The Government of Maryland is conducted according to the Maryland Constitution. The Great Seal of Maryland is the official government emblem of the State of Maryland in the United States. The flag of Maryland consists of the heraldic banners of the family of George Calvert 1st Baron Baltimore. The current Constitution of the State of Maryland, which was ratified by the people of the state on September 18, 1867, forms the Basic law for the The United States is a federation; consequently, the Government of Maryland, like the other 49 state governments, has exclusive authority over matters that lie entirely within the state's borders, except as limited by the Constitution of the United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A federation ( Latin: foedus, covenant is a union comprising a number of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central ("federal" Politics of the United States takes place in the framework of a presidential, Federal republic where the President of the United States (the Head of The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme Law of the United States.
Power in Maryland is divided among three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. In Political science and Constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the State. A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation In Law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of Courts which administer Justice in the name of the sovereign or State Unlike most other states, significant autonomy is granted to many of Maryland's counties. A county of the United States is a local level of government created as a subdivision of a state by the state government or by the federal or territorial government as a subdivision
Most of the business of government is done in Annapolis, the State capital. Annapolis is the capital of the US state of Maryland, as well as the County seat of Anne Arundel County. Virtually all state and county elections are held in even-numbered years not divisible by four, in which the President of the United States is not elected—this, as in other states, is intended to divide State and Federal politics. An election is a Decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold formal office The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by The federal government of the United States is the central United States Governmental body established by the United States Constitution.
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Executive branch
The constitution establishes five principal executive branch officers, as described below. Four of them are elected statewide, the governor and lieutenant governor (who are elected on the same ticket), the attorney general, and the comptroller. The fifth, the treasurer is elected by a joint ballot of both houses of the General Assembly.
Governor
As in all states, a popularly elected governor heads Maryland's executive branch. A governor is a governing official usually the executive (at least nominally to different degrees also politically and administratively of a non-sovereign level of government In Political science and Constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the State. The governor's cabinet is known as the Executive Council. A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of Government, typically representing the executive branch. Like most state chief executives, the Maryland governor is elected to serve a four-year term. He or she is term limited to serve no more than two consecutive terms. See also Rotation in office A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office The Governor is elected under the plurality system. The plurality voting system is a Single-winner voting system often used to elect executive officers or to elect members of a legislative assembly which is based on single-member The current governor is Martin O'Malley. Martin Joseph O'Malley (born January 18 1963) is an American Democratic politician who is currently serving as the 61st
The governor has power to veto laws passed by the state's legislature and, like most of the nation's governors, also has a line item veto, which can be used to strike certain portions of appropriations bills. A veto, Latin for "I forbid" is used to Denote that a certain party has the right to stop unilaterally a certain piece of Legislation. In Government, the line-item veto is the power of an executive to nullify or "cancel" specific provisions of a bill usually budget appropriations without The state legislature can override a veto by a three-fifths (60%) vote of the total number of members in each house. This is different from most states, which usually require a higher two-thirds (66. 66%) vote to override a veto.
The appointment powers of the governor are extensive, as he or she appoints almost all military and civil officers of the State subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. In addition to appointing the heads of major departments, boards, and commissions of the State government, the Governor appoints certain boards and commissions in each county and the City of Baltimore, as provided for by law. The Governor also commissions notaries public and appoints persons to fill vacancies in the offices of Attorney General and Comptroller (both of which are normally elected by the people) and also to fill vacant seats in the General Assembly. A notary public is an officer who can administer Oaths and Statutory Declarations Witness and authenticate documents In most Common law jurisdictions the Attorney General, or Attorney-General, is the main legal advisor to the government and in some jurisdictions may in addition A comptroller or controller (kənˈtroʊlər ˈkɑmˌtroʊ- also financial controller, abrv Any officer appointed by the Governor (except interim members of the General Assembly) is removable by him for cause.
