found the state had created a discriminatory burden on Native American voters. Political institutions As in the national government of the United States, power in North Dakota is divided into three main branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. Executive The capital of the state is Bismarck and the current Governor of North Dakota is Doug Burgum, a Republican. His first term began on December 15, 2016. The Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota, elected on a joint ticket with the governor, is Brent Sanford. Sanford concurrently serves, by virtue of his office as lieutenant governor, as the President of the North Dakota Senate. The offices of governor and lieutenant governor, as well as all of the other executive offices, with the exception of public service commissioner, have four-year terms. The governor is assisted by a State Cabinet consisting of the assembled heads of the various executive departments. All thirteen statewide executive offices are filled by electoral contests. All but the North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction are on a party-affiliated ballot. Current executive branch |Governor of North Dakota |Doug Burgum | | Republican |December 15, 2016 |- |Lieutenant governor |Brent Sanford | | Republican |December 15, 2016 |- |Secretary of State |Michael Howe | | Republican |January 1, 2023 |- |State Auditor |Josh Gallion | | Republican |January 1, 2017 |- |Attorney General |Drew Wrigley | | Republican |February 8, 2022 |- |State Treasurer |Thomas Beadle | | Republican |January 1, 2021 |- |Insurance Commissioner |Jon Godfread | | Republican |December 15, 2016 |- |Tax Commissioner |Brian Kroshus | | Republican |January 4, 2022 |- |Agriculture Commissioner |Doug Goehring | | Republican |April 6, 2009 |- |Superintendent of Public Instruction |Kirsten Baesler | | Republican |January 1, 2013 |- |rowspan=3|Public Service Commissioners |Sheri Haugen-Hoffart | | Republican |January 4, 2022 |- |Randy Christmann | | Republican |January 2013 |- |Julie Fedorchak | | Republican |December 2012 |} Legislative The North Dakota Legislative Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives, with all members elected directly by the people of each district. The House of Representatives has 94 members, each serving a four-year term. The Senate has 47 members, each serving a four-year term. The state does not limit the number of terms that a legislator can serve; Brynhild Haugland notably served for 52 years in the House, a national record that still stands today. Current composition In