Who Decides What? Understanding Power Between Elections
Election season has main-character energy. Debates, ads, big promises, bigger fonts.
Then the ballots are counted, and it gets quiet.
It’s important to recognize that government operations continue even when elections are not taking place. Many critical decisions that affect our daily lives occur during this “off-season.” These decisions often happen in meetings labeled "agenda item 7B" or "consent calendar." In these sessions, policies are approved, budgets are allocated and regulations are established. Understanding this process can help individuals better engage with and influence government decision-making that affects their lives.
If you’ve ever thought, “Wait, who even decided that?” you’re not alone. The point of civic literacy is confidence and understanding to facilitate engagement. You should be able to review a decision, trace it back to the people who made it and understand your next options.
Let’s map it.
Power Is Spread Out On Purpose
Arizona’s government is built on the separation of powers:
legislative, executive and judicial. Each branch has different jobs, different tools and different limits. That structure is not just trivia. It’s the reason one person can’t legally wake up and rewrite the rules of government because they “feel like it.”But outside a textbook diagram, power doesn’t always look like three clean columns. It shows up as:
- A city council vote that changes zoning on one block, which changes housing, which changes traffic, which changes everything
- A state agency rule update that affects licensing, benefits or compliance
- A school board decision that shapes what students experience every day
- A court decision that changes how laws get interpreted
So yes, we have “three branches.” And also many rooms where decisions are made.
The Elected Officials You Know, And What They Actually Control
Most people can name their governor, their mayor, maybe one U.S. senator. That’s normal. Civic life is busy, and nobody is handing out pop quizzes.
What matters is understanding the lane each elected office is in.
- Legislators (state House and Senate) make state laws and pass the state budget. They can create agencies, fund programs and set statewide rules through statutes.
- City and town councils pass local ordinances, approve development plans, set local budgets and hire key staff, such as city managers, in many places.
- County boards of supervisors oversee county government functions, which often include election administration, public health services, county roads and more.
Here’s the key: elected officials do not personally run every program. They set direction, approve budgets and appoint people who handle the day-to-day decisions.
Which brings us to the power players most people overlook.
Boards And Commissions: The Decision-Makers Not on a Ballot
Arizona has boards and commissions that shape everything from professional licensing to environmental oversight to program governance. Many are created by state law. Some are created by executive action. Many members are appointed by public officials, often the governor.
This is where people get thrown off. Because when you hear “commission,” you might think it’s a vague advisory group that meets twice a year and is more of a ceremonial role.
Sometimes, sure. Other times, boards and commissions have real authority: they vote on rules, approve enforcement actions, set standards or oversee public systems.
So if you’re wondering why a policy changed, it might be:
- A state board adopting or enforcing rules
- A commission setting standards within a program
- A professional licensing board interpreting what “qualified” means
The good news: these bodies usually have public meetings and published materials. They’re not secret. They just aren’t as recognized as campaigning candidates.
Courts: Power That Doesn’t Feel Like “Policy” Until It Does
Arizona’s judicial branch includes trial courts, the Court of Appeals and the Arizona Supreme Court. Judges also hold commissions and structures that support the operation of the court system.
Court decisions play a significant role in shaping the enforcement of rights, agency actions and the practical application of laws in everyday life. Between elections, the judiciary often provides a steady stream of developments that can alter our understanding of legal and civil rights. This means that changes in court rulings can prompt a reevaluation of how we perceive and navigate our rights and responsibilities in society.
State Agencies: Where Laws Turn Into Real-Life Rules
Legislators write laws. Agencies run programs. Agencies take the direction of a statute and create processes, forms, timelines, eligibility standards, enforcement practices and administrative rules.
This is where government becomes visible:
- Permits and licensing
- Benefits and services
- Compliance and enforcement
- Reporting requirements
- Public-facing guidance
Agencies are part of the executive branch, generally led by the governor and staffed by professionals. And because agencies manage details, they often shape your experience with what the legislature established in law.
If you’ve ever navigated a process you found confusing and wondered “who designed this,” the answer is usually not “the Legislature” and not “the courts.” It’s the administrative systems built under an agency’s authority.
Local Government Is Where Your Day-To-Day Life Gets Edited
State politics and elections get attention. Local government edits your life.
