Montana State Government - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

As established and defined by the Montana Constitution

Montana Constitution

The Constitution of the State of Montana is the primary legal document providing for the self-governance of the U.S. State of Montana. It establishes and defines the powers of the three branches of the government of Montana, and the rights of its citizens...

, the government of the State of Montana is composed of three branches, the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative

Montana State Legislature

The Montana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Montana. It is composed of the 100-member Montana House of Representatives and the 50-member Montana Senate....

. The powers of initiative and referendum are reserved for the citizens of Montana.
The second, and current state constitution

Montana Constitution

enacted in 1972 placed more responsibility on the individual voter and made significant strides to protect Montana’s environment. With a Bill of Rights that gives Montanans the strongest protection of all the states, the revamped constitution established new foundations for self-government, most notably, a respect for the rights of the individual, a sense of stewardship of the state’s many natural resources, and assured that government operating behind closed doors, in smoke-filled rooms, beyond the view of the press and the public was relegated to the pages of history books. Access to their government is a constitutionally protected right of all Montanans and includes the right to examine documents or to observe the deliberations of all public bodies or agencies of state government and its subdivisions.

Legislative Branch

Like the federal government and 48 other states, Montana has a bicameral legislature composed of two chambers, a 100-member House of Representatives

Montana House of Representatives

The Montana House of Representatives is, with the Montana Senate, one of the two houses of the Montana Legislature. Composed of 100 members, the House elects its leadership every two years.-Composition of the House:...

and a 50-member Senate

Montana Senate

The Montana Senate is the upper house of the Montana State Legislature, the state legislative branch of the U.S. state of Montana. The body is composed of 50 senators.-Composition of the Senate:-Officers:*Majority Whip: Greg Barkus...

. Legislators are elected by popular vote. As of 1992 term limits were enacted limiting House members to four 2-year terms, and Senate members to two 4-year terms. The Montana State Legislature

Montana State Legislature

The Montana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Montana. It is composed of the 100-member Montana House of Representatives and the 50-member Montana Senate....

convenes only on odd numbered years, and for 90 day periods. In addition, state law allows for the legislature to be convened in special session by the governor or at the written request of a majority of the members. As of 2005, the Montana Legislature has been convened in special session thirty times in its history.

Executive branch

The daily administration of the state’s laws, as defined in the Montana Code Annotated, are carried out by the chief executive—the governor, and his second in command the Lieutenant Governor, the Secretary Of State, the Attorney General, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Auditor, and by the staff and employees of the 14 executive branch agencies.

Acknowledging the importance of providing for an orderly arrangement in the administrative organization of state government, the number of principal departments from which all executive and administrative offices, boards, bureaus, commissions, agencies and instrumentalities of the executive branch (except for the office of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, and auditor) must perform their respective functions, powers, and duties, is constitutionally limited to not more than 20 principal departments. Currently the state operates with 14 principal departments. Provision is made within the state constitution for the establishment of temporary commissions not allocated within a department.

Executive branch agencies

Department of Administration

Provides general and administrative services in the areas of financial services, facilities management, public procurement, printing, mailing, surplus property management, architectural and engineering services, risk management and tort defense, personnel services, labor relations, information technology, and professional development.
Department of Agriculture

Protects producers and consumers, enhances and develops agricultural and allied industries through its agricultural sciences and agricultural development divisions.
Department of Commerce

Acts as an information broker for businesses and communities in the areas of economic and community development. Promotes Montana as a place to visit, to locate business, and to film motion pictures, commercials, documentaries, and features.
Department of Corrections

Operates and administrates the state’s adult and juvenile correctional facilities including the Montana State Prison located in Deerlodge and the Montana Women’s Prison located in Billings. Supervises probationers and parolees.
Department of Environmental Quality

The agency’s mission is to protect, sustain, and improve a clean and healthful environment to benefit present and future generations. This is accomplished through managing, planning, and enforcing air and water quality laws and administrative rules. Remediation responsibilities include overseeing investigation and cleanup activities at state and federal Superfund sites to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal regulations, and to prevent exposure of potential human and ecological receptors to hazardous or toxic materials that have been released to soil, sediment, surface water, or groundwater.
Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks

Provides for the stewardship of the state’s fish, wildlife, parks and recreational resources through the management of state fisheries, parks and trails, and regulates state wildlife resources. Enforces state fish, wildlife, and parks laws, as well as boating, snowmobile, off-highway rules and regulations.
Department of Justice

The Montana State Attorney General serves as the agency director as well as the state’s chief law enforcement officer and chief legal officer. The department operates and administrates; the Forensic Science Division (State Crime Lab), the Montana Highway Patrol, the Division of Criminal Investigations, the Motor Vehicle Division, Gambling Control Division, Law Enforcement Academy, as well as consumer protection, victim services, agency legal services, and information technology services in support of the agency’s criminal justice mission.
Department of Labor and Industry

Regulates and manages workers’ compensation program, provides assistance to employers in filing quarterly wage reports and paying unemployment insurance tax, and administrates unemployment insurance claims for eligible unemployed workers. Upholds public policy as it relates to employment relationships and illegal discrimination. Through its workforce centers in cities across the state the agency provides job seekers and employers the resources and forums to maintain a high quality workforce.
Department of Livestock

Primary mission is to control and eradicate animal diseases, prevent the transmission of animal diseases to humans, and to protect the livestock industry from theft and predatory animals. Conducts enforcement and investigative work in the tracking of livestock ownership and in the deterrence and/or solution of related criminal activities Also monitors and regulates the horse racing industry in the state.
Department of Military Affairs

