Gubernatorial Powers
As the chief executive of his or her state, the governor has many responsibilities and duties. Like the president, he has enumerated, constitutional, and symbolic powers. Some states are said to have strong governors, meaning that the office holds many enumerated powers. The strongest governor of the nation is the governor of New Jersey, who has the ability to appoint cabinet positions (including the state attorney general) as well as state supreme court justices. Conversely, the Texas governor has almost no constitutional powers, and is considered the weakest of the fifty governors. The governor's powers can be divided into three primary categories: executive, legislative, and leadership.
Executive Powers
In most states, the greater part of the governor's authority stems from the executive powers outlined in the state constitution. This includes everything from declaring a state of emergency (due to natural disaster, civil unrest, or other unforeseen situations) to calling up the National Guard. Just as the president is the commander in chief of the U.S. military, the governor is the commander in chief of his state's National Guard. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, many governors called up the National Guard to help protect their airports, ports, and other public areas.
After leaving office, some governors return to their previous professions, while others seek other elected office. Many take teaching positions at their state universities. Arkansas governor Orville Faubus — a virulent segregationist — had something of a nervous breakdown after leaving office, and wound up taking a job as a bank teller to make ends meet. One former West Virginia governor turned up as a taxi driver in Chicago.
The governor's most important role as chief executive is drafting an annual state budget. At the beginning of each year, the governor submits a budget to the state legislature outlining spending and policy priorities for the year, as well as any tax hikes or cuts. The governor and the state legislature then negotiate back and forth on spending levels and programs until the two branches reach a compromise.
Many states, including New York, California, and New Jersey, have mandatory deadlines for when a budget must be passed. If the governor and the leadership of the state legislature are from the same party, meeting this deadline is rarely a problem. During times of divided government, however, the process can become acrimonious and protracted. In New York, the budget deadline is rarely met.
Legislative Role
Like the president, the governor also has the ability to influence and shape the legislative process. As the highest elected statewide officeholder, the governor can be viewed as a representative of the entire state. As such, most governors — particularly during their first term in office — propose ambitious legislative agendas. Governors will typically travel around the state and meet with community groups, business leaders, and local officials in order to drum up support for their agendas. Upon narrowly defeating incumbent Jim Florio in 1993, New Jersey governor Christine Todd Whitman stumped vigorously for her tax cut plan — the centerpiece of her campaign — and narrowly won passage in the state legislature.
Once a year, the governor lays out his or her agenda in the State of the State address, a speech given before a joint session of the legislature. Like the president's State of the Union address, the State of the State is the one opportunity for the governor to provide a vision and a cohesive plan for the future. In every state except North Carolina, the governor has the ability to veto legislation passed by the state legislature. Just like the presidential veto, the threat of a gubernatorial veto is sometimes more powerful than the veto itself.
Leadership
Part of the governor's power is derived from his or her ability to lead. No other state officeholder can attract media attention, influence national lawmakers, galvanize the public, and shape the national party like the governor.
Governor Pete Wilson of California dispatched 4,000 National Guard troops in the streets of Los Angeles after rioting broke out following the acquittal of four police officers charged with beating Rodney King. More than fifty people were killed and $1 billion in property damage was incurred before the guardsmen restored civil order.
During the 2000 presidential campaign, moderate northeastern Republican governors including George Pataki, Christine Todd Whitman, and Tom Ridge were credited with keeping presidential candidate George W. Bush focused on moderate and independent voters.
Some governors use the “bully pulpit” of the statehouse to build support for unpopular or controversial policies. In 2000, Illinois Republican governor George Ryan put a moratorium on all death-row executions after it was learned that a few convictions were tainted by questionable evidence. The move initially angered many voters, but after intense public lobbying he was applauded for the decision.
