Iowa Government

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Iowa Government

• Executive Branch

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WHO AM I?
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WHO AM I?
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Activity

• I will divide you into groups
• I will assign you a topic
• In your groups research your given topic (You
  will have 15 minutes)
• Choose 1 member to act as the speaker and present
  your findings to the class

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What Im Looking For

• How are they selected?
• How long do they serve?
• Qualifications/Requirements
• Duties
• Current Officeholder
• Anything you think we need to know
• (Order of Succession Governor Only)

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• http//www.legis.state.ia.us/Pubinfo/branchesgov.h
  tml
• www.governor.iowa.gov
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• www.state.ia.us/government/ag/
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• http//auditor.iowa.gov/
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• www.sos.state.ia.us/
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• www.treasurer.state.ia.us/
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• www.agriculture.state.ia.us/
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• www.governor.iowa.gov/
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• http//www.dom.state.ia.us/

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Other Departments

• 21 Departments

Agriculture and Land Stewardship Natural Resources
Blind Personnel
Commerce Public Defense
Corrections Public Health
Cultural Affairs Public Safety
Economic Development Revenue and Finance
Education Elder Affairs
Employment Services General Services
Human Rights Human Services
Inspections and Appeals Management
Transportation
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Independent Agencies

• Not under direct control of Governor
• Created by Legislature
• Type of Power?
• Quasi-legislative
• Quasi-judicial
• Quasi-executive
• Who are they?
• Ethics and campaign disclosure board
• Board of parole
• Board of regents
• Utilities board

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Governor

• Qualifications
• U.S. Citizen
• 30 years old
• 2 year resident (immediately preceding
  governorship)
• Term
• 4 Years
• Selection
• Elected (Primary General)
• Current Officeholder
• Terry Branstad
• Duties
• Pardons, Reprieves, Grant Right to Vote
  (Convicted Felons), Extradition
• 4 main Appointments, Removal (Very Limited),
  Duty to Enforce the law, Certain Military Powers
• may require information in writing from the
  officers of the executive department upon any
  subject relating to the duties of their
  respective offices
• Deliver state of state address to legislature,
  convene legislature in special session, adjourn
  legislature if 2 houses cant agree on
  adjournment date, veto legislation, and call
  special elections in the event of a vacancy in an
  elected office

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Lieutenant Governor

• Term
• 4 years
• Selection
• Runs w/ Governor
• Current Officeholder
• Kim Reynolds
• Duties
• Exercise such powers and duties as the Governor
  may choose

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Secretary of Agriculture

• Qualifications
• 21 years of age
• Resident of Iowa
• Nomination papers filed with at least 1000
  signatures
• At least 50 eligible electors in each of at least
  10 counties
• Term
• 4 year terms
• Selection
• Popular Election
• Current Officeholder
• Bill Northey
• Duties
• Encourage, promote, and advance the interest of
  agriculture in Iowa, serves as the head of the
  Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
  (this dept can regulate agriculture,
  conservation, and environmental activity in
  state)
• 89 of Iowa is Classified as Agricultural Land
• Lead nation in production of corn, eggs, pork,
  soybeans, ethanol, and number of acres set aside
  as riparian buffers, grassed waterways, contour
  buffer strips, field borders, and other buffers
  on private farmlands

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Attorney General

• Qualifications
• 21 years of age
• Resident of Iowa
• Nomination papers filed with at least 1000
  signatures
• At least 50 eligible electors in each of at least
  10 counties
• Term
• 4 years
• Selection
• Popular Election
• Current Officeholder
• Tom Miller
• Duties Technically and constitutionally judicial
  officer, acts as executive officer
• Represent state in all cases before supreme court
  in which the state is a party
• Defend any state officer if charges are brought
  against the officer regarding the legality of
  official actions
• Advise govt officials regarding legal questions
  and provide aid and assistance in drafting of
  state contracts

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Auditor

• Qualifications
• 21 years of age
• Resident of Iowa
• Nomination papers filed with at least 1000
  signatures
• At least 50 eligible electors in each of at least
  10 counties
• Term
• 4 years
• Selection
• Popular Election
• Current Officeholder
• David A. Vaudt, CPA
• Duties
• Provides fiscal oversight of the states financial
  affairs
• Once a year provide a full accounting and audit
  of the books, records, and accounts for every
  department and office of state government
• Responsible for auditing the financial records of
  state universities, cities, counties, county
  hospitals, and school districts

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Secretary of State

• Qualifications
• 21 years of age
• Resident of Iowa
• Nomination papers filed with at least 1000
  signatures
• At least 50 eligible electors in each of at least
  10 counties
• Term
• 4 years
• Selection
• Popular Election
• Current Officeholder
• Matt Schultz
• Duties
• Clerical officer of the state
• Responsible for custody and maintenance of
  legislative acts and resolutions and various
  other official state records
• Responsible for land office (maintains records of
  annexation or severance of land by the state,
  cities, and towns, and the division of
  corporations and trademarks, which maintains
  records of all businesses incorporated in Iowa,
  and trademarks registered with the state.
• Serves as commissioner of elections and oversees
  administration of iowas election laws, including
  the filing of nomination papers and publishing of
  election results.
• Maintains lien records on property such as
  livestock

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Treasurer

• Qualifications
• 21 years of age
• Resident of Iowa
• Nomination papers filed with at least 1000
  signatures
• At least 50 eligible electors in each of at least
  10 counties
• Term
• 4 years
• Selection
• Popular Election
• Current Officeholder
• Michael L. Fitzgerald
• Duties Responsible for keeping a record of the
  receipts and disbursements of state funds and
  investment of state funds
• Reporting on bonding activities of all levels of
  government
• Producing various annual financial reports

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Discussion

• Similarities and Differences between Iowas
  Executive Branch and the U.S. Executive Branch

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Iowa Legislature

• Own Constitution
• Legislature General Assembly
• Any decision to increase/reduce the size or role
  of government resides with General Assembly
• 2 years
• Second Monday of January
• 1rst Session 110 days
• 2nd session 100 days
• Special Session if called by Governor

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Iowa Legislature

• 2 chambers
• Passed in same form in each house to become law
• Salary
• 25,000/year
• Per diem 137 mileage

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House of Representatives Basic Info

• 100 elected Representatives
• 21 years old
• U.S. citizen
• Resident of State for one year, District for 60
  days
• 2 year terms

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Iowa Senate

• 50 Senators
• 25 years old
• U.S. citizen
• Resident of State for 1 year, district for 60
  days
• Senatorial district 2 adjacent Representative
  districts
• 4 year terms
• Half replaced every two years

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Legislature

• Part-time, Citizen Legislature
• Retired, 2nd jobs
• Constantly working on constituent service
• Examples?
• House select Speaker
• Senate select President
• Formalities
• Party leaders selected (Majority, Minority
  Leaders)
• Legislative appointments, legislative priorities,
  procedureal and administrative details
• Committees (19) Standing from session to
  session
• Administration and Rules, Agriculture, Ethics,
  Education, Natural Resources and Environment,
  Transportation, Veterans Affairs, etc.
• Conference Committees work to resolve issues
  between 2 versions of bills
• Bills Drafted, introduced, considered by a
  committee, considered by the chamber, if passed
  sent to other chamber, passed again sent to
  Governor
• (3 days to veto and return a veto message)
• line-item veto on appropriation bills (veto
  particular part and sign the rest into law)
• Override by 2/3rds vote in both chambers
• Who drafts them?
• Sometimes legislature
• Often ideas given to Legal Services Division of
  the Legislature Services Agency