What kind of state is maryland

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 members, while the Senate has 47 members.

Both houses convene annually on the second Wednesday in January for a day session. Sessions may be extended by resolution of both houses, and special sessions may be called by the Governor. The Governor also may be petitioned by the Legislature to call a special session. To facilitate its work during and between sessions, the General Assembly refers work to various committees.

Among these are standing committees which consider and make recommendations regarding proposed legislation. They also include joint committees, often statutory committees , made up of members from both the Senate and House of Delegates.

Legislative Agencies. The legislative branch also encompasses the Department of Legislative Services. The Department assists in the preparation of legislation and maintains information services essential for legislators and the public.

Additionally, the Department 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 coordination and consultation with the Executive Branch, is adoption of the annual budget for Maryland State government.

The Constitution specifies that it is the responsibility of the Governor to present the annual budget to the General Assembly within five days of the beginning of each legislative session. The budget of Maryland must be balanced - it must not exceed anticipated revenues Const.

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 requests from the legislative and judicial departments, as well as the estimated expenses required for operating 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 determining what programs and agencies to fund in the budget. The budget process thus is a major policy-shaping tool for the Governor. Supplemental budgets may be submitted by the Governor after adoption of the annual budget, but all requests for such funds must be matched by additional anticipated revenues.

The Judicial Branch is responsible for the resolution of all matters involving civil and criminal law in the State of Maryland. Judges base their decisions on statutory law, common law, or equity.

District Court of Maryland. The District Court of Maryland was created in on a statewide basis in each county and Baltimore City. As a court of limited jurisdiction, it replaced local justices of the peace and county trial magistrates. District Courts have jurisdiction in minor civil and criminal matters and in virtually all violations of the Motor Vehicle Law. District Court judges are appointed by the Governor for ten-year terms.

Circuit Courts. In each county and in Baltimore City is a Circuit Court. The Circuit Court has original jurisdiction over more serious criminal and civil cases and also hears appeals from decisions in the District Court. Circuit Court judges are nominated by special judicial selection commissions and appointed by the Governor, or they may be elected by the voters.

At the first statewide election occurring at least one year after their appointment, Circuit Court judges must successfully stand for election to continue in office for a term of fifteen years. Court of Special Appeals. The Court of Special Appeals is the second highest court in Maryland. Like the State's highest court, the Court of Special Appeals is an appellate court.

It was established in to ease the caseload of the Court of Appeals and to facilitate resolution of cases requiring appellate adjudication.

The Court of Special Appeals has exclusive initial appellate jurisdiction over any reviewable judgment, decree, order, or other action of a circuit court, except for appeals in criminal cases in which the death penalty is imposed. The thirteen judges of the Court of Special Appeals are appointed by the Governor with Senate consent for ten-year terms, subject to approval of the voters at the next election after their appointment.

Court of Appeals. Eleven years later, tensions between northern and southern states, particularly over slavery, led to the Civil War. Although Maryland was just south of the Mason-Dixon Line—the name for the border between Pennsylvania and Maryland, which was considered the line dividing the North and South—it sided with the Union in the North.

In slavery was finally abolished in Maryland. Maryland was named after Queen Henrietta Maria of England. She was married to King Charles I, who granted permission for Maryland to become a colony.

Maryland is bordered by Pennsylvania in the north, Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean in the east, the Atlantic Ocean and Virginia in the south, and West Virginia in the west. The state can be divided into five geographical regions. The Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain spreads across the south and east of the state. This region contains the Battle Creek Cypress Swamp, a forested wetland. The Blue Ridge region is a narrow, mountainous region west of the Piedmont.

It was named for its trees, which have a bluish haze when seen from a distance. The Appalachian Ridge and Valley is a slim strip of land in the north. The Appalachian Plateau covers the northwestern corner of the state. Entered Union: April 28, 7th State Present constitution adopted: Governor: Boyd Rutherford R to Jan. Wobensmith, R Treasurer: Nancy K. Kopp, D elected by state legislature Atty. General: Brian Frosh, D to Jan. See Also: Historical biographies of MarylandCongress members. Age: Under 18 Median Age: GDP: Maryland has a highly developed defense sector; Maryland is the headquarters of the NSA, DISA, and other important defense and aerospace organizations.

Maryland is also a major shipping center for U. Maryland has the highest per capita income in the U. Land area: 9, sq mi. NW of Davidsonville Number of counties: 23, and 1 independent city Largest county by population and area: Montgomery, , ; Frederick, sq mi. State forests: 7 , ac. State parks: 40 90, ac. Area codes Tourism office. In , Capt. John Smith explored Chesapeake Bay. Clement's now Blakistone Island in Religious freedom, granted all Christians in the Toleration Act passed by the Maryland assembly in , was ended by a Puritan revolt, ??

In , Maryland ceded land to form the District of Columbia. The Star-Spangled Banner.? During the Civil War , Maryland was a slave state but remained in the Union.