The governor is commander-in-chief of the military forces of the State, the Maryland National Guard, except when such forces are called into the national service by the President of the United States, as well as the Maryland Defense Force. A commander-in-chief is the Commander of a nation's Military forces or significant element of those forces For the National Guard of a State and other countries' National Guard see National Guard. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by The Maryland Defense Force is the State Defense Force for the state of Maryland, United States. In times of public emergency the Governor has certain emergency powers as defined by law.
Lieutenant Governor
The Maryland Lieutenant Governor is elected on the same ticket as the state's Governor and is nominally the second highest ranking official in the state. The position was first created by the short-lived Maryland Constitution of 1864 and functioned from 1865 to 1868 before being abolished by the state's present constitution, which was ratified in 1867. The Maryland Constitution of 1864 was the third of the four Constitutions which have governed the U The current Constitution of the State of Maryland, which was ratified by the people of the state on September 18, 1867, forms the Basic law for the The position was re-established by Constitutional amendment in 1970, under which the Lieutenant Governor "shall have only the duties delegated to him by the Governor. "
The Maryland Lieutenant Governor, currently Anthony G. Brown, is therefore weaker than the office in most other states which have one (several states do not have one). Anthony G Brown (born November 21, 1961, in Huntington New York) is an American politician in Maryland. For instance, in many states, including Texas, the Lieutenant Governor is the President of the State's Senate and in California the Lieutenant Governor assumes all of the Governor's powers when he or she is out of the state. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. In both of those states, as in some others, the Lieutenant Governor is elected in his or her own right, independently of the state's Governor.
In practice, Maryland's Lieutenant Governor attends cabinet meetings, chairs various task forces and commissions, represents the state at ceremonial functions and at events which the Governor cannot attend, and advises the Governor. If there is a vacancy in the office of the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor becomes the Governor. A vacancy in the Lieutenant Governorship is filled by a person nominated by the Governor and confirmed by a majority vote of the General Assembly voting in joint session.
Legislative branch
The state's legislative branch is styled the General Assembly and consists of a 47-member Senate and a 141-member House of Delegates. The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation Maryland State Senate is the Upper house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U It meets each year for 90 days to act on more than 2300 bills including the State's annual budget. The 421st Session began January 11, 2006 and adjourned April 10, 2006. Events 1055 - Theodora is crowned Empress of the Byzantine Empire. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 879 - Louis III becomes King of the Western Franks. 1407 - the lama Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Like the governor, members of both houses serve four-year terms. Each house elects its own officers, judges the qualifications and election of its own members, establishes rules for the conduct of its business, and may punish or expel its own members.
The current pattern for distribution of seats began with the legislative apportionment plan of 1972 and has been revised every ten years thereafter according to the results of the decennial U.S. Census. The United States Census is a decennial Census mandated by the United States Constitution. A Constitutional amendment, the plan created 47 legislative districts, many of which cross county boundaries to delineate districts relatively equal in population. Each legislative district elects one senator and three delegates. Some of the larger districts are divided into delegate subdistricts to provide local representation to areas not large enough to constitute an entire legislative district.
The Senate is led by a President and the House by a Speaker whose respective duties and prerogatives enable them to influence the legislative process significantly. The President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer speaker or chairman of a Senate. Speaker of the House is a political term referring to a number of people In the United Kingdom and Canada, the Speaker of the House The President and the Speaker appoint the members of most committees and name their chairs and vice-chairs, except in the case of the Joint Committee on Investigation whose members elect their own officers. The President and Speaker preside over the daily sessions of their respective chambers, maintaining decorum and deciding points of order. For the 1964 documentary film see Point of Order (film. For other uses see Point A point of order is a matter raised during consideration As legislation is introduced, they assign it to a standing committee for consideration and a public hearing.
