Governor of California
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As of December 2012, California is one of 12 Democratic state government trifectas.
Current officeholder
The 39th and current Governor of California is Jerry Brown, a Democrat, who was elected in November 2010. He took office on January 1, 2011. Brown's term will face re-election, if he chooses to run, in November 2014, and his term will end in January of the following the year.
Brown previously served as the 34th Governor of California, from 1975 to 1983. Because Brown was elected to both of his terms as the 34th governor before terms limits was passed in 1990, he was eligible to run again in 2010.
Before becoming governor, Brown served one term as state attorney general from 2006 to 2010. Before returning to statewide office, he was mayor of Oakland, CA from 1998 to 2006. Brown also made three unsuccessful runs for President of the United States in 1976, 1980 and 1991, and served as chair of the California Democratic Party from 1989 to 1991. He also founded the Oakland School for the Arts and the Oakland Military Institute and worked as an attorney for the firm of Tuttle and Taylor.[1]
Authority
The Constitution of California establishes the office of governor in Article V, the Executive.
California Constitution, Article 5, Section 1
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The supreme executive power of this State is vested in the Governor. |
Qualifications
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The governor may not hold any other public offices, engage in any lobbying, or accept any honorariums. Additionally, he or she must be a registered voter in California, a resident of the state for at least five years on election day, and an American citizen for at least five years.
California Constitution, Article 5, Section 2
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[...] The Governor shall be an elector who has been a citizen of the United States and a resident of this State for 5 years immediately preceding the Governor's election. The Governor may not hold other public office. |
Elections
California elects governors in federal midterm election years, e.g. 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018. The gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the first Monday in the new year following the election. Thus, January 3, 2011 and January 5, 2015 are inaugural days.
California Constitution, Article 5, Section 2
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The Governor shall be elected every fourth year at the same time and places as members of the Assembly and hold office from the Monday after January 1 following the election until a successor qualifies. |
As in several other states, governors of California may be subject to recall elections. To initiate a recall, citizens must submit petitions signed by California voters equal in number to 12% of the last vote for the office of governor. Additionally, petitioners must collect signatures from each of 5 counties equal in number to 1% of the last vote for governor in the county. The last California gubernatorial recall saw Gray Davis removed from office in favor of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Term limits
- See also: States with gubernatorial term limits
California governors are restricted to two terms in office during their lifetime.
California Constitution, Article V, Section 2
| No Governor may serve more than 2 terms. |
Vacancies
- See also: How gubernatorial vacancies are filled
Article 5, Section 10 of the state constitution requires the Lieutenant Governor of California to assume the office of governor if the incumbent is unable to discharge the office. The legislature sets the rest of the order of precedence for filling vacancies in the office of governor. Disputes over the line of succession are under the sole jurisdiction of the California Supreme Court.
Duties
The governor has the power to veto bills from the California State Legislature. The Legislature can override a veto by a two-thirds majority vote in both the Assembly and the Senate. The governor can veto particular items from an appropriations bill while leaving others intact.
Law-enforcement powers include the ability to grant pardons and commute sentences, excepting cases of impeachment, as well as serving as the commander-in-chief of the state militia. In addition to calling the National Guard into active duty, the governor can call the California State Military Reserve to active duty to support the Guard.
The governor also has full membership and voting powers to the Regents of the University of California, the governing board of the University of California system, along with other elected officials, and a majority of members on the Regents of the University of California are appointed by the governor.
Each year, the governor must make a "State of the State" address to the legislature. He may also order reports and information from other state officers.
Unless otherwise provided by law, the governor fills vacancies in all state offices. Specifically, vacancies in the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Attorney General, and on the State Board of Equalization are filled by a gubernatorial nominee, with Senate confirmation.
Divisions
- Accounting
- Appointments
- Constituent Affairs
- External Affairs
- Judicial Appointments
- Legal Affairs
- Legislative Affairs
- Operations
- Personnel
- Press Secretary
- Protocol
- Scheduling
- Senior Advisors
- Special Advisor
- Special Counsel[2]
Compensation
- See also: Comparison of gubernatorial salaries
In 2010, the governor received compensation in the amount of $173,987.[3] The governor's salary, like that of all other state elected officials, is determined by the California Citizens Compensation Commission on an annual basis. The last time the governor's compensation was changed was 2009, when the office's salary and benefits were cut by 18 percent.
Contact information
Physical address:
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-558-3160
See also
External links
- Official site of Governor's office
- Official California Secretary of State Election and Voter Information site
References
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