Indiana Government

State Government Structure

Indiana operates under its second constitution, adopted in 1851. The state government follows the standard American model of three co-equal branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. The governor serves a four-year term with a maximum of two consecutive terms. The legislature — the Indiana General Assembly — meets annually, with long sessions in odd-numbered years and short sessions in even-numbered years.

Indiana is one of the few states where the Superintendent of Public Instruction is an elected constitutional officer rather than a gubernatorial appointee, giving the position unusual independence from the executive branch.

Constitutional Officers

State Budget

Indiana operates on a biennial budget of approximately $44.2 billion. The state is constitutionally required to maintain a balanced budget and has maintained strong credit ratings. K-12 education is the single largest expenditure category.

Presidential Voting History

Indiana is reliably Republican in presidential elections — the state has voted for the Republican candidate in every election since 1968, with one exception: Barack Obama carried Indiana by 1 point in 2008, the first Democratic win there in 44 years.

State Agencies