Government of Maryland | |
---|---|
Polity type | Sub-national administrative division (federated state) |
Part of | United States of America |
Constitution | Constitution of Maryland |
Legislative branch | |
Name | General Assembly |
Type | Bicameral |
Meeting place | Maryland State House |
Upper house | |
Name | Senate |
Presiding officer | Bill Ferguson, President |
Lower house | |
Name | House of Delegates |
Presiding officer | Adrienne A. Jones, Speaker |
Executive branch | |
Head of state and government | |
Title | Governor |
Currently | Wes Moore |
Appointer | Election |
Cabinet | |
Name | Maryland executive council |
Leader | Governor |
Deputy leader | Lieutenant Governor |
Headquarters | State House |
Judicial branch | |
Name | Judiciary of Maryland |
Courts | Courts of Maryland |
Supreme Court of Maryland | |
Chief judge | Matthew J. Fader |
Seat | Annapolis |
The government of Maryland is conducted according to the Maryland Constitution. 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.
Administrative influence in Maryland is divided among three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. Unlike most other states,[1] significant autonomy is granted to many of Maryland's counties.[2]
Most of the business of government is done in Annapolis, the state capital. However, some cabinet level and state officials have their offices in Baltimore. 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.
As compared with other states in the US, Maryland's county governments have a relatively large role in the delivery of public services.