LEARNING GOALS FOR STATE EXECUTIVE BRANCH:
1. The executive power is exercised by the governor, who is elected for a four-year term of office. The governor
appoints members of the cabinet, who oversee specific functions of government.
2. The lieutenant governor and the attorney general are executive branch officers who are elected for a four-year
term of office.
3. The executive branch of the Virginia state government enforces the laws and plays a key role in the policymaking
process.
4. The governor of Virginia exercises the formal powers granted by the Virginia Constitution.
5. What are the roles and powers of the executive branch at the state level?
In carrying out both the formal and informal powers of the office, the governor fills several roles, including
 chief of state
 chief legislator
 chief administrator
 party chief
 commander-in-chief.
6. Cabinet secretaries and departments, agencies, commissions, and regulatory boards
 administer laws
 enforce laws
 regulate aspects of business and the economy
 provide services
STATE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
1.
Qualifications: In most states: 3o years old and resident of state for at least 5 years
2.
Elected directly by the voters – no electoral college
3.
Serve a 4 year term. Can be removed from office by impeachment or by a recall election initiated by voters.
4.
Governors and lieutenant governors run as a team. The lieutenant governor presides over the senate and
becomes governor if the governor leaves office
DUTIES OF THE GOVENOR
Chief of State
Performs ceremonial
duties
Chief Legislator
1. Suggest new bills
and lobby legislature
to pass them.
2. Veto Bills: may use
line item veto (veto
part of a bill and send
it back to the General
Assembly) or veto
whole bills.
3. Veto can be
overridden by 2/3 vote
of General Assembly.
Chief Administrator
or Executive
1.Responsible for
carrying out state laws
2. Judicial Powers:
Grant pardons or
commute
(shorten)sentences of
convicted criminals,
Grant parole – early
release from prison
with restrictions.
Party Chief
Leaders of their political
party at the state level
Commander-in-Chief
Head of the National
Guard – may call out the
National Guard in times
of emergency
3. Prepare budget
4. Appoint top State
officials in the state
bureaucracy – cabinet
positions and heads of
agencies (approved by
the senate)
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS- Cabinet secretaries and departments, agencies and comissions, and regulatory
boards: Administer laws, Enforce laws, Regulate aspects of business and the economy, Provide Services.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Not every governor has a cabinet, but every state has officials in charge of executive departments who
advise the governor. Some are appointed and others are elected.
Usually the Secretary of the Commonwealth (Secretary of State) manages elections and maintains the
state’s records
Attorney General: represents the state and advises government officials on issues dealing with law
Treasurer: collects taxes and invests state funds
Auditor: reviews the records
Board of Health: runs programs in disease prevention and health education
Public Works: maintain roads, bridges, public buildings, water supply
THE LOCAL EXECUTIVE BRANCHES
1. The units of local governments in Virginia are political subdivisions created by the General Assembly.
2. Virginia local governments exercise defined and limited powers, including the power to
 enforce state and local laws
 promote public health
 protect public safety
 educate children
 protect the environment
 regulate land use
 levy and collect taxes.
3. Each Virginia incorporated town has an elected town council, which exercises legislative powers, enacting
ordinances and adopting an annual budget. A mayor is elected either by the voters or the town council members.
4. Each Virginia city has an elected city council, which exercises legislative powers, enacting ordinances and
adopting an annual budget. A mayor is elected either by the voters or the city council members.
Mayor-Council Form
Strong-Mayor System- Usually large cities
1. Power divided between legislative and executive
branches.
Weak- Mayor System- usually smaller towns
1. Most power is given to the council – the mayor’s
powers are limited.
2. Voters elect a mayor and members of city/town
council.
2. Voters elect a mayor and members of city/town
council.
3. Mayor is chief executive and often appoints the
heads of departments.
3. The council appoints department heads and makes
most decisions.
