What do our State Legislators do, and how is it different from the Federal Government?

And why do I call three different people Senator?

The differences in a nutshell…

Jurisdiction:

Federal Government: Has authority over national matters, such as foreign affairs, immigration, and national defense.

State Government: Handles issues within our state, such as education, transportation, public safety, health care, and housing.

Constitutional Authority:

Federal Government: Operates under the U.S. Constitution, which outlines its powers and limitations.

State Government: Functions under our state constitution, which provides specific powers and responsibilities that fall within our state.

Structure:

Federal Government: Comprises three branches -

  • Executive (President)

  • Legislative (Congress - the Senate and House of Representatives),

  • Judicial (Supreme Court).

State Government: Also has three branches:

  • Executive (Governor),

  • Legislative (Senate and Assembly),

  • Judicial (State Courts).

Laws and Regulations:

Federal Government: Enacts laws that apply nationwide. Federal laws can override state laws in areas of concurrent jurisdiction - the powers shared by both federal and state governments. At the same time the federal government can decide that some issues should be handled by the state government, such as the legalization of marijuana and family leave.

State Government: Enacts laws specific to the state. States have the authority to regulate local issues as long as they don’t conflict with federal laws. The State Legislature can also create laws that provide additional benefits or protections over federal law.

Taxation:

Federal Government: Collects income tax, corporate tax, and other national taxes, money that is often returned to the state to help fund things like infrastructure and snap benefits.

State Government: Collects state income tax, sales tax, property tax, and various fees, that again are used to fund state and local projects determined by the State Budget.

Interstate Relations:

Federal Government: Manages relations between states and regulates commerce across state lines.

State Government: Manages relationships with local governments and coordinates policies with neighboring states.

Political Representation:

Federal Government: Representation is based on population in the House and equal representation in the Senate (two senators per state).

State Government: Representation based on population and legislative districts. Each legislative district has one Senator and two Assembly people.

These differences ensure that both levels of government can effectively address their respective responsibilities while working together on issues that span both state and national interests.