Vermont Civics: How Your State Government Works

by bam

A practical, non-partisan guide to how the state of Vermont governs itself, and how you take part where you live. Vermont has deep small-d democratic roots: it was an independent republic before statehood, its 1777 constitution was the first in America to ban adult slavery and drop property requirements for voting, and it still celebrates Town Meeting Day as a civic holiday. You'll learn Vermont's Constitution of 1793, its 2-year terms for the Governor and all statewide officers, the unusual rule that the Legislature elects the Governor if no candidate wins a majority, its Legislature of 30 senators and 150 representatives, its viable third party, and its 14 counties. Time-sensitive facts are flagged, pointing to sos.vermont.gov. Cited to Vermont's own official sources (legislature.vermont.gov, sos.vermont.gov, vermontjudiciary.org).