Overview

Read on for some statistics and insights about the level of civic engagement, political engagement and a “state of the state” overview of Arizona.

 

Civic and Political Engagement

According to the Corporation for National and Community Service for 2018:

  • 30% of residents volunteer, ranking them 34th among the 50 states and Washington, DC.
  • 1,648,684 volunteers
  • 160.9 million hours of service
  • $3.8 billion worth of service contributed

In looking at political engagement specifically, according to this 2018 Wallethub.com study, Arizona ranks #26 based on a weighted average across the following metrics:

  • Percentage of Registered Voters in the 2016 Presidential Election
  • Percentage of Electorate Who Actually Voted in the 2014 Midterm Elections
  • Percentage of Electorate Who Actually Voted in the 2016 Presidential Election
  • Change in Percentage of Electorate Who Actually Voted in the 2016 Elections Compared with the 2012 Elections
  • Total Political Contributions per Adult Population
  • Civic Education Engagement, CIRCLE
  • Voter Accessibility Policies, Ballotpedia

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Center for Responsive Politics, Ballotpedia and Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, CIRCLE.

 

Women in Arizona Politics

As of 2018, there are 22 women legislators in the Arizona House of Representatives and 14 in the Arizona State Senate for a total of 36 out of 90 seats in both chambers. This equals 40% of the legislature (Source: NCSL).

See how many women serve in Arizona’s executive offices here.

Arizona ranks 47th in women’s equality – based on workplace environment (pay, unemployment and entrepreneurship rate disparity), education environment (education levels and math and reading scores), and political empowerment (disparity in elected offices) (Source: Wallethub).

 

What Color is Arizona?

Arizona has 11 electoral votes and “has traditionally gone Republican in presidential elections.” With the exception of Bill Clinton in 1996, Arizona has voted Republican since 1952. “Mitt Romney beat Barack Obama by about nine points in 2012, roughly the same margin-of-victory as that of home state Senator John McCain in 2008. The 2016 election was much more competitive; Donald Trump prevailed by 3.5%” (270towin).

 

State of the State

State Government Structure

The Arizona Legislature is bicameral, made up of the lower chamber, the Arizona House of Representatives, and upper chamber, the Arizona State Senate.

There are 30 members in the House and 60 in the Senate.  Since 2009, Arizona has been a Republican state government trifecta, meaning that a single political party (in this case the Republican party) holds the governorship, a majority in the state senate, and a majority in the state house.

Each member of the house represents an average of 106,534 residents, as of the 2010 Census.  Members serve two-year terms, with a limit of four consecutive terms. Each state senator represents an average of 213,067 residents.  Senators also serve two-year terms with a limit of four terms (Ballotpedia).

 

Budget Process

Arizona operates on a biennial budget cycle, with each biennium beginning in July. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:

  1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies on June 1 of the year preceding the start of the new biennium
  2. State agencies submit their budget requests to the governor by September 1.
  3. Agency hearings are held in November and December.
  4. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in January.
  5. From January through April, the legislature debates the budget. A simple majority is required to pass a budget.

Arizona is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.

The governor is required by law to submit a balanced budget to the legislature. In turn, the legislature is legally required to pass a balanced budget (Ballotpedia).

 

Business Climate

A 2018 CNBC study ranks Arizona #20 in terms of overall business climate:

 

Freedom

Arizona ranks 9th in Cato Institute’s 2018 Freedom in the 50 states. The overall freedom ranking is a combination of personal and economic freedoms.

 

Additional Resources

  • PEW Fiscal 50: State Trends and Analysis
  • PEW Women in Leadership  – see analysis of women in leadership on a national scale
  • National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) Fiscal Survey of States
  • Compare 50 – pick what stats you want to compare with what states here
  • State Data Lab – compare a variety of factors among states here
  • Freedom in the 50 States – Cato
  • Tax Foundation facts and figures app is available for download

 

What You Can Do

As detailed above, Arizonans have expansive potential for engaging in civic-minded and fiscally responsible activity.  By forming Policy Circles across the state, women can lead the way in ensuring that policies are working and responding to individual needs at the local level.

Here’s what you can do:   

  • Click “It’s easy, start now” at www.thepolicycircle.org  to start a circle in your area.  
  • Read our “Year of Conversation” for an overview of policy briefs on key issues affecting the country and your state.
  • Connect with  The Goldwater Institute,  your state think tank and best resource for state level information on key policy issues.  
  • Tell a friend or family member about The Policy Circle by sending them to www.thepolicycircle.org .   Any woman who believes in the power of free markets to unleash human creativity can start a Policy Circle in her area.