(Provided courtesy of the Colorado Legislative Council)
Colorado state government employs over 58,000 and expends for state purposes or distributes for local government expenditure in excess of $10 billion. Major sources of income for state government are individual and corporate income taxes, excise taxes (sales, use, liquor and cigarette primarily), funds from the federal government , and fees for goods and services provided by government. The largest share of dollars collected by the state is spent on elementary and secondary education, higher education, and programs of social assistance.
There are some 2,000 local governmental entities; 64 counties, 270 municipalities, and in excess of 1,000 special districts. Special districts are formed to provide a specific service to those residing within a geographic area or using the services of the district. Those purposes include water, irrigation, drainage, parks and recreation, streets and street lighting, fire protection, hospitals, and the like. Local and federal governments, and service charges. County and municipal governments generally provide the following services: police and fire protection, health and hospital services parks and recreation, and the like.
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
Colorado's legislative body is known as the General Assembly and consists of a 65-member House of Representatives and a 35-member Senate. Members of the House of Representatives are elected every two years. Senators are elected for four-year terms, which are staggered so that approximately one-half of the Senate is elected every two years. In order to ensure the principle of "one man, one vote", all legislative districts are drawn to include approximately equal numbers of people.
The General Assembly convenes each January. Each legislative session is limited to 120 days. The governor may also call the General Assembly into "special session". In such a case, the General Assembly may only consider those topics specified by the governor.
The presiding officer in the Senate is the President of the Senate; the presiding officer in the House is the Speaker of the House. The majority party members of their house elect each. Majority and minority leaders in each house serve as spokespersons for their parties.
Most of the work involved in making laws occurs in committees. In each house, members serve on committees, which consider legislation in specific subject areas such as education, finance or local government. After a bill is introduced, the President or speaker assigns it to a committee for consideration. After discussion of the bill has taken place, it is either amended, recommended for passage, referred to another committee, killed, or tabled for consideration at a later date.
In addition to passing legislation, the General assembly is responsible for appropriating, on an annual basis, state taxpayer dollars, moneys from fees, and moneys from the federal government. The General Assembly establishes policy and oversees the operations of the executive branch. In addition, the Senate confirms appointments by the governor to specific offices specified by law.
EXECUTIVE BRANCH:
The governor heads the executive branch. The governor is elected by a statewide vote for a four-year term. He performs the following major duties:
In addition to the governor, four other positions in the executive branch are elective offices; lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer and attorney general. The lieutenant governor acts as chief executive when the governor is absent. In the event of the death, resignation or impeachment of the governor, the lieutenant governor succeeds him.
State government consists of 19 executive departments. These departments are responsible for functions such as health, education, public safety, natural resources, agriculture, highways, and social services. The governor appoints fifteen of the twenty department heads. The elected state board of education appoints the commissioner of education the commission on higher education, a body appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate, appoints the director of higher education.
JUDICIAL BRANCH:
The Colorado court system consists of state supreme court, a state court of appeals, twenty-two judicial districts, sixty-four county courts and municipal courts. The city and county of Denver has special probate and juvenile courts, along with a separate superior court.
The supreme court is the highest court of appeal in Colorado. It is composed of seven justices who serve 10-year terms. The court has both appellate and original jurisdiction. A 1970 statute created the court of appeals in order to handle most civil and criminal case appeals. It is composed of ten judges who serve eight-year terms. The court is divided into three divisions to hear and determine all matters before the court. The chief judge assigns the judges to the three divisions and rotates these assignments from time to time. The divisions of the Court of appeals are located in Denver, but a division may sit in any count seat to hear arguments.
The district court is Colorado's trial court of general jurisdiction in all criminal cases where a defendant is charged with violation of a state law. It has exclusive jurisdiction for trials of those more serious crimes that are classified as felonies. The number of judges in each district varies according to the needs of the district.
For all misdemeanor case, the county court has original jurisdiction. It may also handle felony cases for the purpose of advising of rights, setting bond, holding preliminary hearings, dismissing a case or sending it to the district court for trial. Within the county court is a small claims court where parties may file civil actions in which the debt damage, tort, injury, or value of personal property does not exceed $5,000.
The municipal court has jurisdiction limited to violations of municipal ordinances. The law provides for the appointment of a presiding municipal judge and other judges as may be needed for a fixed term of not less than two years.
last modified June 21, 2004