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Maryland State Government and Elected Officials
An Introduction to Maryland State Government
Information and links to Maryland elected officials can be found here:
Overview
Maryland Executive Branch
The Executive branch implements and enforces Maryland's laws and provides executive direction to government. Its chief officer is the Governor. Maryland's Consitution gives the Governor broad powers to organize and run state government and requires the Governor to submit each year to the General Assembly a balanced budget for state proceedings.
The current Governor of Maryland, Martin O'Malley, was elected in November 2006 and relected in November 2010. Maryland's Lt. Governor is Anthony G. Brown.
The Maryland General Assembly
The Maryland General Assembly has served nearly continuously from Maryland's founding in 1634. For over 370 years, the Maryland General Assembly has consisted of citizen legislators – part-time elected officials who live and work in their communities.
Marylanders are typically represented by four legislators in the General Assembly – three members of the House of Delegates and one state Senator. The General Assembly makes laws for the state, may levy taxes, and may reduce or restrict the budget proposed each year by the Governor. You are invited to get to know your legislators by reading about them, calling, emailing, or visiting their offices to introduce yourself.
General Assembly Facts
- 188 members
- 47 Senators
- 141 Delegates
- Maryland is divided into 47 legislative districts
- About 2,500 - 3,000 pieces of legislation are introduced each year - only about 25% pass
- 90-day session, mid-January through mid-April
- Much of the work of the General Assembly takes place in committees, which are organized by policy areas (see committees below)
Senate committees
- Budget and Taxation
- Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
- Finance
- Judicial Proceedings
House of Delegate committees
- Appropriations
- Economic Matters
- Environmental Matters
- Health and Government Operations
- Judiciary
- Ways and Means
The presiding officer appoints each legislator to one of these committees.
