The Governor Duties and Powers Submits the budget (with help from Department of Finance) Budget must be balanced Budget requires an absolute 2/3 legislative vote Appoints personal staff and others (about 5,000 appointments) Issues executive orders May line item veto (leg. override requires 2/3 in both houses) Participates in reapportionment and redistricting Represents a larger “general interest” May call special sessions of the legislature

The Governor Duties and Powers (Continued) Appoints judges to State Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal May grant clemency (pardon, commute, reprieve) Commander and Chief of the National Guard Chief of State to foreign dignitaries, Presidents, etc. Oversees state bureaucracy (275,000 workers)

The Governor Competing for Power Unlike the President, the Governor shares executive power with 7 separately elected officials. Their duties are largely administrative. Lieutenant Governor serves as acting governor when the governor leaves the state. Attorney General oversees the state’s Department of Justice, represents the state in lawsuits, makes decisions that are binding until replaced by court decision

The Governor Competing for Power Secretary of State (Bill Jones-R) supervises elections (e.g. campaign finance spending) and keeps state records (e.g. chartering corporations, international business) Controller (Kathleen Connell) supervises state and local tax collection and issues state checks Treasurer (Phil Angelides) invests state monies Insurance Commissioner (Henry Low) regulates the insurance industry

The Governor Competing for Power Superintendent of Public Instruction (Delaine Eastin) Head, Department of Education nonpartisan election Board of Equalization (5 members) ensures that property assessments are equal across counties; oversees collection of excise taxes (liquor, gasoline, etc.) Fragmented authority Limited to 2 terms in office