Elected Positions Glossary

The President is the head of the federal government and commander-in-chief of the military. They sign or veto federal laws, set national policy, and represent the United States abroad. For New Yorkers, the President's decisions on federal spending, immigration, healthcare, and disaster relief have direct everyday consequences.

The Vice President is first in the line of succession to the presidency and serves as President of the Senate, casting tie-breaking votes when the Senate is deadlocked 50-50. The role has grown significantly over time — modern vice presidents are key policy advisers and often lead specific initiatives. Nine vice presidents have become president due to death or resignation.

New York has two U.S. Senators who represent all 20 million New Yorkers in Washington. Senators write and vote on federal laws, approve presidential appointments to the courts and Cabinet, and ratify treaties. Because each state gets exactly two senators regardless of population, New York's senators punch at the same weight as senators from states with far fewer people.

Each of New York's 26 congressional districts elects one Representative to the U.S. House of Representatives. Representatives vote on all federal legislation and serve on committees that shape specific policy areas like agriculture, transportation, or financial services. Because they face voters every two years, they tend to be more closely attuned to local concerns than senators.

The Governor is New York's chief executive — the most powerful elected official in state government. They propose and sign the state budget, appoint agency heads, sign or veto legislation, and can issue executive orders with immediate legal force. With a $250+ billion annual budget, New York's governor commands one of the largest state governments in the nation.

The Lieutenant Governor is first in the line of succession to the Governor and serves as the ceremonial President of the State Senate. In New York, this role has varied in significance depending on the Governor — some Lt. Governors have led major policy initiatives, while others have played a more behind-the-scenes role. Three of New York's recent Governors — Paterson, Cuomo, and Hochul — all reached the office through succession rather than direct election.

The Attorney General is New York's top law enforcement officer and chief legal adviser to state government. The AG's office prosecutes fraud, corruption, and consumer protection violations, and can sue corporations, the federal government, or even the Governor. New York's AG has historically been one of the most powerful state attorneys general in the country, often pursuing cases with national implications.

The State Comptroller is New York's chief financial officer and fiscal watchdog. This role is far more powerful than most voters realize: the Comptroller manages the New York State and Local Retirement System — one of the largest pension funds in the world at approximately $280 billion — audits every state agency, and must approve every state contract before it takes effect. The Comptroller's independence from the Governor makes them a critical check on state spending.

New York's 63 State Senators form the upper chamber of the State Legislature. Together with the State Assembly, they write and pass state laws, negotiate the state budget, and confirm certain gubernatorial appointments. The State Senate has historically been more conservative than the Assembly, and the balance of power between the two chambers shapes what legislation reaches the Governor's desk.

New York's 150 Assembly Members form the lower chamber of the State Legislature and historically represent the more progressive voice in state government. Assembly districts are smaller than Senate districts, so Assembly Members represent more concentrated communities and often focus on very local concerns alongside statewide legislation.

The Court of Appeals is New York's highest court — the final word on what New York's laws and constitution mean. Seven judges sit on this court, and their decisions are binding on every court in New York State. They primarily hear appeals, not trials, and choose which cases to take. Despite its enormous importance, most New Yorkers have never heard of it.

Despite the name, New York's Supreme Court is NOT the state's highest court — it is actually a trial court where most major civil and criminal cases are heard first. This confuses many voters. New York's highest court is the Court of Appeals. Supreme Court Justices preside over serious felony trials, major civil lawsuits, and complex business disputes. The name is a historical quirk that New York has never bothered to fix.

The Appellate Division is the intermediate appeals court between the trial courts and the Court of Appeals. When someone loses a case in Supreme Court and appeals, the Appellate Division reviews whether the trial was conducted correctly and whether the law was applied properly. There are four departments covering different regions of the state, and their decisions are binding on all lower courts in their territory.

County Court Judges preside over serious criminal cases — including felony trials — and certain civil cases outside New York City. They handle the most significant criminal matters in their county and play a central role in local criminal justice. In smaller counties, the County Court Judge may also handle Family Court and Surrogate Court matters.

Family Court Judges handle some of the most sensitive and consequential cases in the legal system — child custody and visitation, child abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency, adoption, foster care, orders of protection, and child support. These judges make decisions that directly shape family life, and their rulings can determine whether children remain with parents or enter foster care.

