Arizona Government and History Lessons

High School Arizona Government Primer

Arizona's state government is structured similarly to the federal government, with three primary branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The Arizona Constitution allocates power among these and has a Declaration of Rights (Article 2), like the US Bill of Rights, protecting individual liberties from state government intervention.

(Article 4) Legislative Branch:

Arizona State Legislature: This is the law-making body of the state. It consists of two chambers:

•   Senate: Made up of 30 senators elected to represent districts across the state.
•    House of Representatives: Made up of 60 representatives elected from districts within the state.

Responsibilities: The legislature is responsible for creating and passing laws for Arizona. Bills can originate in either chamber and must pass the Senate and the House before being sent to the Governor for approval.

Districts: Arizona's Senate and House districts are the same; each district elects one senator and two representatives to two-year terms. 

Direct Democracy: unlike the US Constitution, Arizona allows citizens to influence the lawmaking process directly. (Article 4, Part 1, Sections 1-2)

• Initiative: This process lets citizens propose laws to be voted on by the people of Arizona rather than going through the legislature. This can even be used to propose amendments to the Arizona Constitution.
• Referendum: This process lets citizens block laws passed by the legislature rather than requiring the legislature to repeal them.

(Article 5) Executive Branch:

The governor serves as the key figure in the executive branch, chosen by the citizens of Arizona. The Governor's responsibilities include enforcing state laws, managing the state budget, and overseeing state agencies.

Other Executive Officers: Arizona also elects executive officers such as the Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, and Superintendent of Public Instruction. Each of these officials has specific duties related to their office.

(Article 6) Judicial Branch:

Arizona Supreme Court: This is the highest court in the state, responsible for interpreting the state constitution and laws.

 Lower Courts: Below the Supreme Court, Arizona has appellate courts and trial courts that handle different levels of legal cases, ensuring justice is served according to state laws.

(Article 7) Elections

 Voting: Arizona citizens 18 years or older have the right to vote in elections for state officials, including the Governor, legislators, and other executive officers, as well as on proposed initiatives and constitutional amendments.

(Article 12-13) Local Government

Counties and Municipalities: Arizona is divided into counties, each with its local government structure. These counties' Cities and towns also have local governments responsible for local laws, public services, and infrastructure.

Printable Copy

Arizona State Government 

Printable Copy

Arizona, like our country, has a government that makes rules and decisions for the state. 

Let's learn about how it works!

The US Constitution gives the federal government in Washington D.C. some jobs but leaves most others to the states. For example, the US government is responsible for maintaining an Army and Navy and for making our coins, but the Arizona government is responsible for schools and public safety.

State Constitution 

This is the most important list of rules for the government of the state of Arizona. It assigns jobs to different parts of state government and sets the rules they must follow. For example, the state Constitution sets some of the basic rules for the school system, which is one of the most important jobs of the state government.

Governor 

The state of Arizona has one governor. The governor’s primary job is to ensure the state runs smoothly by ensuring the laws are followed and enforced. The governor also assists the legislature in deciding on new laws, how much citizens will have to pay in taxes, and how to spend the money raised by state taxes.

State Legislature 

This is like a big group of people who meet to make laws for Arizona, chosen from smaller areas of Arizona called districts. The legislature has two parts:

   - Senate: This is where senators meet after the districts' voters choose them.

   - House of Representatives: This is where representatives meet after the districts' voters also choose them.

State Courts

If there is a disagreement about the laws, the courts in Arizona help decide who is right. Judges listen to both sides and make decisions based on the Constitution and laws.

State Laws 

Arizona has laws everyone must follow, like our classroom rules. The lawmakers (senators and representatives) decide on these laws to keep people safe and happy. These laws must follow both the US Constitution and the Arizona Constitution. While choosing lawmakers is how citizens usually help make laws, Arizona also has other ways to let citizens help make the rules.

State Taxes

The state government costs money to run, and thus, citizens must provide a certain amount of their money to the state government, which is called taxes.  Within limits set by the Constitution, the legislature decides how much money citizens will have to pay in taxes and what that money will be spent on. 

State Symbols

Arizona has special symbols representing the state, like the saguaro cactus and the Grand Canyon. These symbols show what Arizona is proud of.

• The 5Cs (copper, cattle, cotton, citrus, climate)

Copper: Copper mines have long produced the orange metal used to make pennies, roofs, electrical wiring, and machines.

Cattle: Arizona’s wide open spaces have been places where ranchers and dairy farmers could raise cattle for hamburgers, milk, and leather.