Judicial branch
Court of Appeals
The Maryland Court of Appeals is the highest court in the state. The Maryland Court of Appeals is the supreme court of the US state of Maryland. In addition to being the court of last resort for the state, the Court of Appeals also administers and sets rules and guidelines for the state's court system. A supreme court, also called a court of last resort or high court, is in some Jurisdictions the highest judicial body within that jurisdiction's It has original jurisdiction in only a few areas and hears most cases on appeal. The original jurisdiction of a court is the right to hear a case for the first time as opposed to Appellate jurisdiction when a court has the right to review the decision of In Law, an appeal is a process for requesting a formal change to an official decision The court has seven judges, one from each of the state's seven appellate judicial circuits, which are presently as follows:
- 1st Appellate Judicial Circuit: Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico & Worcester counties
- 2nd Appellate Judicial Circuit: Baltimore County & Harford County
- 3rd Appellate Judicial Circuit: Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard & Washington counties
- 4th Appellate Judicial Circuit: Prince George's County
- 5th Appellate Judicial Circuit: Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles & St. Mary's counties
- 6th Appellate Judicial Circuit: Baltimore City
- 7th Appellate Judicial Circuit: Montgomery County
In order to ease the caseload of the Court of Appeals, the state's second-highest court, the Court of Special Appeals, was created in 1966, following a constitutional amendment. Caroline County is a wholly rural County located in the US state of Maryland on its Eastern Shore. Cecil County is a County located in the US state of Maryland. Dorchester County is a County located in the US state of Maryland on its Eastern Shore. Kent County is a County located in the US state of Maryland, on its Eastern Shore. Queen Anne's County is a County located on the Eastern Shore of the U Somerset County is the southernmost County in the US state of Maryland, located on the state's Eastern Shore. Talbot County is a County located in the US state of Maryland. Wicomico County is located in the southeastern part of the US Worcester County (pronounced as "Wis-ter" "Wuss-ster" or "Wuhr-shter" is the easternmost County located in the U Baltimore County is a County located in the northern part of the U Harford County is a County in the US state of Maryland. In 2004 its Population was estimated to be 233340 Allegany County is a County located in the northwestern part of the U Carroll County is a County located in the US state of Maryland. Frederick County is located in the western part of the US state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border Garrett County is the westernmost County of the US state of Maryland and is part of the Pittsburgh DMA. Howard County is a County located in the central part of the U Washington County is a County located in the western part of the U Prince George's County is located in the US state of Maryland located immediately north east and south of Washington D Anne Arundel County (ˌænəˈrʌndəl with a stress on the run) is a County located in the U Calvert County is a County located in the US state of Maryland. Charles County is a County in the south central portion of the U Saint Mary's County (often abbreviated as St Mary's County) is a County located in the U Montgomery County of the US state of Maryland is situated just north of Washington D The Maryland Court of Special Appeals is the intermediate Appellate court for the U Except as otherwise provided by law, the Court of Special Appeals has exclusive initial appellate jurisdiction over any reviewable judgment, decree, order, or other action of a circuit court or an orphans' court, except for appeals in criminal cases in which the death penalty is imposed. Appellate jurisdiction is the power of a Court to review decisions and change outcomes of decisions of lower courts Capital punishment, the death penalty or execution, is the Killing of a person by judicial process as Punishment. Generally, it hears cases appealed from the circuit courts.
Judges of the Court of Special Appeals are empowered to sit in panels of three. A hearing or rehearing of a case en banc, in which all of the Court's judges sit, may be ordered in any case by a majority of the Court's incumbent judges. En banc, in banc, in banco or in bank is a French term used to refer to the hearing of a legal case where all The court has thirteen judges, one from each of the state's seven judicial appellate circuits and six at-large judges.
Judges on both appellate courts are appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Senate and the approval of the people, for 10 years. This system is similar to the Missouri Plan, which is used in 11 states to fill judicial appointments, in that voters get to decide whether or not to continue a judge in office. The Missouri Plan (originally the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan) also known as the merit plan, is a method for the selection of Judges currently However, it is different in that the Governor's choice in who to appoint is not limited by a Judicial Selection Commission and the State Senate must confirm the nominee before he or she takes office.
