Government of South Dakota

This article is about the government and politics of the U.S. state of South Dakota

Law and government

State capitol building in Pierre

Map showing the 35 legislative districts of South Dakota. Every district elects one senator and two representatives to the state legislature.

Like that of other US states, the structure of the government of South Dakota is based on that of the federal government, with three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. The structure of the state government is laid out in the Constitution of South Dakota, the highest law in the state. The constitution may be amended either by a majority vote of both houses of the legislature, or by voter initiative.^[1]

The Governor of South Dakota occupies the executive branch of the state government.^[2] The current governor is Dennis Daugaard, a Republican from Garretson. The state constitution gives the governor the power to either sign into law or veto bills passed by the state legislature,^[3] to serve as commander-in-chief of the state's armed forces, to appoint a cabinet, and to commute criminal sentences or to pardon those convicted of crimes.^[4] The governor serves for a four-year term, and may not serve more than two consecutive terms.^[5]

The state legislature is made up of two bodies, the Senate, which has 35 members, and the House of Representatives, with 70 members. South Dakota is divided into 35 legislative districts,^[6] with voters electing two representatives and one senator per district.^[6] The legislature meets for an annual session which begins on the second Tuesday in January and lasts for 30 days; it also meets if a special session is called by the governor.^[6] The Republican Party currently holds majorities in both houses of the South Dakota Legislature. Currently, the Senate consists of 30 Republicans and 5 Democrats,^[7] while the House of Representatives is made up of 50 Republicans, 19 Democrats and one independent.^[8]

Map showing the counties of South Dakota

The judicial branch is made up of several levels. The state supreme court, with four justices and a chief justice, is the highest court in the state.^[9] Below the supreme court are the circuit courts; 38 circuit judges serve in seven judicial circuits in the state.^[9] Below the circuit courts are the magistrate courts, which deal with more minor criminal and civil actions.^[9]

Federal representation

South Dakota is represented at the federal level by Senator Tim Johnson, Senator John Thune, and Representative Kristi Noem. Johnson is a Democrat, while Thune and Noem are Republicans. South Dakota is one of seven states with only one seat in the US House of Representatives.^[10]

In US presidential elections, South Dakota receives three votes in the electoral college, out of a total of 538.^[11] Like most states, South Dakota's electoral votes are granted in a winner-take-all system.^[12]

Politics

Presidential elections results

Year	Republican	Democratic
2008	54.30% 203,019	45.70% 170,886
2004	59.91% 232,584	38.44% 149,244
2000	60.3% 190,700	37.56% 118,804
1996	46.49% 150,543	43.03% 139,333
1992	40.66% 136,718	37.14% 124,888
1988	52.85% 165,415	46.51% 145,560
1984	63.0% 200,267	36.53% 116,113
1980	60.53% 198,343	31.69% 103,855
1976	50.39% 151,505	48.91% 147,068
1972	54.15% 166,467	45.52% 139,945
1968	53.27% 149,841	41.96% 118,023
1964	44.39% 130,108	55.61% 163,010
1960	58.21% 178,417	41.79% 128,070

See also: Political party strength in South Dakota

South Dakota politics are generally dominated by the Republican Party, and the state has not supported a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964 — especially notable when one considers that George McGovern, the Democratic nominee in 1972, was from South Dakota.^[13][14] In 2004, George W. Bush won the state's three electoral votes with 59.9% of the vote.

There are only five reliably Democratic counties in the state — most of them with primarily American Indian populations. Republicans have won the last seven gubernatorial elections and have controlled the legislature, with one brief interruption, for over thirty years. Democrats, however, have been successful in winning election to Congress from South Dakota, including former Senators Tom Daschle, James Abourezk and George McGovern; current Senator Tim Johnson; and former Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin.

While President Bush received a lower vote percentage in 2004 than he did in 2000, he still received a very strong 60% of the popular vote. Part of the deviation had to do with record turnout driven by the intense Senate campaigns that year. Republicans hold a 10% registration advantage over Democrats and hold large majorities in both the state House of Representatives and Senate.^[7][8][15] Additionally, all but one of the statewide elected officers are Republicans.

In the more than a quarter century between 1979 and 2005, two politicians, one a Republican and one a Democrat, dominated South Dakota politics. Republican Governor Bill Janklow served four terms as governor 1979-1987 and then from 1995 to 2003 followed by a brief partial term as a United States Representative 2003-2004. Janklow's career was ended by a motor vehicle manslaughter conviction causing his resignation from Congress. Democrat Tom Daschle was also a dominant figure in South Dakota politics, serving in Congress, 1979-2005. He first served eight years in the United States House of Representatives and then eighteen years in the United States Senate after his senate election in 1986. Over a period of ten years, he served both as minority leader and majority leader in the Senate. In 2004, he lost his Senate seat to a Republican, former United States Representative John Thune, who narrowly defeated Daschle by a 51%-49% margin. Daschle became the first Senate party leader in 52 years to lose re-election to his own Senate seat.

South Dakota has a history of replacing powerful members of the Senate. Former Commerce Committee Chairmam Larry Pressler lost to Congressman Tim Johnson in 1996, and 1972 Democratic Presidential nominee George McGovern was defeated by Congressman James Abdnor in 1980. Abdnor was, in turn, defeated by Daschle in 1986.

Political geography

The Missouri River, bisects the state. The area east of the Missouri River (or "East River"), is generally more moderate, with views that are more in line with those found in its Midwestern neighbors, Iowa and Minnesota. "West River" is more conservative, with views that are generally more in line with those found in its western neighbors, Montana and Wyoming. Large exceptions exist to the East River-West River political generalizations, however. The strongest Democratic counties in the state are West River. These counties are located within Indian Reservations. The strongest Republican counties are located East River. These counties were primarily settled by Protestant Germans from Russia, and be they Mennonite, Lutheran, Baptist or Reformed, they vote overwhelmingly Republican. A large part of the western half of East River responds politically in the same fashion as West River. Many observers think that the James River Valley really is the political dividing line between East River political thought and West River political thought.

