Nebraska was the thirty seventh state admitted to the Union. It is located in the middle of the United States and borders the states of South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming. Initially, the state was used mostly as a point of rest as people travelled to the west, but the state eventually became a location for crop growing and cattle raising, ultimately establishing itself as a significant producer of food in the United States. Nebraska is nicknamed the Cornhusker State and has its capital in the city of Lincoln.
Nebraska Government
Separation of Powers
Nebraska has three branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial. Each branch has its own powers. The executive branch consists of the governor who is aided by a lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor and attorney general. The governor serves a four-year term and is elected in a partisan election, the governor directs the administration of the State. The current governor in Nebraska is Pete Rickets. He is the fortieth governor of the state and has served in the position since November 2014. The current Lieutenant governor is Mike Foley. John Gale is the Secretary of State, Doug Peterson is the Attorney General and Don Stenberg is the Treasurer.
The judicial branch of the Nebraska government consists of a Supreme Court, a Court of Appeals and District Courts. There are also county courts, municipal courts, conciliation courts, juvenile courts and a worker’s compensation court. Judges of the courts are appointed by the governor and serve three year terms. After each term, the judge faces a retention vote in a nonpartisan election. The legislative branch of the Nebraska government is the third branch of power and is unique.
Nebraska Legislature
The legislative branch of the Nebraska government is unique as it is a unicameral. Nebraska is the only state in the Union with only one legislative branch. The unicameral of Nebraska also is not based upon party affiliation. The House of Representatives, as it is known, is non-partisan. The senators serve four year terms and then may run for re-election.
Direct Democracy
Nebraska does have a history of direct democracy. In fact, Nebraska was the first state to pass initiatives and referendums at the local level. Initiatives and referendums began in Nebraska in 1897 through the passage of the Sheldon Geiser Act. A well-known initiative used in Nebraska was the one that created the unique legislative body of the state, the unicameral. Records indicate that Nebraskans have made use of direct democracy through initiative nearly fifty times over a one-hundred-year period, from 1914 to 2014.
Nebraska Constitution
The Constitution of Nebraska is typical compared to other state constitutions. An article that caught my attention, however, is Article 1-27 which establishes the official language of the state as English.
Nebraska Resources
Nebraska resources include crude petroleum and natural gas, most the state’s electricity is generated through power plants that are fired by coal. A very small percentage of electricity is generated by nuclear power and hydroelectricity.
Nebraska Landscapes
Nebraska has two main rivers, the Missouri River and the Platte River. The state is considered part of the Great Plains and has a significant portion of Sand Hills in its landscape. The Sand Hills are mostly valleys with lakes and grass which lend perfectly for ranges. In Western Nebraska, Chimney Rock National Historic Site rests.
Famous Citizens from Nebraska
There are many famous citizens from the state of Nebraska. One of the richest men in the world, Warren Buffet, claims Omaha, Nebraska as his hometown. President Gerald Ford was born in Omaha, Nebraska and Vice President Dick Cheney was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. Actors Nick Nolte, Dick Cavett, Montgomery Clift, Fred Astair, Marlon Brando, Johny Carson, Godfrey and James Coburn hail from Nebraska, along with actresses Marg Helgenberger and Hilary Swank. Civil Rights activist Malcolm X and serial murderer Charles Starkweather also were born in Nebraska. Authors Willa Cather and Nicholas Sparks also have roots in Nebraska.
Works Cited
Ballotpedia. n.d. <https://ballotpedia.org/History_of_Initiative_%26_Referendum_in_Nebraska>.
Dalstrom, Harl Adams and Ronald C. Naugle. Nebraska. 8 Januuary 2015. <https://www.britannica.com/place/Nebraska-state>.
Delana. Only in Your State. 5 June 2015. <http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nebraska/famous-people-ne/>.
Nebraska. n.d. <http://www.infoplease.com/us-states/nebraska.html>.
Nebraska. 2007. <http://www.encyclopedia.com/places/united-states-and-canada/us-political-geography/nebraska>.
Nebraska Constitution. n.d. <http://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/browse-constitution.php>.
Nebraska Government. n.d. <http://www.nebraska.gov/>.
Nebraska: The Cornhusker State. February 25 2016. <http://www.netstate.com/states/links/ne_links.htm>.
