Exam 2 Ch 8 Flashcards
Job of Governor
Executing laws passed by legislature
Governors in alll but three of the original states limited to 1-year terms
Recent decades, governors given more powers like power of appointment
Plural-executive system
State government where governor is not dominant figure in executive branch but is the first among equals. He serves alongside other elected officials
Roles of Governor
Chief Legislator (Legislative Influence) - him and staff work with individual legislators and committees to translate proposals to bills
Head of State Agencies - can hire and fire, determine state department budget
Chief Spokesperson for State - “It’s the executive, facing a major disaster, for whom crisis management becomes a defining legacy”
Party Chief - leading figures in their parties within state
“Governor is the only office that still
prompts split-ticket voting”
- The role of the governor requires them to take a
more pragmatic and less ideological stance on
issues. - “Most governors are elected outside the
presidential year, when turnout is lower” (227). - “When it comes to governor…there’s enough
information available for voters to make a more
informed choice when choosing the top leader in
their states” (227).
“Some legislators move to strip power from governors”
- “When Democrat Tony Evers deprived
Wisconsin Republican governor Scott Walker
of a third term in 2018, GOP
legislators…introduced legislation stripping
the governor and other executive branch
officials of formal powers” (228). - “Efforts to use lame-duck sessions to bolster
partisan power are nearly as old as the nation
itself” (228)
Formal Powers & Informal Powers
Formal - explicitly granted by law
Informal - based on personality or position
All Formal Powers:
Power to Appoint/Appointment powers - governor can pick people to run state gov
Power to Prepare State Budgets -
*Texas governor can recommend budget, but can’t make legislature impliment
*Maryland - legislators can only accept or defeat governor spending proposals, can’t make any additions
Power to Veto -
*Only 6 states require simple majority, most need supermajority to override veto
*All but 6 governors can line-item veto.
Power to Grant Pardons
Power to Call Special Sessions
*Every governor has the power
*Almost 1/2 of nation’s governors can set agenda of special session
Informal Powers
- Popular Support
– “Legislators and other officials will more readily…go along with a
popular governor’s program” (233).
- Popular Support
- Party Support in the Legislature
– “Governors are more likely to grant favors to or raise money for
legislators in their party…[which] makes those legislators more likely to
support the governor’s programs” (233).
- Party Support in the Legislature
- Ability to Communicate
– “The governor is a single, well-known individual who is important to
every voter in the state” (233).
- Ability to Communicate
Becoming Governor
12 women are governor rn, highest ever
Only 3 blacks ever were governor
“Rise of the rich governor”
As of 2019, more than 1/2 of all had more than $100 million in fortunes
Becoming Governor Part 2
Throughout 20th cen, only 10% gov. had no prior experience
Amount raised for 36 races in 2018 was 1.6 billion
Most states, 34, hold gubernatiorial/midterms in off year
Keeping and Leaving Office
36 states only allow 2 terms or 2 consecutive terms
Vermont and New Hampshire have only 2 year terms, but unlimited terms
Impeachment - legislature removes governor
Recall Election - voters can remove elected official before term is up
“Recent governors have been shut out of presidential politics”
“Governors were once a dominant force in
presidential politics, winning seven of the eight
elections between 1976 and 2004” (249).
* “The current media landscape is another handicap
for governors” (249).
* Governors often lack foreign policy experience
which is something voters want in a president.
* Governors also lack outsider appeal.
Lieutenant Gov.
“In 25 states, the governor and
lieutenant governor are elected
as part of the same ticket”