The Surrogate Court is one of the least known but most directly relevant courts for ordinary New Yorkers. This court handles the estates of people who have died — validating wills, overseeing the distribution of assets, and resolving disputes among heirs. It also handles adoptions. Despite touching nearly every family at some point, this court flies almost entirely under the radar and its judges are rarely contested in elections.

The Civil Court in New York City handles civil disputes involving amounts up to $25,000, including housing cases, small business disputes, and consumer claims. This is also where most landlord-tenant cases in New York City are heard — including eviction proceedings — making this court directly relevant to millions of renters. NYC Civil Court judges handle an enormous volume of cases.

New York City's Criminal Court handles misdemeanor cases and the initial appearance (arraignment) of everyone arrested in the five boroughs — including felony arrests that will eventually move to Supreme Court. This is where bail is first set and where the vast majority of criminal cases in New York City are resolved, often through plea agreements. Criminal Court judges see more defendants than almost any other judges in the state.

District Courts exist only in Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, serving a similar function to Civil and Criminal Court in New York City. They handle misdemeanor criminal cases, civil disputes up to $15,000, landlord-tenant cases, and small claims. For Long Island residents, the District Court is the most accessible court for everyday legal matters.

Cities outside New York City have their own City Courts that handle criminal misdemeanors, civil cases up to $15,000, landlord-tenant disputes, and small claims. In cities like Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, the City Court handles the bulk of criminal and civil matters for local residents and is often the most accessible court in the community.

Town and Village Courts — also called Justice Courts — are the most local courts in New York and handle the highest volume of cases. They adjudicate traffic violations, local ordinance violations, misdemeanor criminal matters, and small civil claims for residents of towns and villages across the state. Uniquely, these judges are not required to be lawyers — many are ordinary citizens who apply to be trained by the state.

The Mayor of New York City is the chief executive of the most populous city in the United States, overseeing a budget of over $100 billion and a workforce of over 300,000 employees. The Mayor controls the NYPD, FDNY, Department of Education, and most city agencies. Running New York City — with its extraordinary density, diversity, and complexity — is widely considered one of the hardest jobs in American government.

The Public Advocate is New York City's official watchdog and independent complaints officer — a citywide elected official whose job is to hold the Mayor and city agencies accountable. The Public Advocate investigates complaints from residents, issues reports on city agency failures, and can introduce legislation in the City Council. The role also serves as the first in the line of succession to the Mayor and has historically been a launching pad for higher office.

The NYC Comptroller is the city's chief financial officer and watchdog, managing five city pension funds with over $250 billion in assets, auditing city agencies, and reviewing city contracts. Like the State Comptroller, this role has far more power than most voters realize — the Comptroller's audits can expose mismanagement, and their contract reviews act as a financial check on mayoral spending.

Borough Presidents are elected representatives of New York City's five boroughs, but it's important to understand that this is an advisory role, not a governing executive position. Borough Presidents do not control borough budgets or agencies — that power rests with the Mayor and City Council. They advocate for their borough's interests, make appointments to community boards, provide capital funding recommendations, and serve as a public voice for borough residents.

Each of New York City's five boroughs has its own elected District Attorney who decides which crimes to prosecute, how aggressively to pursue charges, and whether to offer plea deals or seek maximum sentences. The DA's office is independent of the Mayor and NYPD — the DA can choose not to prosecute cases referred by police, or can pursue cases the police have deprioritized. This power to decide who faces criminal consequences makes the DA one of the most consequential local elected officials.

In counties that have the position, the County Executive is the chief executive of county government — managing county agencies, proposing the county budget, and signing or vetoing county legislation. Major New York counties like Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Erie, and Monroe have County Executives who oversee substantial budgets and workforces. This role is essentially a governor-level job at the county scale.

The County Clerk is the official keeper of public records for the county — maintaining deeds, mortgages, court records, and other legal documents. In many counties the Clerk also processes driver's license applications and vehicle registrations as a DMV agent. This is a largely administrative but essential office that most residents interact with at practical life moments: buying a home, registering a car, or searching public records.

The County Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of the county, responsible for policing unincorporated areas, operating the county jail, and providing court security. In counties without a separate county police department, the Sheriff's office is the primary law enforcement agency. The Sheriff also serves legal papers and executes court orders. Unlike police chiefs, the Sheriff is elected and answers directly to voters — not to the County Executive.

