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Responsibilities, Roles, and Powers of Governors

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Responsibilities, Roles, and Powers of Governors

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Governor:  the leader of the executive branch of a state.

All states have constitutions that establish the powers and responsibilities of their governors.

Governors’ power and influence vary because of differences in population, area, and needs of each state.

Responsible for running the executive branch, influencing the legislature, acting as head of state and head of their political party, leading the state’s National Guard, and serving as a liaison to the national and other state governments.

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Governors have legislative power without being part of the legislative branch.

People look to their governors for leadership, including setting legislative agendas and proposing solutions to state problems.

Can propose legislation to the state legislature, send messages to the state legislature, or present new programs as part of the state budget.

Can rouse public opinion to support these legislative proposals.

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The oldest and most widely used form of municipal government is the mayor-council form.

System in which executive power belongs to an elected mayor and legislative power belongs to an elected council.

Mayors may have extensive executive powers or few executive powers.

Today about half the cities in the United States use it.

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Can either have extensive executive powers or relatively few executive powers.

Strong-Mayor System: mayor usually has the power to veto measures that the city council passes, appoint department heads, prepare the municipal budget, and propose legislation.

Most often found in large cities.

Weak-Mayor System: a mayoral system in which the mayor has limited powers and the city council makes most decisions.

Used in many small cities.

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Most governors serve four-year terms.

In Vermont and New Hampshire, the term of office is only two years.

Many states also limit the number of terms a governor may serve in office. Twenty-seven states have a two-term limit. Governors in Virginia may serve only one term.

In most states, the lieutenant governor takes over if the governor dies, resigns, or is no longer able to serve.