THE GOVERNOR
AND
STATE ADMINISTRATION
The governor is the “number one dude” in all-50 states executive branch. The Governor is usually very
involved in their political party plus, sometimes a well-known national personality (ex: Jessie Ventura (ex entertainment wrestler) of Minnesota) or Arnold Schwarzenegger of California. The modern day governor
holds an office that is the direct descendent of the earliest public office in American politics--the colonial
(royal) governor first established in Virginia in 1607.
Much of the colonial resentment that finally exploded into revolution (as in American Revolution 1775 1778) was directed at the colonial (royal) governors. That attitude was carried over into the first State
constitutions. The governors of the new states were given, for the most part very little real authority. They
were mainly “figure heads”. Most of the powers the State governments had were kept by the State
legislature.
In every state except Massachusetts and New York, the governor was chosen by the legislature, and in most
of them only for a one-year term. Only in the states of Massachusetts and South Carolina did the governor
have the power to veto acts of the legislature. The early governors of the states were often described as
“figureheads”. Thus, James Madison was able to say at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787: “the
executives of the States are little more than ciphers; the legislature are omnipotent.“
That original separation of powers soon proved unsatisfactory, however. Many of the state legislatures
abused their powers. Several allowed special interests to influence them, and the governors were too weak
to do anything about it. So, as new constitutions were written, and the older ones revised, the powers of the
legislatures were cut back and the powers of the governors increased. The powers to veto and appoint or
remove government officials were given to the governors. The governors have gained control of the States
militia (National Guard) by become the commander-in-chief. He only loses this power when the federal
government needs them for a conflict they are in. Example: Operation Dessert Storm in Iraq/Kuwait in
1990.
Through the early years of the 1800’s the power to choose the governor was taken from the legislature and
given to the people. At the same time, the citizens acquired the right to elect in other executive branch
officials. The citizens voted in the Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer and Auditor of Public
Accounts. These executive officers were, supposedly, part of the governor’s administration. But in fact they
were largely independent of the governor’s control -- because of who placed them there – the people and
not the governor. An interesting point to note is that these officials were from different political parties that
would cause policy and political conflicts.
The most dramatic changes in the governorship have come in the past 60 years or so. In all of the states,
however, the governor is a lot more powerful than even a few years ago. The governor acts as the head
person and speaks for there state in all of its’ official relations with other states, the national government
and foreign countries.
SUCCESSION
Every State Constitution provides for a successor should the governorship become vacant. In 43 states the
lieutenant governor is first in the line of succession. In four others Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey,
and West Virginia--the president of the Senate succeeds. In the other three--Arizona, Oregon, and
Wyoming-- the office passes to the Secretary of State. Governors are mortal; occasionally one of them dies
in office. Many are also politically ambitious; every so often, one of them resigns in midterm to become a
U.S. Senator, for example. When a vacancy does occur, it usually sets off a game of political musical chairs
in the state.
REMOVAL
The governor may be removed from office by the impeachment process, in all but one state, Oregon. But
only four governors have been thrown out of office since Reconstruction days (late 1800’s)--and none in
over 50 years.
The voters in 15 states may recall the governor. Only one ever has been, however.
The voters of North Dakota removed Governor Lynn J. Frazer in 1921--but he was
elected to the United States Senate the very next year.
COMPENSATION
Governor's salaries now average just about $56,000 a year among the states. There is fairly wide spread
among them, however, from the few where the pay is quite low on up to as much as $85,000 in Texas.
Most states also provide the governor with an official residence (generally called the governor’s mansion)
and an expense account. Nebraska pays their governor $85,000 as of 2007 and gives him or her a residence.
Besides the governor’s salary and other material compensation (Governor’s mansion, security etc.) he/she
receives a sense of “honor” and “prestige” that comes from holding this office. Indeed, it is this factor,
along with a sense of “public duty”, that often brings many of our better citizens to seek the office. About
one fourth of the members of the United States Senate are former governors, and a number of Senators later
served as governors. Former Chief Justice Earl Warren went to the United States Supreme Court from the
governor’s chair in California. Several Presidents were governors of their States before entering the White
House--including, since 1900:Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, Franklin
Roosevelt, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and now George W. Bush.
QUALIFICATIONS
To become the governor of any of the States a person must meet two quite different sets of requirements.