4. Council member act as legislature passing
ordinances
4. Council member act as legislature passing
ordinances
5. Mayor has strong powers such as the power to veto
ordinances, appoint and remove officials and prepare
the budget
5. Mayor presides over council meetings but votes
only in case of a tie.
6. Council membership is usually a part-time job, but
a strong-mayor usually works full time.
6. Council membership and the weak-mayor is
usually a part-time job.
5. In Virginia counties, towns, and cities, a manager may be hired by the elected legislative branch to oversee the
operations of the local government.
Council- Manager (Administrator) System – Medium sized cities and suburbs, counties
1. Chief executive is professionally trained city manager (County Administrator) who is not connected to any
political party or interest group.
2. The Council appoints and can remove the manger/administrator. The manger reports to the council as a whole.
3. Council members are usually elected in City-Wide (County –Wide) elections. Council members represent a district,
or part of the city/county with one at-large member who represents the entire city/county.
4. City mangers (County Administrators) are not elected and are free from political pressures that could interfere with
getting the job done. They often have more expert knowledge than the part-timers in council and may play a major
role in policy making.
STATE AND LOCAL EXECUTIVE BRANCH REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Who is the chief executive in the state government?
2. What are the qualifications for governor in most states?
3. How long is a governor’s term?
4. What legislative powers does the governor have?
5. What is a line-item veto?
6. Describe the 5 major roles of the Governor:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
7. What are the four major jobs of the executive departments?
8. What does it mean if a place is “incorporated”?
9. How are city governments created?
10. How does the council-manager government differ from the mayor-council government?
11. How does a Weak-Mayor system differ from a Strong-Mayor system?
STATE AND LOCAL LEGISLATIVE BRANCH REVIEW QUESTIONS-Key
1. Who is the chief executive in the state government? GOVERNOR
2. What are the qualifications for governor in most states? 30 YEARS OLD, RESIDENT OF STATE FOR 5
YEARS
3. How long is a governor’s term? 4 YEARS
4. What legislative powers does the governor have?
SUGGEST NEW BILLS, VETO BILLS
5. What is a line-item veto?
WHEN A GOVERNOR CHOOSES TO VETO ONLY A SPECIFIC PART OF A BILL
6. Describe the 5 major roles of the Governor:
1) Chief of State: Performs ceremonial duties
2) Chief Legislator
1. Suggest new bills and lobby legislature to pass them.
2. Veto Bills: may use line item veto (veto part of a bill and send it back to the General Assembly) or veto whole
bills.
3. Veto can be overridden by 2/3 vote of General Assembly.
3) Chief Administrator or Executive
1.Responsible for carrying out state laws
2. Judicial Powers: Grant pardons or commute (shorten)sentences of convicted criminals, Grant parole – early
release from prison with restrictions.
3. Prepare budget
4. Appoint top State officials in the state bureaucracy – cabinet positions and heads of agencies (approved by the
senate)
4) Party Chief: Leaders of their political party at the state level
5) Commander-in-Chief
Head of the National Guard – may call out the National Guard in times of emergency
7. What are the four major jobs of the executive departments?
Administer laws, Enforce laws, Regulate aspects of business and the economy, Provide Services
8. What does it mean if a place is “incorporated”?
incorporated town has an elected town council
9. How are city governments created?
They get a charter from the General Assembly
10. How does the council-manager government differ from the mayor-council government?
Council-manager hires a manager to make sure ordinances are followed and the city/county is running smoothly.
Manager can be fired. Manger is a full time job.
Mayors are elected and can have the power to veto council ordinances. Mayors may also be part of the council and
vote on ordinances. The job of Mayors in smaller town is usually part time.
11. How does a Weak-Mayor system differ from a Strong-Mayor system?
In a weak-mayor system, the mayor has little power. The council usually appoints department heads, the mayor
presides over meetings but only votes in case of a tie, and a weak-mayor usually only works part time.
In a strong-mayor system the legislative and executive powers are divided, the mayor appoints department heads,
can veto ordinances and prepares the budget, and works full time.