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State Government: Chapter Eight, Section 3-4. The State Executive Branch. The States Chief Executive. The governor is the chief executive in each state. The citizens of each state elect a governor to run the day-to-day affairs of their state. He works for the people of his or her state.
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State Government: Chapter Eight, Section 3-4 The State Executive Branch
The States Chief Executive • The governor is the chief executive in each state. • The citizens of each state elect a governor to run the day-to-day affairs of their state. • He works for the people of his or her state.
Qualifications and Terms of Governors • In general: • Must be a U.S. citizen. • Must have lived in that state for a certain period of time. • Most States require a candidate to be 30 yrs. old. • California and Ohio, may be as young as 18. • Most governors serve four year terms. • New Hampshire and Vermont, they only serve two. • Roughly half of the states limit their governors to one or two terms in office.
Qualifications and Terms of Governors • Salaries Vary. • New York: $179,000 per year. • Nebraska: $85,000 per year. • Receive an allowance for expenses. • Ex. Travel. • Most governors and their families live in an official residence in the state capital.
Powers and Duties of Governors • Three Main Roles: • Chief Executive • Chief Legislator • Political Party Leader
Chief Executive • Power of Budget. • This budget sets priorities and offers solutions to state problems. • Power to make appointments. • In some states they appoint the heads of specific agencies. • Ex. Those dealing with agriculture, justice, labor, public safety (includes police), public health, and transportation. • These appointments usually require senate approval. • These officials can usually be removed/replaced by the governor. • Power to supervise state employees. • Overall, the 50 states employ more than 4.7 million people. • Some are hired through patronage, which is when jobs are given to people recommended by political party leaders.
Patronage • LIST and DESCRIBE two issues that could arise from state jobs being filled through patronage.
Chief Legislator • The governor proposes knew laws. • He or she appears before the legislature and outlines the laws they believe should be passed. • He may also submit legislation that he or she wants passed. • He urges leaders of the legislature to vote the way he wants on specific bills. • The governor also has the power to veto legislation.
Political Party Leader • The governor is the head of his or her political party in that state. • Members of that political party often model their opinions and policies after the governors. • The governor can help them during their campaigns for re-election.
Other State Executive Officials • Lieutenant Governor: • He or she takes over if the governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office. • Often serves as the head of the state senate. • He or she may belong to a different political party than the governor. • Secretary of State: • He or she keeps state records and carries out election laws. • Attorney General: • He or she is in charge of the states legal business. • Represents the state when they are involved in lawsuits. • Provides state officials with advice about the meaning of laws and may help prosecute criminals.
Other State Executive Officials • State Treasurer: • In some states this official is in charge of handling all state funds. • Such as the collection of taxes and paying the bills. • State Auditor: • He or she ensures that no public funds from the state treasury are used without authorization. • This official regularly examines the state’s financial records to make sure they are correct • Superintendent of Public Instruction: • He or she carries out the policies of the state board of education. • The superintendent distributes state funds to local school systems.
State Courts Chapter Eight, Section Four
State Court Cases • Each state has its own penal code, which is a set of criminal laws. • State courts hear both civil and criminal cases.
State Court System • This is similar to the federal judicial branch. • Trial Courts • Lower Courts hear small criminal and civil cases. • There is no jury. • Many states have municipal courts, which handle specific types of cases. • Ex. Traffic or family court. • Many states have small-claims courts • Thee hear cases involving less than $5,000. • General trail courts handle big criminal and civil cases. • They have juries.
State Court System • Appeals Courts • Possess appellate jurisdiction. • Do not have juries. • State Supreme Court • Possess appellate jurisdiction. • On the state level, dealing with state laws their decisions are final.
Selection of State Judges • How judges are selected varies from state to state. • In some they are voted in by the people and in orders appointed by the governor. • The length of the terms vary and they are usually required to be voted back in by their constituents. • They can be impeached or recalled.
Election of Judges • Give TWO reasons supporting the election of judges and TWO reasons opposing the election of judges.