Cotton: Cotton, used to make much of our clothing, grows well in Arizona when canals can be built to bring water to the fields.

Citrus: Arizona’s hot weather has long been an excellent place to grow oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and other citrus.

Climate: Arizona’s dry and hot climate has long attracted tourists who want to escape cold winters elsewhere.

State Flag 

Arizona's flag represents the state. It includes red and yellow rays that represent the 13 original colonies and the setting sun in the west. These colors are based on the Spanish flag carried by Coronado. The bottom half of the flag is the same blue color as the U.S. flag. The star is copper because Arizona produces the most copper in America!

State Capital

Phoenix is the capital city of Arizona. It's where the state government meets and works to make decisions for the whole state.

Voting

People in Arizona get to vote for leaders like the governor, senators, and representatives. This helps decide who will make the laws and run the state government. In Arizona, citizens can also sometimes vote directly on whether they like or dislike a proposed law. Citizens can also attend meetings of state or local governments to say what they think about laws before they get made.

Tribal Governments

Arizona’s tribal governments are also elected by voters, such as members of the Indian communities they serve. These governments set most of the rules for the reservations within Arizona, operate schools, provide tribal police,  and offer other services within the reservation’s borders.

Arizona Government Lesson 1: Differences between the US and AZ Constitutions

Exercise: Scavenger hunt on differences between the US and Arizona Constitutions

Primary Sources Utilized:

US Constitution; Arizona Constitution

Question 1: Which is not a difference between the US Constitution and the Arizona Constitution?

• In the US government, the president appoints cabinet members; in the Arizona government, most other executive branch officials are separately elected by voters.

• In the US government, bills are proposed only by the legislature, whereas in Arizona, they can also be proposed by citizens.

• In the US government, Congress can pass any bill it wants unless otherwise banned by the Constitution. Still, in Arizona, the legislature can only pass bills on specific topics the state constitution allows.

• In the US government, amendments to the Constitution require supermajorities to ratify; in Arizona, a simple majority of statewide voters can ratify most amendments.

Background (1400L)

Arizona, like all states, is governed by two constitutions: the US Constitution establishes the broad contours in which the states can operate; the Arizona Constitution establishes, structures, and limits the state government. 

Because the state’s governing authority is far more expansive than the enumerated powers of the federal government, state constitutions are usually longer, often much longer, than the federal constitution. This is doubly true of more democratic constitutions, such as Arizona’s, which incorporates direct democratic features like an initiative and referendum.

The initiative is the process by which citizens can directly propose and pass legislation (or constitutional amendments); the referendum is the process by which citizens can, in effect, directly veto legislation passed by the legislature. These are the most prominent, but by no means only, ways in which the Arizona constitution creates much more direct citizen participation in government compared to the US Constitution. Citizens can also recall elected officials in the Arizona government for any reason, whereas, in the federal government, impeachment (or expulsion) by Congress is the only method to remove presidents or members of Congress prior to the end of their terms. Another prominent way in which the two have much different views of direct democracy is the amendment process. The US Constitution requires any ratification have supermajority support distributed geographically across most of the states, in order to require a stronger consensus; the Arizona Constitution can generally be changed by a simple majority of the voters, in order to reflect the will of the majority more directly in the state’s constitution. (Amendments raising taxes require the support of three-fifths of those voting, rather than a majority, echoing the requirement that only a supermajority of two-thirds of the legislature can raise taxes.)

In his essay “Popular Constitutionalism in State and Nation,” political scientist Alan Tarr has argued that federalism and state constitutions allow Americans to have the benefits of both a shared, limited, and hard-to-amend federal Constitution, changeable only with a clear and cross-regional consensus, alongside the responsiveness and flexibility of state constitutions that can more tightly approximate local values.

There are other significant differences, too. 

For one, the federal constitution creates a single executive who, in turn, appoints heads of departments. In contrast, Arizonans separately elect several of the most important executive branch officeholders (other than the lieutenant governor, who is elected on a joint ticket with the governor).

The Arizona constitution does not list out the powers of the state government. By the Tenth Amendment of the US Constitution, Arizona’s government is assumed to have the power to act unless otherwise restrained, either by the US Constitution or its own state constitution. The federal government can only exercise those specific powers given to it by the people through the US Constitution. One reason the Arizona Constitution is much longer is that citizens must be much more specific in restricting the state government and its processes. Another difference is that the Arizona Constitution, since it does not need to grant powers, instead often mandates specific policies or obligations of the state government. 

