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Governor Of California

The governor of California is the head of government of the U.S. state of California. This individual holds the highest executive office in the state and is responsible for ensuring the faithful execution of laws, managing the state's vast administrative apparatus, and serving as the primary representative of California on both national and international stages. The governor is also vested with significant legislative and budgetary powers, making the office a linchpin in the state's political landscape.

For a comprehensive enumeration of all officeholders, one may consult the List of governors of California.

Governor of California

The office of Governor of California is symbolized by the Seal of the governor of California and represented by the Flag of the governor.

Incumbent

The current incumbent is Gavin Newsom, a member of the Democratic Party. He assumed office on January 7, 2019, and continues to serve as the state's chief executive.

Office Structure and Authority

The governor operates within the Executive branch of the government of California. The position is classified as a Chief executive role, carrying both Head of state and Head of government responsibilities within the state's jurisdiction. The governor is a key member of the Cabinet, influencing policy across various state departments. Furthermore, the governor is part of the Regents of the University of California, playing a role in the governance of the state's prestigious higher education system.

The official Residence of the governor is the Governor's Mansion, though many governors have opted for private residences. The principal Seat and primary workplace is the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Stanford Mansion also serves as a workplace and reception center, hosting official events and gatherings.

The governor is nominated through Political parties and ultimately chosen by the Popular vote of the citizens of California. The Term length for a governor is four years, with a limit of two terms, whether consecutive or not. The foundational authority for the office is derived from the Constitution of California.

Precursors and Formation

Prior to the establishment of the modern governorship, California was governed under various administrations. The office's lineage can be traced back through:

The office of Governor of California as it exists today was formally established on December 20, 1849, just prior to California's admission as a U.S. state in 1850. The inaugural holder of this office was Peter Hardeman Burnett. The line of succession for the governorship is outlined in the Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States, with the Lieutenant Governor of California serving as the immediate successor.

The governor's annual salary was reported as US$224,020 in 2022. An official website provides further information on the governor's office.

Responsibilities

The governor's extensive duties and powers are primarily defined by Article 5 of the State Constitution. These responsibilities are multifaceted and crucial to the functioning of the state:

  • Chief Executive of the State: The governor is the ultimate authority responsible for the administration of the state government.
  • Law Enforcement: A core duty is to ensure that all state laws are faithfully enforced and executed throughout California.
  • Oversight of State Agencies: The governor holds supreme authority over all state agencies and departments, directing their operations and ensuring alignment with state objectives.
  • Appointments: The governor possesses the significant power to appoint individuals to various state agencies, boards, and commissions, shaping the leadership and direction of numerous governmental bodies. This also includes appointing state judges to fill vacant positions.
  • Commander-in-Chief: The governor serves as the commander-in-chief of the California National Guard (when not under federal control) and the California State Guard.
  • Legislative Powers: The governor can sign bills passed by the California State Legislature into law. Conversely, the governor can veto bills entirely, although such vetoes can be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of the legislature. A specific power is the line-item veto, which allows the governor to reject specific provisions within budget bills without vetoing the entire bill.
  • Budgetary Authority: The governor is responsible for preparing and submitting the state budget annually. This involves significant influence over the allocation of funds for government programs, with the authority to approve or reject proposed funding levels.
  • Convening the Legislature: The governor has the power to convene the State Legislature in special session when deemed necessary.
  • State of the State Address: The governor is mandated to deliver the annual State of the State address to the State Legislature, outlining the administration's priorities and the condition of the state.
  • Clemency Powers: The governor can grant pardons, commute sentences, or issue reprieves for criminal offenses. However, clemency involving impeachment is not within the governor's sole discretion and requires approval from the California Supreme Court.
  • Senate Appointments: If a U.S. Senate seat becomes vacant due to death or resignation, the governor has the authority to appoint a replacement to serve until the next general election.
  • "Bully Pulpit": The governor can leverage the office's visibility, often referred to as the "Bully Pulpit," to influence public opinion and shape legislative priorities.

Gubernatorial Elections, Oath, and Term of Office

Qualifications

To be eligible for the office of governor, a candidate must meet several criteria:

  • Be a U.S. citizen.
  • Be a registered voter within the state of California.
  • Must not have been convicted of a felony involving bribery, embezzlement, or extortion.
  • Must not have already served two terms as governor since November 6, 1990.

Election and Oath of Office

Governors are elected through a popular ballot process and serve four-year terms. As previously noted, a term limit restricts governors to two terms, whether served consecutively or not, if those terms commenced after November 6, 1990. Upon election, governors must take the following oath:

I (Governor) do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California, that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter.

Governors officially commence their duties on the first Monday following January 1 of the year after their election.

Gubernatorial Removal

There are two primary mechanisms by which a governor can be removed from office:

Impeachment and Removal by the Legislature

The governor can be subjected to impeachment for "misconduct in office." This process begins with a majority vote in the State Assembly to impeach. Subsequently, the State Senate must vote by a two-thirds supermajority to remove the governor from office.

Recall by the Voters

A gubernatorial recall election can be initiated through a petition process. This requires signatures from California state voters equivalent to 12% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. Additionally, signatures from each of the state's five most populous counties must equal at least 1% of the last gubernatorial vote in that respective county. If these signature requirements are met, a recall election is triggered. In this election, voters decide whether to recall the incumbent governor and can simultaneously vote for a replacement candidate. If a majority votes to recall, the candidate who receives a plurality of votes in the replacement race assumes the governorship.

Historically, only two recall attempts have garnered enough signatures to appear on the ballot. The 2003 California gubernatorial recall election successfully removed Democratic Governor Gray Davis from office, with Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger subsequently elected as his replacement. This marked the first instance of a California governor being removed through a recall. More recently, the current governor, Gavin Newsom, successfully defeated a recall election in 2021, as documented in the 2021 California gubernatorial recall election.

Relationship with the Lieutenant Governor

The Lieutenant Governor of California is elected separately from the governor, not as a running mate. This independent election process has, at times, resulted in the governor and lieutenant governor belonging to different political parties. This situation has occurred frequently, notably for 27 of the 33 years between 1978 and 2011, contrasting with only a few instances prior to that period.

This separation can become significant due to provisions in the California Constitution. When the governor is outside the state of California, all gubernatorial powers devolve upon the lieutenant governor. This has led to instances where the lieutenant governor has signed or vetoed legislation or made political appointments during the governor's absence.

However, a gentlemen's agreement generally guides the lieutenant governor to perform only perfunctory duties when the governor is out of state. This understanding was notably breached when Mike Curb was lieutenant governor, as he issued executive orders that conflicted with the Brown administration during Governor Brown's absences. Court rulings have affirmed the lieutenant governor's constitutional right to exercise gubernatorial powers when the governor is out of state. The lieutenant governor also presides over the California State Senate.

Official Residence and Workplace

The California Governor's Mansion in Sacramento serves as the official residence for the governor. This historic mansion has housed fourteen governors, though some have chosen to reside elsewhere. It is also recognized as one of the governor's official workplaces.

The governor's primary official workplace is situated within the California State Capitol, also in Sacramento.

Additionally, the Stanford Mansion, located in Sacramento, functions as another official workplace for the governor and serves as the principal reception center for the California government.

Timeline

A timeline detailing the history of California governors is available for review.

See Also