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A state government is the government of a subnational entity in nation-states with federal forms of government, which shares political power with the federal government or national government. A state government may have some level of political autonomy, or be subject to the direct control of the national government. This relationship may be mediated by a constitution.
The reference to "state" denotes subnational entities which are officially or widely known as "states", and should not be confused with the "nation-state".
United States
Under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, all governmental powers not granted to the United States Federal Government by the Constitution are reserved for the states. The governments of the 13 colonies which formed the original union under the Constitution trace their history back to the royal charters which established them during the year of colonialism. Most other states were organized as federal territories before forming their own governments and requesting admittance into the union. Notable exceptions are Vermont, Texas and Hawaii, which were sovereign nations before joining the union.
Structure
All U.S. states have a written constitution and a three-branch government modeled on the U.S. federal government. While the U.S. Constitution mandates that each state shall have a "republican form" of government, this particular structure is not mandatory.The executive branch of every state is headed by an elected governor. Many states have a separate lieutenant governor.
The legislative branch is typically a bicameral legislature, though Nebraska has a unicameral legislature. The upper house of state legislatures is usually called the Senate, and the lower house is usually called the House of Representatives.
However, both New York and California refer to their lower house as the Assembly. Connecticut's House and Senate together are known as the General Assembly, and the bicameral legislature of Massachusetts is called the General Court.
The judicial branch is typically headed by a state supreme court which hears appeals from lower state courts. The structure of courts and the methods by which judges are elected or appointed are determined by legislation or the state constitution. Oddly, New York's highest court is called the Court of Appeals, while its trial court is known as the Supreme Court. The State Government shall have the power to issue policy directions on matters concerning electricity in the State including the overall planning and co-ordination. All policy directions shall be issued by the State Government consistent with the objects sought to be achieved by this Act and accordingly shall not adversely affect or interfere with the functions and powers of the Commission including but not limited to determination of the structure of tariffs for supply of electricity to various classes of consumers: If any dispute arises between the Commission and the State Government as to whether or not a question is a matter of policy or whether a policy direction issued by the State Government adversely affects or interferes with the exercise of the functions of the Commission, the same shall be referred by the State Government to a retired judge of the Supreme Court in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court whose decision thereon shall be final and binding. The State Government shall be entitled to issue policy directions concerning the subsidies to be allowed for supply of electricity to any class or classes of persons or in respect of any area in addition to the subsidies permitted by the Commission while regulating and approving the tariff structure provided that the State Government shall contribute the amount to compensate such concerned body or unit affected by the grant of the subsidies by the State Government to the extent of the subsidies granted. The Commission shall determine the amounts and the terms and conditions and time frame on which such amounts are to be paid by the State Government. The State Government shall consult the Commission in relation to any proposed legislation or rules concerning any policy direction and shall duly take into account the recommendation by the Commission on all such matters.
See also:
"State government"