State Government

Structure of the Iowa Government

The executive branch in Iowa includes the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of agriculture, attorney general, auditor of the state, secretary of state, treasurer of the state, and state agencies. The executive branch administers and carries out the laws passed by the legislative branch and is headed by the governor. The governor has veto power over laws passed by the legislative branch.

The legislative branch in Iowa is made up of the Iowa House of Representatives, which has 100 members, and the Iowa Senate, with 50 members. Representatives and senators represent their constituents according to geographical districts. Members of the Iowa House are elected every two years while members of the Iowa Senate are elected every four years. The legislative branch passes laws that are agreed to by at least 51 members of the Iowa House and at least 26 members of the Iowa Senate. These laws are subject to the approval or veto of the governor.

The judicial branch in Iowa oversees Iowa’s court system and is headed by the Iowa Supreme Court, which is comprised of seven judges appointed by the governor. Through court cases, the judicial branch explains the meaning of those laws passed by the legislative branch and approved by the executive branch. Nearly all cases begin at the district court level. Iowa’s district courts (one per county) are organized into eight judicial districts headed by a chief judge selected by the Iowa Supreme Court.

The Iowa Legislative Process

The Iowa legislative season begins in January. Each session varies in length, but each is approximately 100 days long and is punctuated by two “funnel” weeks, in which legislative committees prioritize bills (proposed legislation) to continue moving through the process. During each funnel week, all bills must be voted out of their Senate and House committees in order to be sent on to the full chamber to be voted upon. Bills that don’t make it out of committee don’t progress to the full chamber for a vote and are essentially dead for the session. Bills that are passed by both chambers go to the governor for signature to be passed into law.

The Iowa Legislative Calendar

  1. General Assembly gavels in the second Monday of January

  1. Governor delivers State of State Address

  1. Budget targets are released to subcommittees

  1. First funnel week (eighth week of session)

  1. Second funnel week (twelfth week of session)

  1. Session concludes

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