Following the diversity allowed the states under the Tenth Amendment, the Arizona Constitution has several features that result from the state's specific needs. One clear example is that the scarcity of water in the desert means the Arizona Constitution has a section explicitly rejecting the kinds of water rights that exist in the wetter eastern United States, rights that were themselves drawn from England’s legal traditions.

Discussion Prompt 1: The US constitution establishes the federal government and establishes certain limits on state governments. What document creates Arizona’s state government? Can you name any differences in how it operates and how the US government operates?

Discussion Prompt 2: The basic difference between the US and Arizona constitutions is that the former privileges liberty, and the latter privileges direct responsiveness to the people--democracy. (Please note that both include elements of liberty and responsiveness.) Should both of them privilege liberty? Should both privilege democracy? Or do you think the system now is the right idea, with the federal privileging liberty and Arizona privileging democracy? Why? Use current or past events in your answer.

Background (800L) Appropriate for Middle Grades

Arizona, like every state, has two important documents that govern it: the US Constitution and the Arizona Constitution. The US Constitution sets the basic rules for all states, while the Arizona Constitution details how the state government works and what it can and cannot do.

State constitutions, like Arizona’s, are often longer than the US Constitution because they cover more details about how the state runs. Arizona’s constitution includes ways for people to have more direct involvement in government. For example, people in Arizona can propose new laws or changes to the constitution through an initiative. They can also vote to reject laws passed by the legislature through a referendum. Additionally, Arizona allows citizens to recall elected officials from office, unlike the federal government, where removing officials is more complicated.

The process for changing the constitution is also different. The US Constitution needs a large agreement from many states to be amended, while the Arizona Constitution can usually be changed by a simple majority of voters. However, raising taxes in Arizona needs more than a simple majority.

Political scientist Alan Tarr notes that having both a more stable federal Constitution and flexible state constitutions helps Americans balance broad rules with local needs.

Another difference is that while the federal government has a single leader of the executive branch who appoints department heads, Arizona voters elect several key officials separately, except for the lieutenant governor, who runs with the governor.

The Arizona Constitution does not list all the powers of the state government. Instead, it assumes that the state can act unless restricted by the US Constitution or its own state constitution. This means Arizona’s Constitution is more detailed in limiting what the state can do and in setting specific policies.

For example, because Arizona is a desert with limited water, its constitution includes rules about water rights that are different from those in wetter regions of the country.

Middle Grade Discussion Prompts:

Discussion Prompt 1

The US Constitution sets up the federal government and limits what states can do. What document creates the state government for Arizona? Can you name any differences in how it works compared to the US government?

The Arizona Constitution creates and organizes Arizona’s state government. Unlike the US Constitution, which gives the basic rules for the federal government and limits what states can do, the Arizona Constitution includes more detailed rules about how Arizona’s government should work.

Here are some differences between how Arizona’s government works compared to the US government:

1.   Direct Involvement:   In Arizona, people can vote directly on new laws or changes through something called initiatives. They can also vote to reject laws they don’t like through referendums. At the federal level, this kind of direct voting isn’t allowed.

2.   Removing Officials:   Arizona lets people vote to remove elected officials from office through a recall election. At the federal level, removing leaders like the President or Congress members is much more complicated and involves impeachment or explusion.

3.   Changing the Constitution:   It’s easier to change the Arizona Constitution with just a majority vote from the people. Changing the US Constitution is much harder and needs agreement from majoriities of both Congress and many states.

4.   Water Rules:   Because Arizona is very dry, its constitution has special rules about water rights. Other states, especially those with more water, have different rules.

Discussion Prompt 2

 The US Constitution mainly focuses on protecting individual freedoms, while the Arizona Constitution focuses on letting people have more direct say in their government. Should both focus on protecting freedoms? Should both focus on giving people a direct say? Or is it better for the US to focus on freedoms and Arizona to focus on direct democracy? Why? Use examples from current or past events in your answer.

The current system, where the US Constitution emphasizes protecting freedoms and the Arizona Constitution focuses on letting people directly influence their government, has its pros and cons. Here’s a look at both sides:

1.   Protecting Freedoms:   The US Constitution protects individual rights, like free speech and religious freedom. This helps ensure that people’s basic rights are not taken away. For example, the US Constitution has helped protect civil rights over time.

2.   Direct Say:   The Arizona Constitution’s focus on letting people vote on new laws or changes is good for making sure that local issues are addressed quickly. For example, in Arizona, people have been able to vote directly on issues like school funding and healthcare.

  Should both protect freedoms or allow direct say?  

Protecting Freedoms: The US and state constitutions should protect individual rights because these freedoms are important for everyone.

