To keep up with the latest news in state government and politics, visit the online version of Under the Dome, a News & Observer mainstay since 1934.
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
The governor is elected to a four-year term and is limited to two consecutive terms. (A recent governor, Jim Hunt, served a total of four terms by sitting out for eight years after his first two terms.) The governor oversees several state agencies, including the:
Department of Health & Human Services
Department of Crime Control and Public Safety
Department of Cultural Resources
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Several state agencies, though, are run by independently elected state officials who do not answer to the governor. They, along with the governor and the lieutenant governor, make up what is known as the Council of State. The Council has few formal duties other than to approve state land and property deals. The Council of State agencies and the elected officials in charge of them are:
Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, Democrat
Department of Justice, Attorney General Roy Cooper, Democrat
Department of Agriculture, State Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, Republican
Department of Insurance, State Insurance Commissioner Jim Long, Democrat
Department of Labor, State Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry, Republican
State Auditor's Office, State Auditor Les Merritt, Republican
State Treasurer's Office, State Treasurer Richard Moore, Democrat
Secretary of State's Office, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, Democrat
Department of Public Instruction, State Superintendent June Atkinson, Democrat
Unlike in some states, the Lieutenant Governor does not run for office as a team with the governor. The governor often assigns various responsibilities to the lieutenant governor, who has few formal responsibilities beyond presiding over the state Senate.
THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The General Assembly has two chambers, the House and the Senate. The House has 120 members. The Senate has 50 members. All seats are up for election every two years. There are no term limits.
The General Assembly meets in odd-numbered years for what is called the "long session" to put together a two-year state budget and consider changes to state laws. There is no limit on how long the session can last and, even though legislators are considered part-time, the long session often lasts several months. The General Assembly has a so-called "short session" to make revisions to the budget and consider changes to state laws.
Here's the official version of how the legislature is structured.
THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
The state's highest court is the Supreme Court of North Carolina. The court has a chief justice and six associate justices, all of whom are elected statewide, in non-partisan elections, to eight-year terms. View associate justices to learn more about the invididual members.
The Court of Appeals is where North Carolina hears appeals from Superior and District Courts. (One exception is death penalty cases, which are appealed to the state Supreme Court.) The court has 15 members who work in three-judge panels. They are elected statewide, in non-partisan elections, to eight-year terms. Go here to learn more about the individual members.
North Carolina has two levels of trial courts - Superior Court and District Court. See County Courts to get information about the courts in a particular county.
Government services:
Got a question about state taxes?
Feel like you've been ripped off? Want to learn more about consumer protections?
Need to get your driver's license renewed? Register your car?
Looking for child care?
Looking for care for an older adult?
Got questions about Medicaid?
What do I do if a hurricane is coming?
Where's the closest community college?
Is there a state park near me?
Want to know more about the state's aquariums?
What do I need to go freshwater fishing? Saltwater fishing? Hunting?
Want to know how a bill becomes a law? (Interested in a a slightly different take on how a bill becomes a law?)
Trying to figure out who your representatives are?
Want to look up the content or legislative history of a bill?
Want to see the legislature in action?
Curious about who's contributing to your legislator's campaign?
Want to know what the lobbyists are up to?
Keeping up with the courts:
Wondering how jury duty works in North Carolina?
Looking for an opinion by the Supreme Court or Court of Appeals?
What sort of cases are handled in District Court?
What sort of cases are handled in Superior Court?
What about Small Claims Court?
Odds and ends:
Want to get in touch with the governor's office?
Want to learn more about the state Capitol? Interested in taking a tour?
Want to work for state government?
Need to visit a state agency?
Curious about the state Constitution?
Want to know who's in the governor's Cabinet?
FUN FACTS ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNMENT
Did you know North Carolina has an official state beverage?
An official salt water fish?
An official insect?
What to know more about the state flag?
Have you tried the state vegetable?
Curious about the state motto?
For more fun facts like this, visit symbols at the State Library of North Carolina.
A BIT OF NORTH CAROLINA HISTORY
Take a quick tour of North Carolina's past.
Check out past governors of North Carolina.
Interested in visiting some of North Carolina's historic sites?
Take a look at state highway historical markers.
Check out the statewide architectural survey.
