| Capitol complex | | | | which has held power since 1950. |
| State capital of Arizona is in Phoenix. The original | | | | Arizona state senators and representatives are |
| Capitol building, with its distinctive copper dome, was | | | | elected for two year terms and are limited to four |
| dedicated in 1901 (construction was completed for | | | | consecutive terms in a chamber, though there is no |
| $136,000 in 1900), when the area was still a territory. | | | | limit on the total number of terms. When a lawmaker is |
| Phoenix became the official state capital with | | | | term-limited from office, it is not uncommon for him or |
| Arizona's admission to the union in 1912. | | | | her to run for election in the other chamber. |
| Separate legislative buildings for the House of | | | | The fiscal year 2006-07 general fund budget, |
| Representatives and Senate were dedicated in 1960, | | | | approved by the Arizona Legislature in June 2006, is |
| and an Executive Office Building was dedicated in | | | | slightly less than $10 billion. Besides the money spent on |
| 1974 (the ninth floor of this building is where the Office | | | | state agencies, it also includes more than $500 million in |
| of the Governor is located). The original Capitol building | | | | income- and property tax cuts, pay raises for |
| was converted into a museum. | | | | government employees, and additional funding for the |
| The Capitol complex is fronted and highlighted by the | | | | K-12 education system. |
| richly landscaped Wesley Bolin Memorial Park, named | | | | State executive branch |
| after Wesley Bolin, a governor who died in office in the | | | | Arizona's executive branch is headed by a governor |
| 1970s. Numerous monuments and memorials are on | | | | elected for a four-year term. The governor may serve |
| the site, including the anchor and signal mast from the | | | | any number of terms, though no more than two in a |
| USS Arizona (one of the U.S. Navy ships sunk in Pearl | | | | row. The current governor of Arizona is Janet |
| Harbor); a granite version of the Ten Commandments; | | | | Napolitano, a Democrat. She was first elected in 2002 |
| and the Arizona Vietnam Veterans' Memorial. | | | | and again in 2006 (she was officially sworn in on her |
| State legislature | | | | second term on January 4, 2007). |
| Arizona's legislature is bicameral (like the legislature of | | | | Due to the state of Arizona not having a governor's |
| every other state except Nebraska) and consists of a | | | | mansion, the governor resides within their private place |
| thirty-member Senate and a 60-member House of | | | | of residence during their term in office. |
| Representatives. Legislators are elected for two-year | | | | Federal representation |
| terms. | | | | The two U.S. Senators from Arizona are Senator |
| Each Legislature covers a two-year period. The first | | | | John McCain (Republican) and Senator Jon Kyl |
| session following the general election is known as the | | | | (Republican). |
| first regular session, and the session convening in the | | | | Arizona's representatives in the United States House |
| second year is known as the second regular session. | | | | of Representatives are Rick Renzi (R-1), Trent Franks |
| Each regular session begins on the second Monday in | | | | (R-2), John Shadegg (R-3), Ed Pastor (D-4), Harry |
| January and adjourns sine die (terminates for the year) | | | | Mitchell (D-5), Jeff Flake (R-6), Raul Grijalva (D-7), and |
| no later than Saturday of the week in which the 100th | | | | Gabrielle Giffords (D-8). Jim Kolbe announced his |
| day from the beginning of the regular session falls. The | | | | retirement from Congress in 2006, creating one of the |
| President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, | | | | few open seats in the nation in Arizona's |
| by rule, may extend the session up to seven additional | | | | Congressional District 8. Arizona gained two seats in |
| days. Thereafter, the session can only be extended by | | | | the House of Representatives due to redistricting |
| a majority vote of members present of each house. | | | | based on Census 2000. |
| The current majority party is the Republican Party, | | | | |