Circuit Courts
Circuit Courts are the highest common law and equity courts of record exercising original jurisdiction within Maryland. The original jurisdiction of a court is the right to hear a case for the first time as opposed to Appellate jurisdiction when a court has the right to review the decision of Each has full common law and equity powers and jurisdiction in all civil and criminal cases within its county or counties, and all the additional powers and jurisdiction conferred by the Maryland Constitution and by law, except where jurisdiction has been limited or conferred exclusively upon another tribunal by law. Common law refers to law and the corresponding legal system developed through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive Equity is the name given to the set of legal principles in jurisdictions following the English common law tradition which supplement strict rules of law where The Circuit Courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction. A trial court or court of first instance is the Court in which most civil or criminal cases begin This article concerns the term "general jurisdiction" as used in reference to Subject matter jurisdiction. Their jurisdiction is very broad but generally covers major civil cases and more serious criminal matters. Circuit Courts also may decide appeals from the District Court and certain administrative agencies. Cases can be heard by a jury when the amount in controversy is over $10,000. Juries are limited to the Circuit Courts.
The state is divided into 8 judicial circuits, which are presently as follows:
- 1st Judicial Circuit (7 judges): Dorchester (1 judge), Somerset (1 judge), Wicomico (3 judges) & Worcester (2 judges) counties
- 2nd Judicial Circuit (7 judges): Caroline (1 judge), Cecil (3 judges), Kent (1 judge), Queen Anne's(1 judge) & Talbot (1 judge) counties
- 3rd Judicial Circuit (21 judges): Baltimore County (16 judges) & Harford County (5 judges)
- 4th Judicial Circuit (7 judges): Allegany (2 judges), Garrett (1 judge) & Washington (4 judges) counties
- 5th Judicial Circuit (18 judges): Anne Arundel (10 judges), Carroll (3 judges) & Howard (5 judges) counties
- 6th Judicial Circuit (24 judges): Frederick (4 judges) & Montgomery (20 judges) counties
- 7th Judicial Circuit (32 judges): Calvert (2 judges), Charles (4 judges), Prince George's (23 judges) & St Mary's (3 judges) counties
- 8th Judicial Circuit (30 judges): Baltimore City
Unlike other state courts, the Circuit Court has no chief judge. Dorchester County is a County located in the US state of Maryland on its Eastern Shore. Somerset County is the southernmost County in the US state of Maryland, located on the state's Eastern Shore. Wicomico County is located in the southeastern part of the US Worcester County (pronounced as "Wis-ter" "Wuss-ster" or "Wuhr-shter" is the easternmost County located in the U Caroline County is a wholly rural County located in the US state of Maryland on its Eastern Shore. Cecil County is a County located in the US state of Maryland. Kent County is a County located in the US state of Maryland, on its Eastern Shore. Queen Anne's County is a County located on the Eastern Shore of the U Talbot County is a County located in the US state of Maryland. Baltimore County is a County located in the northern part of the U Harford County is a County in the US state of Maryland. In 2004 its Population was estimated to be 233340 Allegany County is a County located in the northwestern part of the U Garrett County is the westernmost County of the US state of Maryland and is part of the Pittsburgh DMA. Washington County is a County located in the western part of the U Anne Arundel County (ˌænəˈrʌndəl with a stress on the run) is a County located in the U Carroll County is a County located in the US state of Maryland. Howard County is a County located in the central part of the U Frederick County is located in the western part of the US state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border Montgomery County of the US state of Maryland is situated just north of Washington D Calvert County is a County located in the US state of Maryland. Charles County is a County in the south central portion of the U Prince George's County is located in the US state of Maryland located immediately north east and south of Washington D Saint Mary's County (often abbreviated as St Mary's County) is a County located in the U Instead, eight circuit administrative judges perform administrative duties in each of their respective circuits. Each Circuit Court judge is appointed by the Governor (with Senate confirmation) and then must stand for election. The judge's name is placed on the ballot in the first general election that occurs at least one year following the vacancy the judge was appointed to fill. The judge may be opposed formally by one or more qualified members of the bar, with the successful candidate being elected to a fifteen-year term.
