The Pennsylvania Governor - Elizabethtown Area School District

The Pennsylvania Governor

What are the powers / requirements of the PA governor?

What other elected officials exist in the PA executive branch?

What is a “governor”?

•  The governor is a chief executive of the state –  Central figure of

state politics –  National known

figure

•  Current Governor = Tom Corbett

What is the history of the governorship in Pennsylvania?

•  Originally, the governorship was controlled by the Penn Family –  William Penn –  John Penn –  Thomas Penn

•  During the American Revolution, the governorship was weakened under the Constitution of 1776

When did the governorship become what it is today?

•  The Constitution of 1790 created the modern-day office of governor –  Amended slightly

over the years

•  Created to be more in line with our national Constitution

What are the requirements to be governor of Pennsylvania?

•  Pennsylvania has some of most relaxed formal governor requirements in the US

•  Requirements: –  30+ years old –  Citizen of the US –  Lived in PA for 7+ years –  Hold no other public

service jobs in the state

What are the requirements to be governor of Pennsylvania?

•  Pennsylvania also has many informal requirements for governor: –  Race –  Sex –  Religion –  Name Recognition –  Party Identity –  Political Experience

What are the terms of office for a PA governor?

•  Under the state Constitution, a governor may serve two (2) terms –  Four (4) years

•  Candidates are re-eligible after four (4) years

Longest Serving Governor

PA governor Thomas Mifflin

served three (3) full terms as

governor prior to the Constitutional amendment and

term limits

Shortest Serving Governor

PA governor John C. Bell Jr. served 19 days as governor when Gov. Edward Martin resigned to take a seat in the US

Senate.

Current Governor

The current Governor for the state of Pennsylvania is former PA Attorney General Tom Corbett, who was sworn into office on January 18, 2011

What are the benefits of being governor of Pennsylvania?

•  Benefits: –  $174,914 per year salary –  $50,000 expenses –  $100,000 travel account –  Governor’s Mansion (32

rooms) –  State trooper protection –  Medical / Dental benefits –  State pension –  Transportation

The Pennsylvania Governor’s mansion, built in 1968, is the official residence of the PA governor.

What are the responsibilities of the PA governor?

•  Responsibilities: –  Head of the Executive Branch (Cabinet,

Executive officials, etc.) –  Commander of PA’s military forces

(National Guard) –  Enforce the state’s laws –  Sign or veto laws –  Call the General Assembly in “special

session” –  Grant pardons (w/ consent of Board of

Pardons) –  Other miscellaneous duties

Natural Gas Drilling / Land Use

Education

Casinos

The State Budge / State Debt

Government / Social Reform

What other elected offices exist in the PA Executive Branch?

•  Under the state Constitution, the governor has limited appointment power –  Consent of PA

Senate

•  Number of elected offices also exist in his branch

What other Executive officials exist in the State of Pennsylvania?

•  Lieutenant Governor: –  The VP of the State

•  Responsibilities: –  Take over should the

governor die / resign

–  Presides over the PA State Senate

–  Casts tie-braking votes

The current Lieutenant Governor is former Bucks County Commissioner Jim Cawley (R)

What other Executive officials exist in the State of Pennsylvania? •  Attorney General:

–  Top Investigator / Cop

•  Responsibilities: –  prosecute of PA crimes

•  Organized crime

•  Government corruption

•  Consumer protection

–  Represents PA in court

–  Reviews all proposed rules / regulations

–  Member of the Board of Pardons

Following Tom Corbett’s resignation to serve as governor, his deputy William H. Ryan became acting Attorney General

Corbett’s pick to replace him was former US attorney for Western Pennsylvania Linda L. Kelly

Linda Kelly speaking at a press conference with Governor Corbett upon her appointment as PA Attorney General

What other Executive officials exist in the State of Pennsylvania?

•  Secretary of the Commonwealth –  “Secretary of State” –  PA’s main bookkeeper

•  Responsibilities: –  Maintains state records –  Issues licenses –  Oversees state charities –  Oversees state elections –  Sanctions professional sporting

events in the state

Carol Aichele (R) is Pennsylvania’s current “Secretary of State”

What other Executive officials exist in the State of Pennsylvania?

•  State Treasurer –  Oversees PA’s finances

•  Responsibilities: –  Heads the PA

Department of Treasury –  Oversees state funds –  Helps create state

budget –  Oversees tax rates

The current State Treasurer is Rob McCord (D).

What other Executive officials exist in the State of Pennsylvania?

•  Auditor General: –  “Money watchdog”

•  Responsibilities: –  Makes sure all state money is

used properly

–  Keeps records on state institutions (schools, liquor stores, pensions, etc.)

–  Advises the General Assembly on corruption / money matters

The current Pennsylvania Auditor General is Jack Wagner (D).