Direct Say: While direct voting works well for state issues, it might be too complicated for national issues due to the country's size and diversity. The federal system uses elected representatives to manage these larger issues more effectively.

  Example from Current Events:  

Look at healthcare policy. In Arizona, people have used direct voting to change healthcare laws. This shows direct democracy in action. On the other hand, healthcare is very complex at the national level, and it works better with a system that involves representatives making decisions.

In summary, the current system, in which the US Constitution focuses on protecting freedoms and the Arizona Constitution emphasizes direct democracy, seems to balance individual rights with local needs effectively.

Background (500L) Appropriate for 3^rd Grade

Arizona, like all states, has two important documents: the US Constitution and the Arizona Constitution. The US Constitution gives the basic rules for all the states, while the Arizona Constitution tells how the state’s government works and what it can do.

The Arizona Constitution is longer than the US Constitution because it includes more details. In Arizona, people can help decide on new laws or changes to the constitution by voting directly. They can also vote to reject new laws if they don’t like them. Arizona makes it easier for the people to remove elected officials if the citizens are unhappy with them

Changing the US Constitution is very difficult because it needs a lot of agreement from many states. But in Arizona, it’s easier to make changes if most people vote for it. However, to raise taxes, Arizona needs more votes.

In Arizona, people separately elect the leaders of the different departments, while the federal government's departments work for the president.

The Arizona Constitution doesn’t list all the powers of the state government. It just assumes that the state can do things unless the US Constitution or the Arizona Constitution says otherwise. That’s why the Arizona Constitution has more rules to limit what the state can do and to set specific policies.

For example, because Arizona is a dry state with little water, its constitution has special rules about water rights that are different from wetter states.

Arizona Government Lesson 2: Arizona Declaration of Rights

Question 2: Which of the following is not a right guaranteed by the Arizona Declaration of Rights? 

• Not to be disturbed in one’s private affairs or to have one’s home invaded without authority of law.

• Trial by jury, with unanimous conviction in criminal cases.

• To bear arms in defense of the individual or the state.

• All of these are rights guaranteed by the Arizona Declaration of Rights.

Background (Adult Learners)

Some state declarations of rights predate not only the US Constitution but even the Declaration of Independence; for example, George Mason's Declaration of Rights of Virginia, written in 1776, inspired the Declaration of Independence.

Most state constitutions at the time of the Founding incorporated declarations or bills of rights. This was important because states, by virtue of having general legislative authority, instead of just the limited enumerated jurisdiction of the Articles of Confederation and US Constitution, could interfere much more with citizens’ liberty. 

Citizens, used to having bills of rights, nonetheless demanded one also be created for the federal government; the Fourteenth Amendment later applied that set of rights to all the states as well, on top of their preexisting state declarations of rights. Now, there was a second check on state governments.

In drafting the Arizona Declaration of Rights in 1910, the states’ framers considered several different sources, reflecting the borrowing common to state constitutionalism. In the end, they largely adopted much of the language from the Washington Declaration of Rights, adopted two decades before—though it is worth noting that even much of that language came from elsewhere. For example, Section 1 of the Arizona DeclarationA frequent recurrence to fundamental principles is essential to the security of individual rights and the perpetuity of free governmentis lifted from Article I, Section 32 of the Washington Constitution, which itself largely comes from George Mason’s 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights.

While other parts of the Constitution have been changed repeatedly, the Arizona Declaration of Rights has been more stable, with a little over a dozen amendments, mostly additions, made since 1912.

Lesson (Appropriate for Grades 7-12)

Introduction  

This activity is designed to help students explore the Arizona Declaration of Rights and understand how it protects their rights at the state and local levels. Through comparison with the U.S. Bill of Rights, students will gain insight into the similarities and differences in these foundational documents. (This lesson can be used with the original versions or the most current)

Preparation  

•  Divide students into groups of 3-4, ensuring a mix of support, core, and enrichment levels.  
•  Alternatively, students can work in pairs, each working with a different document.
•  Provide each group or individual with a copy of the Arizona Declaration of Rights (Article II), which is available on the ASU Civics Website.  
•  You may also want to supply a copy of the U.S. Constitution for reference.  
•  Familiarize yourself with the Annotated Arizona Declaration of Rights to assist with potential student questions.

Handouts

Arizona/US Rights (Original Versions)

This handout covers the 1791 US Constitution (Articles + Bill of Rights) and the 1912 Arizona Constitution.

Arizona/US Rights (Current Versions).