District Court
The Maryland District Court has jurisdiction in minor civil and criminal matters, and in virtually all violations of the Motor Vehicle Law. Created by a constitutional amendment in 1970, the court began operating in July 1971. It replaced the justices of the peace, the county trial magistrates, the People's Courts (in certain counties), and various minor courts. A Justice of the Peace ( JP) is a Puisne Judicial officer appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace With statewide jurisdiction, the Court functions in every county and Baltimore City.
The exclusive jurisdiction of the District Court generally includes all landlord and tenant cases; replevin actions; motor vehicle violations; and criminal cases if the penalty is less than three years imprisonment or does not exceed a fine of $2,500, or both. In Civil procedure, exclusive jurisdiction exists where one court has the power to adjudicate a case to the exclusion of all other courts Landlord is the owner of a House, Apartment, Condominium, or Real estate which is rented or Leased to an individual or business Replevin is an Anglo - French Law term It is the noun form of the verb "replevy" (from Old French "replevir" derived from "plevir" The District Court has concurrent jurisdiction in misdemeanors and certain enumerated felonies, but has little equity jurisdiction. Concurrent jurisdiction exists where two or more Courts from different systems simultaneously have Jurisdiction over a specific case A misdemeanor, or misdemeanour, in many common law legal systems is a "lesser" criminal act In Common law legal systems a felony is a serious Crime, often contrasted with a Misdemeanor. Small claims (civil cases involving amounts not exceeding $5,000) also come under the jurisdiction of the District Court. In civil cases involving amounts over $5,000 (but not exceeding $25,000), the District Court has concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts. Since the District Court provides no juries, a person entitled to and electing a jury trial must proceed to the Circuit Court. However, appeals from the District Court can be heard de novo in the Circuit Court. In Law, the expression trial de novo means a "new trial " by a different tribunal ( de novo is a Latin expression meaning 'afresh' 'anew'
District Court judges are appointed by the Governor to ten-year terms, subject to Senate confirmation. Unlike other judges in the state, they do not stand for election. As of October 2003, some 105 judges, including the Chief Judge, who is designated by the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, serve on the Court. As the District Court's administrative head, its Chief Judge appoints administrative judges for each of the twelve districts, subject to the approval of the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals. Administered centrally, the District Court of Maryland is funded totally by the State.
The District Court of Maryland is divided into twelve geographical districts as follows:
- District 1 (26 judges): Baltimore City
- District 2 (5 judges): Dorchester (1 judge), Somerset (1 judge), Wicomico (2 judges) & Worcester (1 judge) counties
- District 3 (6 judges): Caroline (1 judge), Cecil (2 judges), Kent (1 judge), Queen Anne's (1 judge) & Talbot (1 judge) counties
- District 4 (4 judges): Calvert (1 judge), Charles (2 judges) & St. Mary's (1 judge) counties
- District 5 (13 judges): Prince George's County
- District 6 (11 judges): Montgomery County
- District 7 (8 judges): Anne Arundel County
- District 8 (13 judges): Baltimore County
- District 9 (4 judges): Harford County
- District 10 (7 judges): Carroll (2 judges) & Howard (5 judges) counties
- District 11 (5 judges): Frederick (3 judges) & Washington (2 judges) counties
- District 12 (3 judges): Allegany (2 judges) & Garrett (1 judge) counties
Attorney General
The Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State and is elected by the people every four years with no term limits. Dorchester County is a County located in the US state of Maryland on its Eastern Shore. Somerset County is the southernmost County in the US state of Maryland, located on the state's Eastern Shore. Wicomico County is located in the southeastern part of the US Worcester County (pronounced as "Wis-ter" "Wuss-ster" or "Wuhr-shter" is the easternmost County located in the U Caroline County is a wholly rural County located in the US state of Maryland on its Eastern Shore. Cecil County is a County located in the US state of Maryland. Kent County is a County located in the US state of Maryland, on its Eastern Shore. Queen Anne's County is a County located on the Eastern Shore of the U Talbot County is a County located in the US state of Maryland. Calvert County is a County located in the US state of Maryland. Charles County is a County in the south central portion of the U Saint Mary's County (often abbreviated as St Mary's County) is a County located in the U Prince George's County is located in the US state of Maryland located immediately north east