Chapter 11 Section 2 pg. 194 - 197

Question 1

Define colonial governor

Answer 1

colonial governor - oldest executive office in US politics

>office of governor is directly descended from this

Question 2

Define governor’s mansion

Answer 2

governor’s mansion - name given to official residence states provide their governor with

Question 3

Give qualifications, elections, and terms of governor

Answer 3

> generally, minimum age requirement for governor is 30 years or more
must be US citizen
must be state resident of state for minimum period of time
governor is elected directly by people in every state
in 45 states, candidate needs only plurality (more votes than anyone else) of votes to win
in all other states except Vermont and New Hampshire, governor serves 4 year term

Question 4

Describe impeachment of state governor

Answer 4

> if legislature removes governor, removal is done through process known as impeachment

Question 5

Describe recall of state governor

Answer 5

> if voters remove the governor, the process is termed a recall

Question 6

Define ex officio

Answer 6

> a governor serves as an ex officio (by virtue of office or position) member of various boards and commissions

Question 7

describe executive orders that governor can issue

Answer 7

> executive orders - orders that dictate how law should be carried out

Question 8

List the 3 important legislative powers most governors hold

Answer 8

> recommend legislation to state legislatures
call special sessions of legislature
veto acts passed by legislature

Question 9

What veto power do governor’s possess?

Answer 9

item veto, power to veto part of a bill without vetoing entire bill

Question 10

Describe and define the governor’s clemency powers

Answer 10

> in every state, governor’s judicial power includes certain clemency powers toward convicted criminals
power to pardon an offender
power to grant a reprieve
power to commute a sentence imposed by a court
power to parole a prisoner

Question 11

Describe lieutenant governor

Answer 11

> elected by voters
compared to office of Vice President
in most states, he presides over state senate and serves as acting governor when governor out of state
succeeds to governorship if vacancy occurs in that office

Question 12

Describe secretary of state

Answer 12

> every state except Alaska, Hawaii, and Utah have secretary of state
in most states, popularly elected
other states, appointed by governor or chosen by legislature
keeps wide variety of state records and documents
usually administers election laws and has charge of official state seal

Question 13

Describe attorney general

Answer 13

> every state has attorney general
in most states, popularly elected
in other states, appointed usually by governor
is state’s chief legal officer
gives legal advice to governor and other state officials
is state’s chief prosecutor
represents state when suit brought against it

Question 14

Describe treasurer

Answer 14

> every state has treasurer
is guardian of state funds
in many states, in charge of tax collection
makes payment out of state treasury when funds properly authorized
invests state’s surplus funds in banks or other investment concerns

Question 15

Describe auditor or comptroller

Answer 15

> is responsible for seeing state funds spent properly
most often popularly elected
sometimes appointed