Arizona's Constitution, Government, and History
Lessons are aligned with the Arizona State Social Studies Standards.
This section and its corresponding lessons explain the Arizona Constitution's core ideas and components and some critical parts of Arizona's political history.
It is recommended these Arizona Constitution-specific exercises be undertaken after completing the Federalism section (2.5) from our broader Civic Literacy Curriculum.
Federalism Section of Civic Literacy Curriculum (Section 2.5)
Arizona Government Primers
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.
Arizona State Government
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.