and south of Washington D Montgomery County of the US state of Maryland is situated just north of Washington D Anne Arundel County (ˌænəˈrʌndəl with a stress on the run) is a County located in the U Baltimore County is a County located in the northern part of the U Harford County is a County in the US state of Maryland. In 2004 its Population was estimated to be 233340 Carroll County is a County located in the US state of Maryland. Howard County is a County located in the central part of the U Frederick County is located in the western part of the US state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border Washington County is a County located in the western part of the U Allegany County is a County located in the northwestern part of the U Garrett County is the westernmost County of the US state of Maryland and is part of the Pittsburgh DMA. The Attorney General of Maryland is the chief legal officer of the State of Maryland in the United States and is elected by the people every four years with no term In most Common law jurisdictions the Attorney General, or Attorney-General, is the main legal advisor to the government and in some jurisdictions may in addition To run for the office a person must be a citizen of and qualified voter in Maryland and must have resided and practiced law in the state for at least ten years. The current attorney general is Doug Gansler. Douglas F "Doug" Gansler (born 1962 is a Maryland politician and Attorney General of Maryland.
The Attorney General has general charge, supervision and direction of the legal business of the State. He or she is the legal advisor and representative of the Governor, the General Assembly, the Judiciary, and the major departments, various boards, commissions, officials and institutions of State Government. The Office further represents the State in all cases pending in the Appellate Courts of the State, and in the United States Supreme Court and lower Federal Courts. The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States and leads the federal judiciary. This has led to significant conflict when the Attorney General and Governor have strongly differing views.
Comptroller
The Comptroller is the state's chief financial officer and is also elected by the people for a four year term. The Comptroller of Maryland, United States currently Peter Franchot, is the state's Chief financial officer and is also elected by the people for a four year term The comptroller is not term-limited. The office was established by the Maryland Constitution of 1851 due to concern about the potential for fraud and corruption in the administration of the public treasury. The Maryland Constitution of 1851 was the second constitution of the U The constitutional duties of the office begin with the broad mandate to exercise "general superintendence of the fiscal affairs of the State", which includes collecting taxes and maintaining the general ledger. The Comptroller (or a deputy) countersigns all checks drawn by the State Treasurer upon the deposits of the State. The Comptroller also prescribes the formalities for transfer of other evidence of State debt and countersigns such papers. Debt is that which is owed usually referencing Assets owed but the term can cover other obligations The current comptroller is Peter Franchot. Peter V R Franchot (born November 25, 1947) has been the Comptroller of Maryland since January 2007
In addition, the comptroller's office audits taxpayers for compliance, handles delinquent tax collection, and enforces license and unclaimed property laws. A financial audit, or more accurately an audit of financial statements, is the examination by an independent third party of the financial statements of a company The agency publicizes forgotten bank accounts, insurance benefits and other unclaimed assets of taxpayers. Acting as Maryland's chief accountant, the comptroller pays the state's bills, maintains its books, prepares financial reports, and pays state employees.
Treasurer
The Treasurer is the principal custodian of the State's cash deposits, money from bond sales, and other securities and collateral and directs the investments of those assets. The Treasurer of Maryland ( As of 2006 Nancy K Kopp) is the principal custodian of the State's cash deposits monies from bond sales and other securities and collateral In many Governments a treasurer is the person responsible for running the Treasury. The Treasurer is elected by a joint ballot of both houses of the General Assembly, a tradition begun starting with the Maryland Constitution of 1851, which also created the Board of Public Works (see below). The Maryland Constitution of 1851 was the second constitution of the U
Because of the close relationship with the General Assembly, the Treasurer briefs the members of the Legislature on matters concerning the State Treasury. The Treasurer is also responsible for producing an annual report to provide the Governor, the General Assembly, and the public with current information about the operations of the State Treasurer's Office.
