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