Washington Civics: How Your State Government Works

by bam

A practical, non-partisan guide to how the state of Washington governs itself, and how you take part where you live. You'll learn Washington's Constitution of 1889 and its strong direct democracy (initiatives to the people AND to the legislature, referendum, recall); a notably 'plural' executive in which voters elect NINE separate statewide officials; a Legislature of 49 senators and 98 representatives elected from 49 shared districts; a Supreme Court of nine justices elected on a nonpartisan ballot; and Washington's distinctive elections: an all-mail (vote-by-mail) system statewide and a 'top-two' primary in which the two leading candidates advance regardless of party. It flags time-sensitive facts (including Washington's contested no-income-tax tradition) and points to sos.wa.gov. Cited to Washington's own official sources (leg.wa.gov, sos.wa.gov, courts.wa.gov).