Oversees all activities of the Army and Air National Guard, Disaster and Emergency Services Division, and provides administrative support to the Veterans Affairs Division, which is administratively attached to the department. The department is administered by the Adjutant General and his staff.
Department of Natural Resources and Conservation

Promotes stewardship of Montana’s water, soil, forest, and rangeland resources; regulates forest practices and oil and gas exploration and production, and administers several grant and loan programs. The Fire and Aviation Management program is responsible for protecting 50 million acres (200,000 km²) of state and private forest and watershed lands from wildfire, while the Tree and Shrub Nursery program grows and sells seedlings for conservation and reforestation plantings on state and private lands.
Department of Public Health and Human Services

The largest agency within state government, DPHHS administrates a wide range of public assistance programs including; Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is one of the United States of America's federal assistance programs. It began on July 2, 1997, and succeeded the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program, providing cash assistance to indigent American families with dependent children through the...

(TANF), food stamps, special supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP), energy assistance, child care assistance. Other programs and services provided by the agency include; adoption services, services for the aging, child support, disability services, drug & alcohol addiction, mental health services and facilities. Oversees the coordination of the public health system in Montana through organized efforts to prevent, identify, and counter threats to the health of the public. Programs range in scope from nutrition support and Health Education, to screening services, to preventive services and surveillance systems for infectious and chronic diseases.
Department of Revenue

The agency responsible for; overseeing revenue collection activity and audits, verifying compliance with state tax laws, and for the valuation and assessment of real and personal property for property tax purposes. The agency also administers the state's Alcoholic Beverage Code, which governs the control, sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages.
Department of Transportation

The agency responsible for transportation systems and services, including the state’s highway and rail systems, and air service. Primary responsibilities include; public transportation and rail programs and planning, general aviation airport planning, management of the state motor pool, maintenance of state highways, bridges and rest areas, motor fuel collection and enforcement, enforcement of vehicle weight and dimension laws and the Outdoor Advertising Control Act, and highway traffic safety. Duties include; planning and design activities, contract administration, materials design and testing, fiscal programming and cost accounting, and property acquisition.

Commissions, Councils, Boards and Offices

Advisory Council on Aging

Aeronautics Board

Banking Board

Board of Crime Control

Board of Environmental Review

Board of Housing

Board of Investments

Board of Pardons and Parole

Board of Public Assistance

Board of Public Education

Board of Research and Commercialization

Brain Injury Advisory Council

Burial Preservation Board

Capital Finance Advisory Council

Capitol Complex Advisory Council

Child & Family Services Advisory Councils

Children's Special Health Services Advisory Council

Coal Board

Commissioner of Political Practices

Consensus Council

Council on Homelessness

County Printing Board

Disability Advisory Council

Early Childhood Advisory Council

Economic Development Advisory Council

Electronic Government Advisory Council

HIV/AIDS Advisory Council

Information Technology Board

Interagency Coordinating Council

Land Information Advisory Council

Medicaid Drug Use Review Board

Mental Health Oversight Advisory Council

Montana Arts Council

Montana Heritage Commission

Montana Lottery

Montana Lottery

The Montana Lottery is run by the government of Montana. It is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association . The Montana Lottery has a large number of games, such as scratch tickets, Powerball, Hot Lotto, Wild Card 2, and Montana Cash....

Montana State Fund

Office of Public Instruction

Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education

Office of the State Public Defender

Petroleum Board

Provider Rates & Services Commission

Public Employees Retirement System

Public Service Commission

Publishing Policy Committee

Reserved Water Rights Compact Commission

State Tax Appeal Board

Statewide Independent Living Council

Statewide Interoperability Executive Council

Teachers Retirement Board

Tobacco Prevention Advisory Board

Tourism Advisory Council

Transportation Commission

Vocational Rehabilitation Council

Worklife Wellness Advisory Council

Judicial Branch

The highest court in the state is the Montana State Supreme Court. The court hears cases pertaining to the disputes involving Montana State Government, and interprets; state statutes, the State constitution

Montana Constitution

, and administrative rules. Unlike most state court systems and the federal judiciary, Montana does not have an intermediate appellate court; the State Supreme Court must hear all appeals. The Montana Supreme Court has other duties, including lawyer discipline and revisions of various rules, such as the Montana Rules of Civil and Appellate Procedure, the Rules of Professional Conduct that apply to Montana lawyers, and the Rules of Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement that govern lawyer discipline cases. On occasion, the Montana Supreme Court also must determine whether to impose judicial discipline as recommended by the Judicial Standards Commission. The Montana Water Court adjudicates matters of water rights within the state.

The Judicial power of the State of Montana is vested in the following:

The Supreme Court, consisting of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices
The District Courts
The Workers' Compensation Court
The Water Court
The Courts of Limited Jurisdiction, which include Justice Courts, Municipal Courts, and City Courts.

Elected Officials

Governor

Lieutenant Governor

Attorney General

Secretary of State

State Auditor

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Supreme Court Justices

Clerk of the Supreme Court

Public Service Commissioners

Legislators

Term Limits

In addition to legislators, state law prohibits the following public officials from seeking re-election if they have already held the office for 8 years in any 16-year period; Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor, Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction.

External links

Montana Code Annotated (MCA) http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/mca_toc/index.htm

Montana State Legislature http://leg.mt.gov

State of Montana, Agency Listings http://mt.gov/govt/agencylisting.asp

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

Legislative Branch

Executive branch

Executive branch agencies

Commissions, Councils, Boards and Offices

Judicial Branch

Elected Officials

Term Limits

See also

External links