Interesting facts about the positions and powers of US governors
Since 1787, the United States has had 46 presidents, and more than 2,300 governors. While the road to the White House often passed through senior political positions, the governor’s office was the starting point for 17 presidents to enter the Oval Office.
This means that nearly 40 percent of US presidents have previously held governorships in several states. This provided them with experience in running a government bureaucracy, dealing with the legislature and responding to the judiciary.
Among the most prominent American presidents who served as governors in the past, Bill Clinton, George Bush Jr., Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, all the way to, Thomas Jefferson, who was the first state governor to become president of America, Jefferson ruled Virginia from 1779 to 1781 , before moving to the White House for a presidency that extended from 1801 to 1809.
This year, specifically on November 8, residents of 36 US states will choose their new governors in the midterm elections, which also include American voters choosing the entire House of Representatives and 35 members of the Senate out of 100. What is the role of state governors? And what are their powers?
- Federal government and states
There are powers of the states that the US federal government or the US president does not have the right to interfere in, which are related to the internal affairs of the states, especially the services. Each state has a system of government that is divided between state and local governments.
Most Americans relate to, and communicate more with, their state and local governments than with the federal government.
Police departments, libraries, and schools, not to mention driver’s licenses, are usually supervised by state and local authorities.
Each US state has its own written constitution, and these constitutions are often more detailed than the US constitution. For example, the Alabama state constitution contains more than 300,000 words, while the United States constitution has about 4,500 words.
All state governments are modeled after the federal government and consist of three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The US Constitution requires that all states support the “republican form” of government, although a three-branch structure is not required.
- Powers of state governors
The governors of US states are popularly elected, serving as chief executives of the 50 states, as well as US territories and territories.
In each of the 50 states, the Governor is responsible for carrying out state laws and for overseeing the work of the executive branch of state government.
The governor exercises his or her functions through new and revised policies and programs, which are implemented using a variety of tools, including executive orders, executive budgets, legislative proposals and the veto.
State governors carry out their administrative and leadership responsibilities and objectives with the support and assistance of department and agency heads, many of whom have the power to appoint.
The majority of governors have the power to appoint state court judges as well, and in most cases this is done through a list of names submitted by the State Governor Nominations Committee.
Although rulers have many common roles and responsibilities, the scope of the ruler’s authority varies from state to state according to state constitutions, legislation, and traditions.
- Qualifications
States differ regarding minimum age, US citizenship, and residency requirements for gubernatorial candidates and office holders.
The minimum age requirement for governors ranges from no rule governing this matter in one state to age 35 in another.
The term requirement for US gubernatorial candidates ranges from no specific rule to requiring states to be 20 years old.
In-state residency requirements range from no rule in this matter to 7 years in some states.
- Duration limits
The governor’s term of office is four years in every state, except New Hampshire and Vermont, which have two-year terms.
The governor of a state holds office for a term of four years, and can choose to run for re-election a second time, but the governor may not serve more than eight years, in a 12-year term.
- vacancy
In the event of a vacancy in the office of Governor, the Deputy Governor is the designated official to succeed the Governor in the 49 states, noting that in Tennessee and West Virginia the Speaker of the State Senate is the Deputy Governor.
For example, Winsome Earl Sears serves as deputy governor and chair of the state Senate, and is a member of many other state boards, committees, and boards.
In the five regions and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the officials designated to succeed the governor include the state secretary and leader of the state Senate.
- insulation
Legislation in all states except Oregon provides for the removal of governors in certain cases. As in the case of the federal government, the process of impeachment begins with the lower body of the legislature, and the trial is conducted by the upper body in each state, except for Alaska, where the process is reversed, and Nebraska, which has a single legislature tasked with the complete impeachment process.
In most cases, impeachment proceedings require a majority of members, while conviction generally requires a two-thirds majority or some other special majority.
In the event of a Governor being impeached, the Deputy Governor shall serve on behalf of the great majority of the States.
- essential roles
US state governors play two primary roles in relation to state legislatures:
First: Calling for special legislative sessions, provided that the purpose of the sessions and their agenda are specified in advance in most cases.
Second: The governors coordinate and work with the legislative bodies of the state on the following tasks:
Approval of state budgets and appropriations.
Enact state legislation.
Confirmation of executive and judicial appointments.
Legislative oversight of the functions of the executive branch.
Approval of state budgets and appropriations.
Governors create and submit annual, or biennial, budgets for review and approval by the legislature.
In a number of US states, commonwealths and territories, governors also have veto power that can be used to remove assignments to which they object.
These tools allow governors to play a powerful role in prioritizing the use of state resources.
- Legislation age
Governors prepare specific legislative proposals to present on their behalf. In addition, state departments and agencies may pursue legislative initiatives with the Governor’s approval.
Executive officials are often called to testify on legislative proposals, and governors and other state executive leaders will seek to mobilize public opinion, and interest groups, in favor of or against specific legislative proposals.
Governors may use their role as party leaders to encourage support for legislative initiatives, and, along with department heads and staff, may seek to influence the progress of legislation through regular meetings with legislators and legislative officials.
- veto
All 50 state governors have the power to veto entire legislative actions.
In the vast majority of states, a bill will become law unless it is vetoed by the governor within a specified period of days, which varies from state to state.
In a smaller number of states, bills are nullified if they are not formally signed by the governor within a specified period.
Other types of veto power available to governors of some states include a “clause” in which the governor can remove a general clause from a portion of the legislation, a “reduction” in which the governor can remove a budget clause to reduce cost, and an “amendment” in which the governor can review the legislation. Legislatures may override the veto, usually by an overwhelming majority.
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