Who’s Who? in Colorado Politics
Voting is a public way of saying, "Our families count, and our voices matter!"
Elected leaders make decisions that either help or hurt our families. The simple fact is that politicians pay more attention to communities who get out and vote. Who’s Who? covers some general information about how our state government works across all three state branches, legislative, executive, and judicial. It also covers local governments. All of the positions featured in the Who’s Who? — both elected and appointed — impact families in our state.
What Are Districts And How Are They Determined?
Voting districts are determined using US Census data and the Colorado constitution. Voting districts are different from municipalities, counties, and school districts.
For example:
- Senate District 35 includes 57 different school districts, with a population of over 140,000. Hispanics are 36% of the people living in the district. Only 60% of eligible voters are registered in the district.
- House District 31 includes 4 different school districts, with a population of about 80,000. Hispanics are 34% of the people living in the district. Only 58% of eligible voters are registered in the district.
What If I Can't Vote?
You must be at least 18 and a US citizen to vote. People with a criminal conviction who have served their sentence can vote in Colorado. (See the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition for more info: http://www.ccjrc.org/voting. shtml.)
If you can’t vote, you can still make a difference!
- Encourage and educate people who can vote.
- Share this voter guide at your church or with your neighbors, friends, and family.
- Attend town hall meetings and other events hosted by your legislators to raise the issues that affect your family. Town hall meetings give you a chance to speak directly to your elected officials in a more informal setting.
- Testify on proposed bills that affect you and your family.
- Visit the Capitol with an advocacy organization that works on the issues that you care about.
Federal Executive Branch
US President
Key Responsibilities
- Oversees cabinet-level departments, including US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- Proposes the federal budget for approval by Congress.
- Has the power to veto (reject) bills passed by Congress; Congress can overturn a veto with a two-thirds majority vote.
- Serves as the Commander-inChief of the armed forces.
- Appoints federal judges
What This Means For You
Can take executive action to move Immigration and Customs Enforcement policy. For example, in 2015 the president authorized ICE raids that resulted in the deportation and separation of families.
Recommends funding levels for programs such as childcare, healthcare, and domestic violence services.
Nominates judges for lifetime appointment to Supreme Court which rules on issues such as equal rights and privacy.
Federal Legislative Branch — US Congress
US House of Representatives
Key Responsibilities
- Makes and passes federal laws.
- Allocates money to federal programs in yearly budget.
- Determines federal tax guidelines.
- Can propose changes to the Constitution.
- Has the power to declare war.
What This Means For You
Approves funding levels for federal programs such as Head Start, Medicaid, Cash Assistance, Social Security, relief for victims of natural disasters, military spending, childcare, healthcare, and domestic violence services.
Creates all laws, including those governing immigration, healthcare, education, criminal justice, student loan interest rates, and labor and environmental protections.
US Senate
There are 100 members of the US Senate. Each state elects two senators in a statewide election for six-year terms. Senate races are staggered so that only one senator in a state is up for election at a time.
Key Responsibilities
- In addition to what is listed for House of Representatives (above), the Senate approves the president’s appointments to important positions, including the US Supreme Court and the Cabinet.
What This Means For You
State Legislative Branch
CO State Senate
Key Responsibilities
- Enact state laws in areas such as childcare, drug policy, healthcare, state taxes, education, and conservation of natural resources.
- Share budget-making responsibilities with the governor.
- Sit on committees that evaluate legislation based on certain areas of government like education, finance, and health.
What This Means For You
Makes decisions about state funding priorities, including how much the state budget should be paying for healthcare services, roads, education, and prisons, and how federal programs like Medicaid and Medicare are financed.
Creates laws that determine what is safe — from drugs and guns, to healthcare providers, oil companies, and more.
Makes laws that affect the availability of public programs, like Colorado Child Care Assistance Program and Children’s Health Plan Plus (CHP+).
Makes laws that create agencies, or oversee products, services, or providers.
CO State House Of Representatives
Key Responsibilities
What This Means For You
Local Elected Positions
There are two common forms of local government in Colorado: mayor–city council and city council–manager.
Mayor–City Council
- A mayor–city council government is one where both mayor and city council create policies and ordinances, as well as supervise the administration of the city and ensure that city ordinances are enforced. Denver is an example of a mayor–city council
Mayor
Key Responsibilities
- Leads council or board of trustees meetings.
- Has the same voting powers as other mayor–city council members.
- If limited to breaking tie votes, then the mayor can veto spending ordinances.
- Works with mayor–city council members to create and pass policies and ordinances.
What This Means For You
Can provide leadership to promote diversity and inclusion of all citizens in our community.
Can provide financial support to community services, like services for low-income women and families.
Makes zoning decisions that can either promote or prevent the development of low-income housing.
City Council Or Town Board Of Trustees
Key Responsibilities
- Creates policies and ordinances.
- Appoints a clerk, treasurer, and town attorney, or adopts an ordinance that provides for the election of these offices.
- May appoint an administrator to oversee staff and the daily operations of the town.
- Sets city taxes and manages the city budget.
- Oversees all construction and improvement projects in the city.
- Can overturn the mayor’s veto by a two-thirds vote.
What This Means For You
City Council–Manager
- A city council–manager government is one where the mayor and city council create policies and ordinances, and the city manager, elected or appointed, implements and administers the council’s policies. Arvada, Northglenn, Commerce City, and Pueblo are examples of city council–managers.
Mayor
Key Responsibilities
- Leads council meetings.
- Has the same voting powers as other city council–manager members.
- If limited to breaking tie votes, then the mayor can veto spending ordinances.
- Works with city council–manager members to pass policies and ordinances.
What This Means For You
Can provide leadership to promote diversity and inclusion of all citizens in our community.
Can provide financial support to community services, which support low-income women and families.
Makes zoning decisions that can either promote or prevent the development of low-income housing.
City Council
Key Responsibilities
- Creates policies and ordinances.
- Sets city taxes and manages the city budget.
- Oversees all construction and improvement projects in the city.
- Can overturn the mayor’s veto by a two-thirds vote.
What This Means For You
City Manager
Key Responsibilities
- Supervises the daily operation of the city and ensures that city ordinances are enforced
What This Means For You
Can provide leadership to promote diversity and inclusion of all citizens through administrative policy.
Can appoint and remove all officers and employees in the administrative service of the city.