Board of Public Works
The State Board of Public Works was first created by the state Constitution of 1851 and is composed of the Governor, who chairs it, the Comptroller, and the Treasurer. The three-member board is quite powerful and there is no other state that has a similar institution. The board, which generally meets twice a month, reviews and approves capital projects, procurement contracts, and the acquisition, use, and transfer of State assets, in order to assure that executive decisions are made responsibly and responsively.
Local government
At the local level, Maryland is notable among U. S. states for having a relatively small number of local governments. It allows strong county governments. A county of the United States is a local level of government created as a subdivision of a state by the state government or by the federal or territorial government as a subdivision In the northeastern states, counties are administrative divisions with little authority, and most local government is at the town or city level. This is not true for Maryland's 23 counties, some of which have substantial authority. There are three forms of county government available to the state's counties. Note that the municipal government of Baltimore City, while not formally a county government, is typically considered to be on par with them. Including Baltimore, there are 157 incorporated cities in Maryland.
Commissioner counties
County commissioners were first authorized in 1827 and commissioner counties do not have constitutional home rule power. That is, they may not legislate on local matters without the prior specific consent of the General Assembly and in those areas where they do have authority it is narrowly construed. As a result of this, the General Assembly spends considerable time dealing with local issues, ordinances, and expenditures. The Constitution adopted in 1867 kept the power to pass public local laws vested in the General Assembly, which gave a lot of control over county government to county delegations in the General Assembly.
Currently, 16 counties are run by commissioners. They are: Allegany, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, and Worcester Counties. Allegany County is a County located in the northwestern part of the U Calvert County is a County located in the US state of Maryland. Caroline County is a wholly rural County located in the US state of Maryland on its Eastern Shore. Carroll County is a County located in the US state of Maryland. Cecil County is a County located in the US state of Maryland. Charles County is a County in the south central portion of the U Dorchester County is a County located in the US state of Maryland on its Eastern Shore. Frederick County is located in the western part of the US state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border Garrett County is the westernmost County of the US state of Maryland and is part of the Pittsburgh DMA. Kent County is a County located in the US state of Maryland, on its Eastern Shore. Queen Anne's County is a County located on the Eastern Shore of the U Saint Mary's County (often abbreviated as St Mary's County) is a County located in the U Somerset County is the southernmost County in the US state of Maryland, located on the state's Eastern Shore. Talbot County is a County located in the US state of Maryland. Washington County is a County located in the western part of the U Worcester County (pronounced as "Wis-ter" "Wuss-ster" or "Wuhr-shter" is the easternmost County located in the U
Charter counties
Due partly to the large amount of time spent by the state legislature on local matters, the Maryland Constitution was amended in 1915 to allow counties the option of operating under a charter form of government. To adopt this form of government, the voters of the county must approve the charter which their charter board drafts. Once ratified, this gives the county control over almost all local matters, though power to regulate elections and to license and regulate the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages is reserved to the General Assembly. An election is a Decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold formal office In Chemistry, an alcohol is any Organic compound in which a Hydroxyl group ( - O[[hydrogen H]]) is bound to a Carbon Some counties which operate under charters have a county executive while others vest executive functions along with legislative functions in the county council. A county executive is the head of the executive branch of Government in a County.
