The State of New Jersey has a government that helps people in many ways

The government of the State of New Jersey is centered in our state’s capital, Trenton.

The building that houses the state government is called the Statehouse. It is topped with a magnificent gilded dome. Gilded means that it is covered with a thin layer of real gold

Our state’s government has three separate parts called the “Branches of Government”. Each branch was set up by our state constitution, which defined the role of each of the branches. The 3 branches check and balance each other so that no one branch can have too much power over the others.

The three branches of government are the executive, the legislative, and the judicial branches.

The 3 branches check and balance each other so that no one branch can have too much power over the others.

Our state’s legislative branch is composed of the General Assembly and the State Senate.

The legislative branch votes for laws for all of the people of NJ

The legislative branch is the LAWMAKING branch.

The executive branch of our state government is called upon to carry out the laws passed by the legislature. The chief executive of a state is called a governor. The governor must also sign a bill for it to become a law.

The judicial branch of our state government is made up of the state Supreme Court, our highest court, and all of the other courts within our state.

The members of the judiciary are selected by the governor and approved of by the State Senate by vote. The Senators may turn down a person for the job.

The seven justices of our supreme court decide whether or not the laws and actions of the other two branches are fair and that they do not go against our state’s constitution. If the courts decide that a law is Unconstitutional, against the document, the law cannot remain a law.

The

Constitution

Of

New Jersey

The members of the General Assembly have to run for reelection every two years. Senators are elected by the voters for a four-year term before they need to be voted on again.

The legislative branch of the New Jersey government is made up of the Senate and the General Assembly. There are 40 senators and 80 members of the General Assembly.

Voorhees is in District 6

DISTRICT 6

Audubon Park Borough, Berlin Borough, Berlin Township, Cherry Hill Township, Chesilhurst Borough, Collingswood Borough, Gibbsboro Borough, Haddon Township, Haddonfield Borough, Oaklyn Borough, Pine Hill Borough, Pine Valley Borough, Tavistock Borough, Voorhees Township, Waterford Township, Winslow Township

AssemblymanLouis D. Greenwald (D) (Budget Committee Chair) DISTRICT OFFICE ADDRESS:1103 Laurel Oak Ave.Suite 142Voorhees, NJ 08043 PHONE NUMBER: (856) 435-1247

AssemblywomanPamela R. Lampitt (D) DISTRICT OFFICE ADDRESS:1103 Laurel Oak Ave.Suite 142Voorhees, NJ 08043 PHONE NUMBER: (856) 435-1247

Senator James Beach (D)   DISTRICT OFFICE ADDRESS: 1309 Route 70 West Cherry Hill, NJ 08002

  PHONE NUMBER: (856) 429-1572    ELECTRONIC MAIL: Contact Your Legislator(s)       BORN:

October 28, 1946

      EDUCATION:

B.S. Midwestern College (Psychology and Physical Education)M.A. Rowan University (Personnel Services)Completed Doctoral Studies ABD, Nova University (Educational Administration)

      OCCUPATION:

Property Damage Specialist, All Risk

      PUBLIC/PARTY SERVICE:

Camden County Clerk 1996-2008; Camden County Board of Freeholders 1992-95, Director 1993

      LEGISLATIVE SERVICE: Senate 2009-present       COMMITTEES:

Military and Veterans' Affairs, ChairBudget and AppropriationsEnvironment and EnergyLabor

Chris Christie is the governor of New Jersey. He was elected in 2009.

Drumthwacket, located in Princeton, is the governor’s executive mansion.

The governor gets a four-year term and is permitted to run for reelection once after four years on the job. In NJ the governors can only serve for 8 years in a row.

Election Day is held each year on the 1st Tuesday AFTER the 1st Monday in November. This year the election is being held on November 6, 2012.

To vote you have to be 18 years old, registered to vote, and you have to come to the polls and vote. Anyone can vote by mailing in their ballots. A ballot is a paper on which the voter records his or her vote.