Legislative Branch th Judicial Branch 1. What are the two parts of the legislative 5 Grade Info Sheet 1. What represents the judicial branch in branch? The House of Representatives and state government? Utah the Senate 2. What does the Supreme Court do? It is the 2. What is the primary responsibility of both “Court of Last Resort.” Once a lower court houses of the legislature? Both houses has ruled on a case, an attorney can appeal introduce and vote on bills and Executive Branch the case to a higher court—the Supreme resolutions, offer amendments to bills, 1. What represents the executive branch in Court is the highest court in Utah. It also and serve on committees. Utah State government? The Office of the has jurisdiction over all state constitutional 3. How do the two houses differ in… Governor and elections issues. a. Term length: House has 2 year terms, 2. Who is the Chief Executive of the State of 3. What is the special name for judges that sit Senate has 4 year terms; though Utah? The Governor on the Supreme Court? Justices there are no limits for both houses 3. What does the Governor do? Works to 4. How many Justices does Utah have? 5 b. Number of constituents represented: promote policies to develop Utah’s Representatives: 37,000 Utahns 5. How long do Justices serve? 10 year terms, economy, education, and standard of Senators: 95,000 Utahns but they are also renewable living c. Responsibilities: The Senate is the 6. Who chooses the Justices? Justices are upper house and has additional 4. What are the Governor’s specific roles? The appointed by the Governor and confirmed responsibilities like confirming Governor serves as the political and by the Senate Supreme Court nominations ceremonial head of the State as well as the Commander-in-Chief of the Utah 7. Who leads the Supreme Court? The Chief 4. How many Senators are in the Senate? 29 National Guard. S/he must sign bills into Justice 5. How many representatives are in the Utah law, let them sit until they go into effect 8. How is the chosen? Internal House of Representatives? 75 without a signature, or veto them. The election by the justices 6. How often/when does the legislature Governor also gives the “State of the 9. How long does the Chief Justice serve? 4 meet? The annual Utah Legislative Session State” address, appoints Supreme Court year terms begins on the 4th Monday of January and Justices and other officials to temporarily ends 45 calendar days later. If needed, the fill vacancies, and can call special sessions 10. Where does the Supreme Court meet? They Governor can call special meetings of the of the legislature to meet. usually meet in the Matheson Courthouse legislature that can last up to 30 days. 5. How long does the Governor serve? 4 year downtown, but also have a ceremonial chamber in the (where 7. What are the chief officers of each body terms that are unlimited they originally met from 1916 to 1998) called? The Senate elects a President of 6. Where does the Governor live? In the the Senate and the House elects a Speaker Governor’s Mansion of the House 7. Who assists the Governor? The Lieutenant 8. How is Utah’s legislature different than Governor Important terms to know: most other states? Utah has a citizen 8. What special role does the Lieutenant legislature, which means that the Constitutional republic Governor have? Overseer of state legislators only serve part-time and hold Separation of powers elections ‘regular’ jobs the rest of the year Checks and balances