Currently, eight counties, including the most populous ones, and the City of Baltimore operate under the charter form of government. They are: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George's, Talbot, and Wicomico Counties along with Baltimore City. Anne Arundel County (ˌænəˈrʌndəl with a stress on the run) is a County located in the U Baltimore County is a County located in the northern part of the U Harford County is a County in the US state of Maryland. In 2004 its Population was estimated to be 233340 Howard County is a County located in the central part of the U Montgomery County of the US state of Maryland is situated just north of Washington D Prince George's County is located in the US state of Maryland located immediately north east and south of Washington D Talbot County is a County located in the US state of Maryland. Wicomico County is located in the southeastern part of the US
Code Home Rule counties
- See also: List of Maryland counties and List of cities in Maryland
Due to the reluctance of many counties to adopt a charter form of government, despite wanting a measure of home rule, the Maryland Constitution was again amended in 1966 to create the code county status. This is a list of the twenty-four counties and County-equivalents in the U The following is the list of incorporated places in Maryland. If two thirds of a county's commissioners adopt a resolution that the county become a code county and a majority of the voters approve of the resolution, the county becomes a code county. In a code county the commissioners have home-rule powers and may enact legislation in the areas of the "express powers" of the charter counties, except there is no elected council or charter. In addition, the commissioners retain all the powers they previously had as a commissioner county.
Currently, five counties operate as code counties: Allegany, Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne's, and Worcester Counties. Allegany County is a County located in the northwestern part of the U Caroline County is a wholly rural County located in the US state of Maryland on its Eastern Shore. Kent County is a County located in the US state of Maryland, on its Eastern Shore. Queen Anne's County is a County located on the Eastern Shore of the U Worcester County (pronounced as "Wis-ter" "Wuss-ster" or "Wuhr-shter" is the easternmost County located in the U
Maryland and the national government
Maryland was the seventh state to ratify the United States Constitution, on April 28, 1788. The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme Law of the United States. Events 1192 - Assassination of Conrad of Montferrat (Conrad I King of Jerusalem, in Tyre, two days after his title Year 1788 ( MDCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap Maryland elects two United States Senators and eight members of the United States House of Representatives. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. The state is served by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (with two divisions, sitting in Baltimore and Greenbelt) and federal appeals from the state go to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Virginia. The United States District Court for the District of Maryland is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Maryland. Greenbelt is a city in Prince George's County Maryland, United States. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is a federal court located in Richmond Virginia with Appellate jurisdiction over the This article is about the city of Richmond the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state The Census Bureau classifies Maryland as one of the southern states. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census The Southern United States &mdashcommonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South &mdashconstitutes a large distinctive
See also
References
Government
- Board of Public Works. The history of Maryland included only Native Americans until Europeans starting with John Cabot in 1498 began exploring the area The Maryland Constitution of 1778 was the first of four Constitutions under which the U State governments in the United States (sometimes referred to as "The State" is generally structured in accordance with the laws of the various individual states Retrieved 2 December 2004.
- Comptroller of Maryland (2004). Office of the Comptroller. Retrieved 24 October 2004.
- Department of Legislative Services (2004). Maryland General Assembly Home Page. Retrieved 22 October 2004.
- Maryland Attorney General. Retrieved 23 October 2004.
- Maryland Judiciary Home Page. Retrieved 24 October 2004.
- Office of the Governor. Retrieved 23 October 2004.
- State of Maryland Treasurer's Office (2003). Office of the Treasurer. Retrieved 28 October 2004.
- Department of Planning (2004). Maryland Department of Planning.
- Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. Retrieved 30 January 2006.
- Maryland Department of the Environment. Maryland Department of the Environment. Retrieved 30 January 2006.
Other
- Maryland State Archives. (29 October 2004). Maryland Manual On-Line: A Guide to Maryland Government. Retrieved 13 December 2004.
- Maryland Constitution of 1867. (See also Maryland Constitution)
- Maryland Association of Counties. The current Constitution of the State of Maryland, which was ratified by the people of the state on September 18, 1867, forms the Basic law for the Forms of County Government in Maryland. Retrieved 24 October 2004.
External links
- Maryland.gov — Maryland state government main site
- Annotated Code of Maryland — The state's codified body of laws
- Maryland State Archives
- Maryland Association of Counties
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