Government

Rhode Island is governed under a constitution adopted in 1842. The General Assembly is composed of the Senate (50 members) and the House of Representatives (100 members). It meets annually at Providence. Members of both houses are elected for two years.

The executive officers are the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, and treasurer. All are elected for two-year terms. Judicial powers are vested in a supreme court, superior courts, and district courts. Justices of the supreme court are elected by the General Assembly, while superior and district court justices are appointed by the governor.

Rhode Island is divided into five counties, but they are administrative units and have no governmental functions. The chief units of local government are the cities and towns, which are contiguous so as to include the entire state. Rhode Island sends two senators and two representatives to Congress.