Government

Montana's current Constitution went into effect in 1973. It replaced the constitution of 1889. Montana's governor and lieutenant governor are elected to four-year terms and may be reelected any number of times. Neither may seek reelection for the same office if they have already held the position for 8 years during a 16-year period. These officials can only be reelected by write-in vote. The governor appoints key officials in executive departments and many state institutions. The attorney general, auditor, secretary of state, and superintendent of public instruction are also elected to four-year terms. They must follow the same term limits as the governor and lieutenant governor.

The state's Legislature is composed of a 50-member Senate and a 100-member House of Representatives. Senators serve a four-year term and may serve no more than two terms in a 16-year period. Representatives are elected to a two-year term and may serve no more than four terms in 16 years.

The highest court in Montana is the state Supreme Court. The six associate justices and one chief justice of the Supreme Court are elected by the voters to eight-year terms. The state judiciary also consists of district courts, municipal courts, police courts, and justice of the peace courts.

Many of Montana's cities and towns have a mayor-council form of government. Several other cities use the council-manager system.