6/Maryland Manual

department in 1976, and in 1983, the Department
of Employment and Training was created.

In 1987, a second major reorganization of gov-
ernment was enacted by the General Assembly The
Departments of Economic and Community Devel-
opment and Employment and Training were abol-
ished. The Departments of Economic and
Employment Development, the Environment, and
Housing and Community Development were cre-
ated.

The General Assembly in 1989 considered pro-
posals to create a new Department of Juvenile
Services and reassign functions of the Department
of State Planning to other agencies.

Within the executive branch now are fifteen
principal departments. Each, except for Education,
is headed by a secretary, who serves at the pleasure
of the governor and is appointed by the governor
with Senate consent. Each secretary carries out the
governor's policies pertaining to that department
and is responsible for the department's operation.
The State Department of Education is headed by
the State Board of Education, which appoints the
state superintendent of schools to direct the depart-
ment. Certain State agencies whose purpose or
functions do not permit easy integration into one
of the fifteen cabinet-level departments have re-
mained independent, such as the State Department
of Assessments and Taxation, the Public Service
Commission, and the University of Maryland Sys-
tem. Executive departments and independent agen-
cies are augmented by special study commissions
and task forces at the discretion of the governor.

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Legislative Branch consists of the General
Assembly and its supporting agencies. General As-
sembly is the legal name of the Maryland legislature.
The General Assembly is sometimes referred to as
the "popular" branch of government, because its
members are more directly representative of the
electorate than are officials of either the executive
or judiciary. Legislators are elected to both houses
of the General Assembly from districts redrawn
every ten years after the federal census to ensure
equal representation based on the concept of "one
person, one vote. " Geographical size of the districts
varies according to population density

Like all states but Nebraska, Maryland has a
bicameral legislature. The lower house is the House
of Delegates and the upper house is the Senate.
Representatives to both houses are elected in each
gubernatorial election year for four-year terms.
Candidates for the House of Delegates must be at
least twenty-one years of age and those for the
Senate at least twenty-five. The House of Delegates
consists of 141 members, while the Senate has 47

members. Both houses convene annually on the
second Wednesday in January for a 90-day session.
Sessions may be extended by resolution of both
houses, and special sessions may be called by the
governor. The General Assembly passes all laws
necessary for the welfare of the State's citizens and
certain laws dealing with the counties and special
taxing districts; determines how State funds are to
be allocated; and adopts amendments to the State
Constitution (subject to ratification by the voters).
Bills may be introduced in either house, and when
passed by both houses and signed by the governor,
they become law.

The General Assembly employs various commit-
tees—statutory, standing, and joint—to facilitate its
work during and between sessions. The legislative
branch also encompasses several State agencies.
The Department of Legislative Reference assists in
the preparation of legislation and maintains infor-
mation services essential for legislators and the pub-
lic. The Department of Fiscal Services prepares
financial impact statements and monitors fiscal
functions for the General Assembly.

One of the single most important tasks of the
General Assembly, and one that requires close co-
ordination and consultation with the Executive De-
partment, is adoption of the annual State budget.
The Constitution specifies that it is the responsibil-
ity of the governor to present the annual budget to
the General Assembly within five days of the begin-
ning of each legislative session. The budget of Mary-
land must not exceed anticipated revenues. This
requirement prevents deficit spending and accounts
in large part for the excellent bond rating enjoyed
by the State. Reflecting the principle of separation
of powers within State government, the governor
must incorporate into the budget unchanged re-
quests from the legislative and judicial departments,
as well as the estimated expenses required for oper-
ating the public schools. Beyond these items and
other obligations for certain State debts and the
salaries of officials specified in the Constitution, the
governor has considerable discretion in determin-
ing what programs and agencies to fund in the
budget. The budget process thus is a major policy-
shaping tool for the governor. Supplemental bud-
gets may be submitted by the governor after
adoption of the annual budget, but all requests for
such funds must be matched by additional antici-
pated revenues.

JUDICIAL BRANCH

The Judicial Branch is responsible for the reso-
lution of all matters involving civil and criminal law
in the State of Maryland. Judges base their decisions
on statutory law, common law, or equity Maryland
has a four-tiered court system consisting of the