Executive Legislative Judicial Executive

POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

OF STATE GOVERNMENTS

As sovereign entities within the frame-

work of the U.S. federal system, each state 

has its own constitution, elected offi cials, 

and governmental organization. States 

H

OW THE

 U.S. I

S

 G

OVERNED

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have the power to make and enforce laws, 

levy taxes, and conduct their affairs largely 

free from intervention from the federal 

government or other states.

State governments have primary re-

sponsibility for providing many important 

services that affect the everyday lives of 

their residents. These include:

• Setting educational standards and es-

tablishing methods for funding public 

education;

• Building and maintaining transportation 

networks;

• Establishing state-sponsored colleges 

and universities;

• Licensing and regulating businesses 

and professions;

• Creating and overseeing non-federal 

courts and the criminal justice system;

• Generally providing for the public safety;

• Issuing marriage licenses and driver’s 

licenses;

• Issuing and recording birth and death 

certifi cates;

• Administering publicly funded health, 

housing, and nutrition programs for 

low-income and disabled residents;

• Managing state parks and other lands 

for recreation and environmental con-

servation purposes;

• Administering and certifying elections, 

including elections for federal offi cials;

• Commanding the state National Guard, 

except when called to national service.

Some of these responsibilities are 

delegated to or shared with local govern-

Members of the energy committee of the Massachusetts State Legislature listen to testimony by experts on a pro-

posal to site energy-generating wind turbines offshore, 2003.

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ments in many states. For example, in 

most states, marriage licenses are issued 

by city or county governments.