Politics of North Dakota
The area and state also received numerous European immigrants and migrants, particularly during the era of opening up of former Native American lands for sale and settlement.
However, there has also been a vein of political progressivism within the state's history, particularly with populist efforts to gain better conditions for subsistence farmers.
In the 1920s many NPL candidates were elected to government offices and the party enacted its largely center-left programs, including establishing state-owned banks, mills, and a railroad.
Judicial power is vested in the North Dakota Supreme Court, which is independent of the executive and the legislative branches.
North Dakota began as a Republican Party stronghold upon its foundation in 1889, with John Miller elected as governor.
Governor Eli C. D. Shortridge, Lieutenant Governor Elmer D. Wallace, Attorney General William H. Standish, Insurance Commissioner James Cudhie, State Auditor Arthur W. Porter, State Treasurer Knud J. Nomland, and Superintendent of Public Instruction Laura J. Eisenhuth were all part of the D-I party and were all elected in 1892.
While the Democratic Party did not gain control of any other statewide offices, Burke's election began a reform era.
A second movement, the Socialist Party of North Dakota, gained momentum as many of the state's European immigrants by 1905 had come from more radical traditions.
It resulted in the creation of government institutions to aid residents and to state ownership of banks, mills, and grain elevators.
In addition a drought in the western part of the state brought stress to families and diminished the NPL support.
In 1920, the IVA took control of the North Dakota House of Representatives, and in 1921 it forced a recall election that deposed Governor Frazier, Attorney General William Lemke, and Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor John N. Hagan.
The recall effectively ended the NPL's reign, and significantly altered North Dakota government for years to come.
While in office, Langer took bold actions, including a massive cut of state spending during the depths of the Great Depression.
They regained the governor's office by 1944, against the national popularity of Democratic candidates led by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The Dem-NPL Party made a comeback by 1960, and held the governor's office for 20 years until Republican Allen I. Olson was elected in 1980.
A sizeable portion of North Dakota lands are held by federally recognized Native American tribes in reservations.
In 2016, a record three candidates running for statewide office are Native American: Chase Iron Eyes for US Congress, Ruth Buffalo for Insurance Commissioner, and Marlo Hunte-Beaubrun for the Public Service Commission, the agency that regulates oil pipelines.
Under the nullified rules, the state would have disallowed use of federal tribal IDs that did not include street addresses, even though most Native Americans on reservations use post office boxes.
[5] As in the national government of the United States, power in North Dakota is divided into three main branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.
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.
[6] However, the North Dakota Legislature undermined the Commission by restricting its authority and granting it insufficient funds for its activities.
