Arizona Government

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Arizona Government

Arizona Government

State Executive Branch

Janice K. Brewer became the Governor of Arizona on January 21, 2009. She is Arizona’s fifth Secretary of State to succeed to Governor in mid-term.

Other elected executive officials include the Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Mine Inspector and a five member Corporation Commission. All elected officials hold a term of four years, and are limited to two consecutive terms (except the office of the state mine inspector, which is exempt from term limits).

Arizona is one of eight states that does not have a specified lieutenant governor. The secretary of state is the first in line to succeed the governor in the event of death, disability, resignation, or removal from office. The line of succession also includes the attorney general, state treasurer and superintendent of public instruction. Since 1977, four secretaries of state and one attorney general have risen to Arizona's governorship though these means.

Current elected officials

Governor of Arizona: Jan Brewer (R) (succeeded to office)
Secretary of State: Ken Bennett (R) (appointed to office)
Attorney General: Terry Goddard (D)
State Treasurer: Dean Martin (R)
Superintendent of Public Instruction: Tom Horne (R)
State Mine Inspector: Joe Hart (R)
Corporation Commissioners: Gary Pierce (R), Kristin Mayes (R), Bob Stump (R), Sandra D. Kennedy (D), and Paul Newman. (D)

State Legislative Branch

The Arizona State Legislature is a bicameral body with 30 members in the Senate and 60 members in the House of Representatives. Each district is served by one Senator and two House members. For a complete list of state legislators, click here.

Each Legislature covers a two-year period. The first session following the general election is known as the first regular session, and the session convening in the second year is known as the second regular session. Each regular session begins on the second Monday in January and adjourns sine die (terminates for the year) no later than Saturday of the week in which the 100th day from the beginning of the regular session falls.

The President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, by rule, may extend the session up to seven additional days. Thereafter, the session can only be extended by a majority vote of members present of each house.

Federal representation

Arizona's two United States Senators are:

John McCain (R), the 2008 Republican Presidential Nominee
Jon Kyl (R).

Arizona's representatives in the United States House of Representatives are:

Ann Kirkpatrick (D-1)
Trent Franks (R-2)
John Shadegg (R-3)
Ed Pastor (D-4)
Harry Mitchell (D-5)
Jeff Flake (R-6)
Raul Grijalva (D-7)
Gabrielle Giffords (D-8).

Other Governing Bodies

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors consists of five members chosen by popular vote within their own districts. Each member serves for a period of four years, and may be continuously reelected. The Board of Supervisors acts in the capacity of executive authority for the county within the statutes and powers prescribed by Arizona state law.