2006 elections

In the 2006 midterm elections, little change occurred in South Dakota in statewide elections. The Republicans defeated the sole Democrat state officeholder previously elected statewide, but lost another statewide elected office to the Democrats. Otherwise all federal and state office holders were comfortably re-elected. The Democrats made a significant gain in the state senate narrowing the Republican margin from 25-10 to 20-15, costing the Republican legislative leadership its two thirds majority in both houses of the legislature.

By referendum, the electorate rejected an abortion ban approved by the state legislature. 56% of the electorate voted to overturn the law, generally considered a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade. Additionally, the electorate rejected a proposed law permitting the use of marijuana for medical purposes, and narrowly approved a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The prevailing side received a 52%-48% margin in both cases.

2008 election

Senator Tim Johnson defeated state Sen. Joel Dykstra on November 4, 2008. Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin defeated Rapid City businessman Chris Lien.

2010 election

In 2010, Republican Dennis Daugaard defeated Democrat Scott Heidepriem for governor,^[16] and Republican Kristi Noem defeated incumbent Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin for South Dakota's at-large seat in the US House of Representatives.^[17] Republican John Thune won a second term as US Senator, running unopposed in 2010.

U.S. Senators

Seat 1

Senator	Took Office	Left Office	Party
Tim Johnson	1997	present	Democrat
Larry Pressler	1979	1997	Republican
James Abourezk	1973	1979	Democrat
Karl E. Mundt	1948	1973	Republican
Vera C. Bushfield	1948	1948	Republican
Harlan J. Bushfield	1943	1948	Republican
William J. Bulow	1931	1943	Democrat
William H. McMaster	1925	1931	Republican
Thomas Sterling	1913	1925	Republican
Robert J. Gamble	1901	1913	Republican
Richard F. Pettigrew	1889	1901	Republican

Seat 2

Senator	Took Office	Left Office	Party
John Thune	2005	present	Republican
Tom Daschle	1987	2005	Democrat
James Abdnor	1981	1987	Republican
George McGovern	1963	1981	Democrat
Joseph H. Bottum	1962	1963	Republican
Francis H. Case	1951	1962	Republican
J. Chandler Gurney	1939	1951	Republican
Gladys Pyle	1938	1939	Republican
Herbert E. Hitchcock	1936	1938	Democrat
Peter Norbeck	1921	1936	Republican
Edwin S. Johnson	1915	1921	Democrat
Coe I. Crawford	1909	1915	Republican
Alfred B. Kittredge	1901	1909	Republican
James H. Kyle	1891	1901	Populist
Gideon C. Moody	1889	1891	Republican

References

1. ^ "Article XXIII, Section 1, Constitution of South Dakota". South Dakota Legislature. http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=0N-23-1. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
2. ^ "Article IV, Section 1, Constitution of South Dakota". South Dakota Legislature. http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=0N-4-1. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
3. ^ "Article IV, Section 4, Constitution of South Dakota". South Dakota Legislature. http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=0N-4-4. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
4. ^ "Article IV, Section 3, Constitution of South Dakota". South Dakota Legislature. http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=0N-4-3. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
5. ^ "Article IV, Section 2, Constitution of South Dakota". South Dakota Legislature. http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=0N-4-2. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
6. ^ ^{a b c} "Fact Sheet". State of South Dakota. http://www.state.sd.us/factpage.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "2011 Senate Roster". State of South Dakota. http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2011/Roster.aspx?Body=S. Retrieved 2011-01-13. 
8. ^ ^{a b} "2011 House Roster". State of South Dakota. http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2011/Roster.aspx?Body=H. Retrieved 2011-01-13. 
9. ^ ^{a b c} "Overview - UJS". South Dakota Unified Judicial System. Archived from the original on 2008-07-30. http://web.archive.org/web/20080730142424/http://www.sdjudicial.com/index.asp?title=structureindex&category=structure&nav=1. Retrieved 2008-11-12. 
10. ^ "Member Information". Office of the Clerk - United States House of Representatives. http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/olm110.html. Retrieved 2009-04-05. 
11. ^ "U.S. Electoral College - 2008 Presidential Election". www.archives.gov. http://archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/2008/allocation.html. Retrieved 2008-12-15. 
12. ^ "U.S. Electoral College - Frequently Asked Questions". www.archives.gov. http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/faq.html. Retrieved 2008-12-15. 
13. ^ "Presidential General Election Graph Comparison - South Dakota". www.uselectionatlas.org. http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/comparegraphs.php?year=2004&fips=46&f=0&off=0&elect=0. Retrieved 2007-11-14. 
14. ^ "McGOVERN, George Stanley, (1922-)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=m000452. Retrieved 2007-11-14. 
15. ^ "South Dakota Voter Registration Statistics". South Dakota Secretary of State. http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/pastelections_voterstats1988-2004.shtm. Retrieved 2007-11-14. 
16. ^ "South Dakota's Governor-elect Thanks Voters". KELO-TV. http://www.keloland.com/news/campaign/NewsDetail8632.cfm?Id=106666. Retrieved 2010-11-03. 
17. ^ "Western SD Delivers Votes for U.S. Rep-Elect Noem". KELO-TV. http://www.keloland.com/news/campaign/NewsDetail8634.cfm?Id=106687. Retrieved 2010-11-03.