He or she must be able to meet both the formal qualifications set by the Constitution of the State and those
informal qualifications set by the politics of the State.
FORMAL QUALIFICATIONS: With some variations, the State constitutions require
that the governor 1) be an American citizen, 2) be at least a certain age usually 25
or 30 (30 in Nebraska), 3) have lived in the State for some period of time (usually the last
five years before they run for office), 4) be qualified voter. Clearly, these constitutional
requirements are not very difficult ones. It is those other qualifications--the political
ones--that have real meaning and importance here.
INFORMAL QUALIFICATIONS: Any person who wants to be governor—or hold any
other elected office, for that matter-- must first satisfy certain political requirements. That
is, he or she must be “available”--must have those characteristics that will attract the
party’s nomination and then attract the voters in the general election. Race, sex, religion,
personality, name familiarity, party membership, experience, issue stands, the ability to
use television effectively -- these and several other factors are important in running for a
political office.
SELECTION
The governor is chosen by popular vote in every state. In all but four of them, only a plurality (most votes;
not necessarily a majority) is needed for election. But if no candidate wins a clear majority in Georgia or
Louisiana, the two top vote getters will be chosen by the lower house of the legislature; in Vermont the
choice is made by both houses.
The major parties’ gubernatorial (election that takes on the even year between the presidential election Ex:
1996 Presidential election, 1998 Gubernatorial election, 2000 Presidential election) candidates are usually
picked in primaries. But they are picked by conventions in a few states. In recent years, nearly half the
states (including Nebraska) have provided for joint election of the governor and lieutenant governor; the
voter casts one vote to fill both offices.
TERM
Nearly everywhere the governor is now chosen for a four-year term. Only four states - - Arkansas, New
Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont -- provide for a two-year term.
Half of the states still place some limit on the number of terms governors may serve, however. In 4 states
the governor cannot serve more than one term; and in 24 other states the governor cannot serve more than
two consecutive terms. (Nebraska’s governors can only serve two consecutive terms)
Nebraska’s Executive Branch officials
Use the following site below to help you find the information you need
http://www.nebraska.gov/portal.php?section=nol&lvl1=296&lvl2=303&lvl3=0&lvl4=0&lvl5=0&lvl6=
0&lvl7=0&lvl8=0&lvl9=0
Nebraska’s Lieutenant Governor
Name_________________ - Political party ___________ -Salary $_____________
Duties:
1. Presides over the Legislate
2. Acts as governor when the governor is out of the state or incapacitated
3. Becomes governors in case of a vacancy or when the governor is permanently incapacitated.
4. Performs duties assigned by the governor.
Nebraska’s Secretary of State
Name_________________ - Political party ___________ -Salary $_____________
Duties....
1. Acts as the state’s secretary.
a. Accepts filings of state initiative and referendums petitions
2. Supervises the conduct of state elections.
3. Keeps the entire original legislative bill.
4. Responsible for printing of Nebraska laws.
5. Keeps the seal of Nebraska.
6. Serves on
a. State Board of Pardons
Nebraska’s Treasurer
Name_________________ - Political party ___________ -Salary $_____________
Duties....
1. Receiving and keeping all money of the state.
2. Disbursing public money.
3. Keeping record of all money received and disbursed.
Nebraska’s Auditor of Public Accounts
Name_________________ - Political party ___________ -Salary $_____________
Duties....
1. Conduct audits of all state agencies, officers, boards, bureaus and commissions.
Nebraska’s Attorney General
Name_________________ - Political party ___________ -Salary $_____________
Duties....
1. States chief attorney, appears in court to defend actions and claims against the state.
2. Directs the Child Protection Division
3. Oversees a drug and violent crime prosecution unit.
4. Serves on the Board of Pardons.
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS IN COMPLETE SENTENCES
1. Outline the general pattern of the development of the office of governor from independence to the
present.
2. Distinguish the formal and the informal qualifications one must meet in order to become governor.
3. How is the governor chosen in every state?
4. How long is a term for the governor of your state?
5. How many terms can the governor of Nebraska serve?
6. What is the salary for Nebraska’s governor?
7. How may the governor be removed from office in your state?
8. Who succeeds to the office governor in case of a vacancy?
9. What is a gubernatorial election? When is it?
10. Identify the duties for Nebraska’s executive officers.