, serving four years, with powers “as prescribed by law” — which is where the state's elections sit (Article 5, Sections 1 and 9). This election changes the office's other role: with a lieutenant governor now elected on the governor's ticket, the secretary of state is no longer first in line for the governorship but fourth (Article 5, Section 6).
Who it works with, and what passes between them:
- From Governor: In most states this is the chief election official, elected on the same ballot it administers and not answerable to the governor. A few states put elections elsewhere; that office's page says which.
Attorney General
The state's lawyer: brings and defends the state's cases, and advises its agencies.
Arizona's elected chief legal officer, one of the six officers of the executive department, serving four years, with powers “as prescribed by law” (Article 5, Sections 1 and 9). Elected separately from the governor, so the state's lawyer and the state's executive can disagree and both keep their jobs.
Who it works with, and what passes between them:
- From Governor: The state's lawyer is elected separately in most states, so the governor cannot pick or remove the person who decides which laws to defend, which cases to bring, and which opinions to issue. Where the office is appointed instead, that page says so.
State Treasurer
Holds and invests the state's money.
One of the six officers of Arizona's executive department, elected for four years, who holds the state's money and whose powers are “as prescribed by law” (Article 5, Sections 1 and 9).
Who it works with, and what passes between them:
- From Governor: The governor proposes a budget and the legislature appropriates, but the money itself sits with a separately elected treasurer. What that office may do with it is set by this state's own law.
Counties, cities, towns and school districts
Every local government in the state. None of them can tax or spend outside what the legislature allows.
Elected separately, each at its own level.
Who it works with, and what passes between them:
- From State Senator: The legislature writes the property tax, local tax and budget rules that every county, city, town and school district in the state has to work inside. A local council choosing a rate is choosing among options set here.
- From Governor: State agencies under the governor license, inspect, fund and audit the counties, cities and school districts below. Much of what a local government can do in practice depends on a state agency's rules.