The District Attorney is the chief prosecutor of their county, deciding which crimes to charge, how aggressively to pursue them, and what sentences to seek. This is one of the most powerful local offices because the DA's choices — which cases to prosecute, which to decline, and what plea deals to offer — determine who faces criminal consequences and who doesn't. The DA's philosophy shapes the entire local criminal justice system.

The Register of Deeds (sometimes called the County Recorder) is responsible for recording and maintaining official documents related to real property — deeds, mortgages, liens, and easements. In some New York counties this function is handled by the County Clerk, while in others it is a separate elected office. This is a technical but essential role that underpins the entire system of property ownership.

Mayors of New York's cities outside New York City lead city governments with their own police departments, fire departments, schools, and public works. Cities like Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany face distinct challenges including population loss, aging infrastructure, concentrated poverty, and underfunded schools. The Mayor is the chief executive responsible for managing city services and advocating for state and federal resources.

The Town Supervisor is the chief executive of a New York town government — a level of government that many suburban and rural New Yorkers interact with more than any other. Towns handle local roads, parks, garbage collection, zoning, building permits, and in some cases their own police departments. New York's town structure means that most of the state's land area and a significant portion of its population are governed at the town level.

Village Mayors lead the government of incorporated villages — smaller, denser communities within towns that have chosen to incorporate for more local control. Villages have their own governments that can provide services like water, sewer, street lighting, and sometimes police that are supplemental to what the surrounding town provides. Village government is the most intimate level of elected government in New York.

Fire District Commissioners govern independent fire districts — special taxing districts that exist to provide fire protection in areas served by volunteer or paid fire departments. Commissioners set the fire district budget, levy a property tax to fund operations, hire staff, purchase equipment, and oversee the district's fire department. Most of New York's fire protection outside of cities is provided through these independent districts.

Water District Commissioners oversee special districts that provide public water supply to areas not served by a city or village water system. They manage the district's water infrastructure — wells, treatment facilities, and distribution pipes — set water rates, and ensure compliance with state and federal water quality standards. Safe drinking water is fundamental, and these commissioners are responsible for it in thousands of communities across New York.

New York City's 51 Council Members make up the City Council, which is the city's legislature. They pass local laws, approve the city budget, and provide oversight of the Mayor and city agencies. Because Council districts are relatively small — roughly 160,000 residents each — Council Members are among the most accessible elected officials and tend to be closely tied to their specific neighborhoods.

County legislators (called County Board of Supervisors in some counties) pass county laws, approve the county budget, and oversee county government. In counties without a County Executive, the Board of Supervisors itself acts as the executive body. County legislatures tend to be less partisan and more focused on local service delivery than state or federal bodies, but they control significant budgets and affect daily life.

City Council Members in cities outside New York City pass city laws, approve budgets, and oversee the Mayor. These councils are often small — some cities have as few as five members — which means each member has significant influence. Council Members in upstate cities often juggle neighborhood advocacy with citywide budget decisions affecting police, fire, schools, and infrastructure.

Town Board Members work alongside the Town Supervisor to govern town government. Unlike city or county councils, most New York Town Boards are elected at-large — meaning all town voters elect all members rather than individual districts. Town Boards pass local laws, approve budgets, and make zoning decisions that directly affect how communities look and develop.

Village Trustees serve on the Village Board of Trustees alongside the Village Mayor, collectively governing the village. Most Village Boards have four trustees who vote alongside the Mayor on budgets, local laws, and zoning. This is one of the most accessible entry points into elected office in New York — many local officials begin their political careers as Village Trustees.

School Board Members govern the local school district — one of the most directly impactful elected positions for families, yet one of the least-voted-on offices in New York. The Board sets the school budget (which voters must also approve), hires and evaluates the superintendent, sets educational policies, and determines priorities like school hours, curriculum frameworks, and discipline codes. Despite their enormous influence over children's education, school board elections routinely see turnout in the single digits.

Library Board Trustees govern the public library district, setting the library's budget, hiring the director, establishing policies, and ensuring the library serves its community. Public libraries have evolved far beyond books — they provide internet access, job search resources, community meeting space, early literacy programs, and services for seniors and immigrants. Library board elections see among the lowest turnout of any election, yet Trustees make consequential decisions about one of the community's most democratic institutions.