The Executive Branch
The Executive Branch
•Each state has its own constitution based on its
unique history, needs, philosophy, and
geography.
•Just like the national government, each state's
constitution separates power between three
branches -- legislative, judicial, and executive.
• Georgia and most other states organize their
government differently.
• There is a governor and a lieutenant
government, but they are elected separately.
• They may or may not work as a team and can
be of different political parties.
State Government:
The Executive Branch
•The leader of the state of Georgia’s executive branch is the
Governor.
•In Georgia, our leader is Governor Nathan Deal. He does many
of the same jobs as a president, but he does them at the state
level.
•The governor’s office, as well as the chambers of the state
General Assembly are located at the capital (shown above).
Governor
Nathan Deal
Georgia’s Governor
Georgia’s constitution places the “chief
executive power” of the state in the
hands of the governor.
The governor is often referred to as the
“chief executive officer.”
Who can be Governor?
• The Georgia constitution requires that a man or woman elected governor be – A U.S. citizen for 15 years
– Legal resident of Georgia for 6 years.
– Must be at least 30 years old.
• The governor has a term of 4 years at the time of taking office, and may serve one additional term (total of 8 concurrent years.
Powers of the Governor
• The governor is the most powerful
official in state government.
• Some of the governor’s powers
are formal - that is, they are written in
the state constitution or state law.
Powers of the Governor
• In terms of formal powers, Georgia is considered to have a strong governor especially in terms of extensive power over the state budget.
• Other powers are informal. – They are not spelled out in law but arise from
custom and tradition, form the personal abilities of the governor (such as leadership), and from the expectations of the people.
Powers of the Governor
• A governor can pay an even stronger role when the speaker of the House and president of the Senate are of the same political party as the governor.
• Likewise, a governor is less powerful when the presiding officers in the legislature are of a different party.
Lieutenant Governor
• In addition to electing a governor and a lieutenant governor every 4 years.
• The lieutenant governor has the same qualifications as the governor. – A U.S. citizen for 15 years
– Legal resident of Georgia for 6 years.
– Must be at least 30 years old.
• The constitution prescribes that the lieutenant governor serve as president of the Senate, presiding over sessions of the senate.
• The lieutenant governor’s main role in the state government is not in the executive branch, however, but the legislature.
• Georgia voters also elect a number of other constitutional officers in the executive branch.
Lieutenant Governor
Executive Branch • However, many laws authorize public
services such as – Education
– Highways,
– And public assistance
• But filling in the details of how the program will be conducted is left to an executive agency named in the law.
• An agency named is a unit of government such as a department, board, commission, or office.
• The agency charged with the law: – studies the new program,
– holds public hearings and
– adopts rules and regulations.
• In many cases, the executive branch becomes a partner in the lawmaking process.
• The role of the executive branch of state government is to administer state programs and execute (enforce) laws enacted by the legislature.
Georgia’s Executive Branch
• Georgia also has a number
of ELECTED executive
department heads know as
constitutional officers
because their positions are
provided for in the state
constitution.
• These offices are elected
independently and may be of
different political parties.
• The governor, along
with the lieutenant
governor, is also a
major legislative player.
• The governor sets forth
a recommended
legislative agenda,
initiates the budget, and
signs or vetoes
legislative bills.
• Except for the power to propose their
budgets, the governor has little formal
power over constitutional officers and
their departments.
• However, this does not mean that the
governor has few powers.
Georgia’s Executive Branch
Governor’s
Protective Role
• The governor has several other
important roles. These include
the role of commander of both the
Georgia State Patrol and the
Georgia National Guard.
• The governor can also regulate
trade agreements and he helps to
bring additional businesses to
Georgia.
• The governor is also responsible
for communicating and working
with bordering states especially
when it comes to sharing similar
resources. Governor Nathan
Deal
http://mansion.georgia.gov/tours
Lets Tour the
Governor’s
House