1. The Executive Branch of State Government

2. The Governor The governor is the Chief Executive Officer of the state.
Our current governor is Nathan Deal (Rep).

3. The Governor’s Term
The governor is elected by a majority of the popular vote for a 4 year term.
The Georgia constitution allows governors to serve 2 consecutive terms.
Is it possible for a person to serve as governor for eight years?
YES!
After a second term, an individual must wait four more years before being able to run again.

4. Qualifications to be Governor
At least 30 years old
U.S. Citizen for at least 15 years
Resident of Georgia for at least 6 years
Who was Georgia’s youngest governor? Richard B. Russell (age 33)

5. What happens if the governor dies/resigns?
The Lieutenant Governor becomes acting governor until the next general election for members of the General Assembly
If the governor AND the lieutenant governor die/resign the Speaker of the House becomes acting governor until the next general election of the General Assembly

6. Formal Powers of the Governor
Formal powers are powers the constitution gives to the governor
They include executive, legislative and judicial powers.

7. Formal Powers of the Governor
Makes annual “State of the State” address to the legislature
Serves as Commander-in-Chief of the Georgia National Guard
Heads the state’s civil defense units
Sends the Georgia Highway Patrol and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in times of danger
Carries out the laws of the state
Appoints people to committee and positions
Reviews and creates the state budget
Proposes new laws
Signs bills into laws
Vetoes laws

8. Informal Powers of the Governor
Informal powers are powers that are not written, but the governor can do.
Some are the result of custom and tradition
Others are necessary to enforce the formal powers

9. Informal Powers of the Governor
Issues proclamations to honor individuals, holidays or special events
Appears at special events
Participates on special state committees
Appoints individuals to boards and executive offices
Communicates to the public personal position on issues
Acts as honorary head of his/her political party
Represents Georgia in meetings with other state and federal officials and foreign dignitaries
Works with members of the legislature (General Assembly) to get laws passed
Guides state agencies

10. The Lieutenant Governor
Our current Lieutenant Governor is Casey Cagle (Rep).

11. The Lt. Governor’s Term
The governor is elected by a majority of the popular vote for a 4 year term.
Unlike the governor, the lieutenant governor can serve an unlimited number of consecutive terms.
Is it possible for a person to serve as lieutenant governor for 16 years?

12. Yes! Zell Miller did!
Zell Miller was the longest serving Lt. Governor in Ga history
He served from
16 years – 4 terms!

13. Qualifications to be Lt. Governor (same as governor)
At least 30 years old
U.S. Citizen for at least 15 years
Resident for Georgia for at least 6 years

14. They do not run on a ticket system/running mates of governor
How are Georgia Lt. Governors different from a candidate for vice president of the U.S.?
They do not run on a ticket system/running mates of governor
They run independently
Therefore, the state’s two highest elected officials may be from different political parties and view each other as political opponents
Has this ever happened before?

15. Yes!! In 2002…
November 2002, when Republican Sonny Perdue won election as governor and Democrat Mark Taylor won reelection as lieutenant governor.
Given that the lieutenant governor is in the unique position of being a member of both the executive and legislative branches, one who does not have a compatible working relationship with a governor would be well placed to impede a governor's legislative agenda.

16. Role of the Lt. Governor
Becomes acting governor if current governor dies/resigns
Serves as the chief executive officer when the governor is out
Presiding officer of the state senate
Makes senate committee appointments
Assigns senate bills to committees
Recognizes members of the senate who wish to speak
Because of these powers, the lieutenant governor may affect the passage or failure of some bills.

17. Georgia’s Other Elected Officials
This reviews the Executive Branch Chart/worksheet
Attorney General (4 year terms)
Chief legal officer of the state
Commissioner of Agriculture (4 yrs)
Directs agricultural programs, maintains state farmers’ markets, supervises inspections, expands market
Commissioner of Insurance (4 yrs)
regulates insurance carriers and issues insurance licenses

18. Georgia’s Other Elected Officials
Commissioner of Labor (4 yrs)
Regulates the health and safety of workers, enforces labor laws, administers unemployment insurance programs, maintains data on labor
Public Service Commissioners (6 yrs)
Regulates utilities, controls rates/services of transportation, telephone and electric companies
Secretary of State (4 yrs)
Keeps state’s official records, publishes laws passed by legislature, supervises elections, appoints examining boards
State School Superintendant (4 yrs)
Directs statewide educational programs, enforces education regulations, administers education funds, certifies and licenses teachers, approve textbooks

19. Appointed Official, Boards and Commissions
A statutory official – position is not provided for in constitution. Their jobs are called for by a statute (law).
Statutory officials are NOT elected.
They are appointed by the governor or head or directing boards of the dept in which they serve
In addition, there are over 30 major agencies in our government that were created by constitution or statute – Members are appointed

20. Are there more elected officials or appointed officials in Georgia’s Executive Branch?
What does that mean about the governor’s power/influence?
He/She has a lot of power/influence in the Executive Branch
In which departments would Georgia voters most likely be able to make a change?
In departments with Elected Commissioners