The government of the State of New Jersey, like that of the United States, is divided into three branches: the legislative, the executive and the judicial. The principal function of the Legislature is to enact laws. The Executive branch, comprised of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and State agencies, carries out the programs established by law. The Judiciary, which includes all courts, punishes violators and settles controversies and disputes. The Supreme Court is the final authority on the meaning and constitutionality of laws.
State Legislative Process
NJ Executive Branch
Governor Mikie Sherrill is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, former Navy helicopter pilot, federal prosecutor, and mother of four whose career has been rooted in public service. After serving nearly a decade on active duty—flying missions in Europe and the Middle East, supporting operations during the Iraq War, and working on U.S.–Russia naval policy—she went on to earn a law degree and serve in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey, where she focused on community outreach, reentry programs, and prosecuting federal cases, including efforts to reduce gun violence. She later represented New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District in Congress and has pursued statewide leadership with a focus on making life more affordable for New Jersey families.
Dr. Dale G. Caldwell is New Jersey’s 4th Lieutenant Governor and 35th Secretary of State, serving with Governor Mikie Sherrill. As Secretary of State, Dr. Caldwell leads the New Jersey Department of State and serves as New Jersey’s chief election officer.
Brian Bridges, Ph.D. currently serves as New Jersey’s Secretary of Higher Education, where he is responsible for the policy development and coordination of higher education activities for the state.
NJ Legislative Branch
Nicholas P. Scutari serves as the President of the New Jersey Senate. He has served in the New Jersey State Senate since 2004, where he represents the 22nd Legislative District. On January 11, 2022, Scutari was elected the 115th President of the New Jersey State Senate, replacing former Senator Stephen Sweeney.
Craig J. Coughlin has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2010, where he represents the 19th Legislative District. He has served as the Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly since 2018.
District 27: (Montclair/Clifton)
District 34: (Bloomfield)
District 40: (Little Falls)
NJ Judicial Branch
- : Covers all NJ courts, including legal forms, child support resources, finding an attorney, court opinions and other information.
- : Search for attorneys who have been admitted to practice in New Jersey. Information about attorneys, such as date of admission, status to practice law in New Jersey, and county and municipality of the business office of practicing attorneys
- Boards, Commissions, Authorities
- > Regulatory authority with a statutory mandate to ensure safe, adequate and proper utility services at reasonable rates for customers in New Jersey.
- > The Commission is an independent body that hears and rules on appeals filed by State, county and municipal civil service employees, candidates for employment and appointing authorities.
- > The EDA can assist businesses with access to capital, including tax-exempt and taxable bond financing, loans, loan guarantees, and business and tax incentives.
- > Dedicated to administering “The New Jersey Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act,” “The Gubernatorial, Legislative Disclosure Statement Act,” “Legislative and Governmental Process Activities Disclosure Act,” and various portions of the “Uniform Recall Election Law.”
- > Established in 1936, the Commission is a tri-state water and air pollution control agency for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Mission is to protect and enhance environmental quality through cooperation, regulation and communication between government officials and citizens in the tri-state region.
- > Charged with redrawing the lines of the State’s 40 legislative districts, from which the 40 Senators and 80 members of the General Assembly are elected.
- > Serves as the principal advocate for an integrated system of higher education which provides a broad scope of higher education programs and services. The system includes both 31 public and 35 independent institutions and enrolls over 440,000 full- and part-time credit-seeking students statewide.
- > Public transportation corporation covering NJ, New York and Philadelphia.
- > A bi-state authority, established in 1921that runs most of the regional transportation and infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports and seaports within the Port of New York and New Jersey.
- > Maintains a constant vigil against the intrusion of organized crime into society; to identify and expose corruption and governmental laxity; to shed light on waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayers’ dollars; and to recommend new laws and other remedies to protect the integrity of the governmental process on behalf of the citizens of New Jersey.
- > Created in 1973 to administer and enforce the New Jersey Conflicts of Interest Law; it also administers and enforces several sections of the Casino Control Act.
- > Locate the Authority’s annual reports, accident reports, among other topics of interest. Includes Garden State Parkway.
- > Provides compensation to innocent victims of violent crime for some expenses they suffer as a result of the crime.
- County and Local Government Leadership
NJAC is committed to advocating for legislation, regulations and policy directives that empower county governments to operate more effectively and efficiently. As a non-partisan organization that represents the only true regional form of government in the State with a unified and proactive voice, NJAC is committed to advancing innovative programs and initiatives for the sole purpose of saving valuable taxpayer dollars.
List of county and state maps available from NJDOT’s Geographic Information System.
Basic statistical information on the people, business and geography of the state and counties of New Jersey, with links to additional data sets.
Provides links to general and specific statistics on the United States and NJ counties and municipalities.