Torque Posted December 24, 2023 Posted December 24, 2023 The State Government of San Andreas The state government of San Andreas is composed of three branches: the executive branch, consisting of the governor of San Andreas and their cabinet; the legislative branch, consisting of the San Andreas State Legislature, which includes the State House of Representatives, and the State Senate; and the judicial branch, consisting of the Supreme Court of San Andreas and lower courts. (( OOC Notes )) At this point, there are THREE player-operated governmental factions in the game: The Los Santos Police Department, Los Santos Sheriff's Department, and the Los Santos Fire Department. All other characters, agencies, and government branches mentioned in this post will be for lore-purposes and will not be operational. Some characters (like the governor of San Andreas) will be operated by the Administration team, if needed. Executive Branch Governor James Stracci (R) 2021-present (( Operated by the Administration team )) The governor signs or vetoes bills passed by the San Andreas State Assembly. They nominate judges, to be confirmed by the State Senate, and is the Commander in Chief of the San Andreas State Guard. As the head of the state government, the governor has powers granted either by the State Constitution, or by laws passed by the Legislature. Legislative Branch San Andreas State Senate The State Senate is the upper house in the state legislature, consisting of 50 members. Currently, the State Senate operates with a Democratic majority, with 28 Democrats and 22 Republicans, and has done so for the last 10 years. In 2019, a bill originating in the State Senate was passed through both the Senate and the House, and signed into law by then-Democratic governor, Jack Hamilton: Background check requirements to purchase guns in the state's biggest (and only) gun stores, Ammu-nation. Background checks are conducted by the LSPD. The passage of this bill led to the failed re-election campaign by Hamilton, and the loss of Democratic control in the House of Representatives. San Andreas House of Representatives The House of Representatives is the lower house in the state legislature, consisting of 100 members. Currently, the House of Representatives operates with a Republican majority, with 55 Republicans and 45 Democrats, since 2021. In 1996, a corruption scandal involving the City Government of Los Santos was unearthed: where the government and its agencies, including the LSPD and the LSFD, were found to discriminate against racial minorities. Arrests for abuse of power led to the effective shut-down of Los Santos Government, and eventually, city-wide riots throughout 1996 and early 1997, which killed more than 10,000 people. Then-governor, Robert Van Dieren, had to deploy State Guard multiple times during the tumultuous period. Finally, in June 1997, the House of Representatives introduced a bill to revoke most powers of the Los Santos City Government, returning them to the state, which include both the LSPD and the LSFD who have since become part of the State Executive Branch, reporting to the governor. Judicial Branch Supreme Court of San Andreas Supreme Court of San Andreas is the highest court in the state of San Andreas, consisting of one chief justice and four associate justices. Justices are nominated by the Governor, and confirmed by the Senate. Supreme Court justices are life-terms, removed only by impeachment the House, and conviction by the Senate. Important cases: (2015) People v. Jackson: The court ruled that police officers are obligated to wear a body-worn camera at all times on active duty. This was later ratified into law by the State Legislature. (2022) Hollie v. City of Los Santos: The court ruled that government agencies are not allowed to ask their employees for their sexual orientations, and discriminate against them. This ruling did not touch the prohibition of same-sex marriage within the State of San Andreas. Lower Courts of San Andreas San Andreas has two lower courts: the Superior Court of San Andreas, and the Appeals' Court of San Andreas.
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