Government

New York is governed under its 1894 constitution, the fourth in its history. At least every 20 years the people vote on the question of calling a constitutional convention to propose amendments.

The legislature, which meets annually, consists of a senate of 61 members and an assembly of 150, all elected for two-year terms.

The elected state officials are the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and comptroller, all elected for four-year terms. The governor appoints the heads of most of the state's executive departments.

The judiciary is headed by the Court of Appeals, which has seven justices appointed by the governor for 14-year terms. The Supreme Court is the court of general jurisdiction. This court has more than 400 justices elected for 14 years from 12 judicial districts. It does not meet in a single place but holds sessions in the 12 districts. There is also an appellate division of the Supreme Court, consisting of four judicial departments, each with a presiding justice and a varying number of associate justices appointed by the governor for five years. Other tribunals include the county, city, surrogate's, justice's, and family courts. There is a Court of Claims to hear claims against the state.

New York is divided into 62 counties (including the five boroughs of New York City, each of which occupies a separate county). New York is represented in Congress by 2 senators and 29 representatives.