This handout covers the most current versions of the US and Arizona Constitutions

Instructions  

1. Form Groups: Divide the class into groups of 3-4, depending on class size.

2. Distribute Materials: Provide each group or pair with copies of the Arizona Declaration of Rights (Article II) and the U.S. Constitution. 

3. Activity:  

•     Distribute the AZ/US Handout.  
•     Give students 20 minutes to review the Arizona and U.S. Constitutions, identifying rights appearing in both documents.  
•     As you circulate, engage briefly with each group. If they’re struggling, ask questions to prompt deeper thinking and discussion.

4. Class Discussion:  

• Facilitate a class discussion based on students’ findings. Please encourage them to lead with their observations and questions.  
• Use the following guiding questions:  
  • What rights did you find that are similar between the two documents? What does this suggest about the values held by Americans and Arizonans?  
  •  Were there rights present in one document but not the other? Why do you think this difference is significant?

Middle Grades:

Some state declarations of rights were written before the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. For example, George Mason's 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights inspired the Declaration of Independence. 

Most state constitutions around the time the United States was founded included their own declarations or bills of rights. This was important because state governments had much more power over people’s daily lives than the federal government. People wanted rights listed at both the state and national levels to protect their freedoms.

The U.S. Bill of Rights was created, and later, the Fourteenth Amendment ensured that those federal rights also applied to the states, creating another layer of protection for citizens.

When Arizona wrote its Declaration of Rights in 1910, its leaders used ideas from other states’ constitutions. They mainly used the Washington Declaration of Rights, which had been written about 20 years earlier. However, even the Washington Declaration borrowed language from George Mason’s Virginia Declaration of Rights. For example, Section 1 of Arizona’s Declaration says, “A frequent recurrence to fundamental principles is essential to the security of individual rights and the perpetuity of free government.” This idea originally came from Virginia’s 1776 Declaration.

Unlike other parts of the Arizona Constitution that have been changed many times, the Arizona Declaration of Rights has stayed mostly the same, with only a few amendments since 1912.

Lesson (Appropriate for Grades 7-12)

Introduction  

This activity is designed to help students explore the Arizona Declaration of Rights and understand how it protects their rights at the state and local levels. Through comparison with the U.S. Bill of Rights, students will gain insight into the similarities and differences in these foundational documents. (This lesson can be used with the original versions or the most current)

Preparation  

•  Divide students into groups of 3-4, ensuring a mix of support, core, and enrichment levels.  
•  Alternatively, students can work in pairs, each working with a different document.
•  Provide each group or individual with a copy of the Arizona Declaration of Rights (Article II), which is available on the ASU Civics Website.  
•  You may also want to supply a copy of the U.S. Constitution for reference.  
•  Familiarize yourself with the Annotated Arizona Declaration of Rights to assist with potential student questions.

Handouts

Arizona/US Rights (Original Versions)

This handout covers the 1791 US Constitution (Articles + Bill of Rights) and the 1912 Arizona Constitution.

Arizona/US Rights (Current Versions).

This handout covers the most current versions of the US and Arizona Constitutions

Instructions  

1. Form Groups: Divide the class into groups of 3-4, depending on class size.

2. Distribute Materials: Provide each group or pair with copies of the Arizona Declaration of Rights (Article II) and the U.S. Constitution. 

3. Activity:  

•     Distribute the AZ/US Handout.  
•     Give students 20 minutes to review the Arizona and U.S. Constitutions, identifying rights appearing in both documents.  
•     As you circulate, engage briefly with each group. If they’re struggling, ask questions to prompt deeper thinking and discussion.

4. Class Discussion:  

• Facilitate a class discussion based on students’ findings. Please encourage them to lead with their observations and questions.  
• Use the following guiding questions:  
  • What rights did you find that are similar between the two documents? What does this suggest about the values held by Americans and Arizonans?  
  •  Were there rights present in one document but not the other? Why do you think this difference is significant?

Elementary School:

Some states wrote their own declarations of rights before the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. For example, Virginia’s Declaration of Rights, written in 1776 by George Mason, helped inspire the Declaration of Independence.

Back then, most states made their own lists of rights to protect people’s freedoms because state governments had and still have a lot of power. People wanted both the state and national governments to protect their rights.

When Arizona wrote its Declaration of Rights in 1910, they used ideas from other states. They mostly copied the Washington Declaration of Rights, which had borrowed ideas from Virginia’s Declaration. Arizona’s first section, for example, comes from Virginia’s original words.

Unlike other parts of Arizona’s Constitution, the Declaration of Rights hasn’t changed much since 1912.