A lot of the decisions that hit closest are made at the local level:
- City planning and zoning (what gets built, where and how)
- Public safety priorities
- Water and infrastructure decisions
- School district governance
- Special districts (think fire districts, water districts and other targeted services)
Here’s the part people miss: local bodies often move faster than state government. Fewer people are watching, which means your attention can go further. If you’re trying to “make your voice heard,” local is usually the place where one comment can actually land.
“Public Meeting” Does Not Automatically Mean “Public Conversation”
Arizona’s Open Meeting Law requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public and that legal action be taken in a public meeting. That protects transparency. It does not guarantee you’ll get a microphone.
Some bodies allow public comment on most agenda items. Some only allow it at certain times. Some limit comments to agenda items. Some allow written comments but not live comments.
This is why reading the agenda matters. Agendas usually tell you:
- What action is being considered
- Whether there is a public comment period
- How to participate (in-person, phone, online)
- What materials are attached
Building civic confidence can be significantly enhanced by adopting a straightforward practice: instead of approaching meetings as mysterious performances, treat them as documents that require thorough examination. Prioritize reading and understanding the materials beforehand, and then determine your next steps based on that knowledge. This approach fosters clarity and informed decision-making.
A Practical Way To Trace Who Made A Decision
When something changes and it affects your life, you don’t need to rage-scroll for three hours. Use a clean sequence instead.
- Name the issue clearly. What changed? A fee? A rule? A boundary? A program requirement?
- Identify the level. Does it feel local (city, school, county) or statewide (agency, statute)?
- Find the decision point. Look for a vote, an order, a rule update or a policy adoption.
- Find the body. Council, board, commission, department, court.
- Find the “next step.” Public meeting, comment period, election, appeal, oversight hearing or future agenda item.
Power isn’t always where you think it is
Most civic confusion comes from one assumption: power only shows up on Election Day. Elections are important and choose leadership. But democracy doesn’t end at the ballot box. Governance is what happens after, through systems that keep moving whether you’re watching or not.
That is a reason to engage. It’s a reason to get specific.
- If a decision is being made by a board, learn who appoints them, when their terms end, and what they have the authority to vote on.
- If it’s a city issue, track the council agenda and learn how public comment works.
- If it’s a statewide rule, find the agency and look for rulemaking or policy updates.
- If it’s a court issue, look at how the case is being interpreted and what the ruling changes.
It's important to recognize that you don't need to engage with every issue that arises. Instead, focus on developing the skills to identify opportunities and solutions when something truly matters to you.
What Arizona Clean Elections helps you do next
Here’s the part that gets overlooked: understanding power between elections makes voting better. When you know what each office controls, you stop voting based on vibes and name recognition, and start voting based on job descriptions, qualifications, and policy positions. You also get better at spotting which decisions belong to elected officials, which ones belong to boards or agencies and which ones are being decided through the courts.
The Citizens Clean Elections Commission exists to support that kind of clarity. As a nonpartisan commission created by voters, Clean Elections provides voter education, administers clean funding for candidate campaigns and enforces campaign finance rules so Arizonans can participate with more confidence in the system overall.
To remain actively engaged in political matters without allowing politics to dominate your identity, follow a straightforward approach. First, identify issues that are important to you and connect them to the respective roles or officials responsible for making decisions about those issues. As the election season approaches, take the opportunity to learn about the candidates and where they stand on the issues you care about. This method ensures that your involvement is focused and purposeful.
FAQs
Who makes decisions in Arizona?
Decisions are made year-round by elected bodies (like city councils and county boards), state agencies, boards and commissions, and courts. Elections choose leadership, but governance happens continuously through meetings, rule updates, budgets and legal decisions.
What’s the difference between a board, a commission and a council?
A council is typically an elected local body (city or town). A board or commission is often an appointed body that oversees a specific area, like licensing, oversight or standards. Authority varies, so it’s worth checking what powers that body has under state law or local rules.
How can I participate in decisions between elections?
Start by reading the agenda for the relevant public body. Many meetings allow public comment, written comment or both. Arizona’s Open Meeting Law also supports transparency through open meetings, posted agendas and public minutes. Read the bills legislators sponsor during the legislative session, watch the committee hearings, testify or share your position.
February 20 - 2026