Governor of California

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Governor of California
Governor's Seal
Governor's Seal
Standard of the governor
Standard of the governor
Governor Gavin Newsom
Acting Governor
Gavin Newsom
since January 7, 2019
Official seat Governor's Mansion in Sacramento
Office: California State Capitol , Sacramento
Term of office 4 years
(one re-election possible)
Creation of office December 20, 1849
Last choice November 6, 2018
Next choice November 8, 2022
Salutation The Honorable (formal)
Governor (informal)
Deputy Lieutenant Governor of California
(currently Eleni Kounalakis )
website www.gov.ca.gov

The governor of California ( english The Governor of California ) is State - and Prime Minister of the State of California and the highest representative of the most populous state of the United States . He is also Commander in Chief of the California National and State Guard . The governor is entrusted with the management of the affairs of state in California and also has representative duties. He plays a central role in the federal legislative process and is responsible for filling important state offices. Due to the size and economic strength of California, the incumbent is always one of the most famous public figures in the United States.

The governor is elected by the citizens of California every four years. Because the California Constitution limits a person's maximum term of office to two terms, they can only be re-elected once. The current incumbent and 40th governor has been the Democrat Gavin Newsom since January 7, 2019 . He replaced Jerry Brown , who held the governorship from 1975 to 1983 for two terms. However, since the term limit only came into effect after a referendum in 1990, Brown was not affected. Therefore, he was confirmed on November 4, 2014 for a further term beginning on January 5, 2015. In the next election on November 6, 2018, Governor Brown was excluded from running for further candidacy and was replaced by his previous deputy, Gavin Newsom.

History and position in the federal system

Colton Hall in Monterey , 1849/50 location of the Constituent Assembly

After the area of ​​today's state of California, an area of ​​around 423,000 square kilometers, fell to the United States as a result of the Mexican-American War from 1846 to 1848 , it was initially under the administration of the federal government in Washington. The US president had to appoint a military governor , which was the first time in December 1849. In September 1850, as part of the compromise of 1850, California became a fully fledged state in the United States. This gave California the sovereignty of a state. The governor was no longer responsible to the national government. Before that, a constituent assembly was held to draft the state constitution.

With federalism in the United States , all government powers are strictly divided between the federal government in Washington and the states. The President and Congress are only responsible for those matters that are explicitly assigned to them by the US Constitution . All other competencies fall to the individual states. These are more extensive than those of the German federal states (although in Germany there is not such a clear separation of the competences of the federal government and the federal states). As a result, all states in the USA have their own political systems, which are, however, mostly very similar. The governor and the other constitutional organs of the state such as the legislature are therefore not subordinate to the national government in Washington. The governor is the head of the California executive branch , which is responsible for the independent execution of state law, while federal law is executed by its institution. Due to this pronounced separation of competencies, cooperation between the federal government and the federal states is rare. Since the political structure of the individual states, apart from individual differences, is similar to the national system, the office of governor at the state level corresponds to the office of the president at the federal level.

Duties and powers

The California State Capitol in Sacramento , where the governor has his office
Entrance to the governor's office

The governorship corresponds to that of a head of state at the sub-national level. As the highest representative of the state, the governor represents the state of California internally and externally.

Relationship with the legislature

Working with the State Legislature

Since both the governor and the members of the California State Legislature , which consists of the State Assembly with 80 members and the State Senate with 40 Senators and which in fact represents the California Parliament, come into office through direct elections with their own legitimacy , both are independent of one another. This is also evident from the fact that, unlike in the parliamentary system of government, the governor cannot be removed by the legislature by means of a vote of no confidence . The governor is also not allowed to be a member of the legislature or exercise any other political mandate (for example at the local level or in the US Congress). The governor also does not attend sessions of parliament. Based on the State of the Union Address of the President, the Governor is obliged by the California Constitution to address Parliament, the so-called State of the State Address . At these high-profile addresses, which take place earlier this year, the governor will report on the general situation in California. He can also use his speech to try to influence the MPs in the legislative process. Furthermore, the governor can send messages to the MPs at any time in writing or in person at a special session. Therefore, the respective office holder always has the right to convene a special session of the legislature. In general, it is of central importance for the governor to convince the elected representatives in the State Legislature of his legislative program, since the factional discipline practiced in many European states is not common in the USA. Therefore, membership in the party that has the majority of seats does not necessarily have to be an advantage for the governor. If the governor belongs to a different party than the majority in one or both chambers of parliament, one speaks of a divided government . In this case, both sides will need to work together to achieve the policy objectives. A divided government has occurred several times in California's history, most recently from 2003 to 2011 when Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger held the governorship while the Democratic Party ruled the State Assembly and the State Senate. If the governor's party also holds the majority of the mandates in the state legislature, one speaks of unified government , a united government. This has been the case since 2011, as both Governor Gavin Newsom and the majority of the members of both legislative chambers belong to the Democratic Party.

In addition to the below-described Recall by citizens a governor can only by impeachment , the so-called impeachment be discontinued prematurely from the State Legislature. Unlawful acts by the governor such as corruption are the basis for such official charges . A dismissal for political reasons is not possible by the parliament. The procedure can be initiated by the State Assembly with a simple majority, after which the State Senate can declare the governor forfeited with a two-thirds majority. The impeachment, which is in principle possible for every federal electorate, only results in suspension from office. A criminal prosecution is only possible by the judicial authorities, a conviction can only be pronounced by a competent court. In California's history, however, no governor has been removed from office by the state legislature.

Role in the legislative process and in the state budget

The then governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at the public signing of a law (2009)
Governor Davis signs the state budget in his office (2000)

The governor plays a central role in the state's legislative process. If a bill is passed by both houses of the California State Legislature , the bill must be submitted to the governor. The head of government has three options at this point: If approved, he can sign the bill, which concludes the legislative process. The law comes into force either immediately or on the date specified in terms of content. If the governor does not sign the draft law and does not object, the bill will also become legally binding after twelve days (excluding Sundays). The third option allows the governor to object, i.e. a veto , against a bill. The head of government sends the law back to the Chamber of Parliament, in which the bill was first introduced, with a written justification for his veto. Like the governors of most other US states, the California governor has the option to reject only certain passages of a law, which is known as a line-item veto . For example, the US President does not have this right at the federal level. He is limited to accepting or rejecting a proposal in full. As in most other states and at the federal level, a governor's veto can be overruled by two-thirds of both chambers of the legislature. This means that a law comes into force even without the approval of the governor. The fact that a two-thirds majority to reject a veto is achieved in both houses of the State Legislature, however, is more the exception than the rule. Once a draft becomes law, with or without a signature of the governor, he is the Minister of State ( Secretary of State ) published in the Official Gazette of the State.

California's governor also plays a key role in approving the state budget . The Political Science speaks of an Executive Budget . Ministries and other agencies have no way of submitting a budget to the state legislature, which has to pass the budget. Their role is limited to an advisory role to the governor, who then submits a twelve-month general budget to the parliamentarians. Since the distribution of state funds is a central control element of government work, the head of government has a strong influence on the distribution of tasks among state institutions. The governor can exert far more influence over the budget via the line item veto, as it allows him to delete individual passages without vetoing the entire budget. Associated with this is the lowering of approved funds, which is known as the reduction veto . As with a regular objection, the legislature can only reject the line item veto with a two-thirds majority in both chambers. However, it is rare for these majorities to come about.

Further executive powers and duties

Governor Jerry Brown with Goodwin Liu , whom he in September 2011 a judge of the Supreme Court of California had appointed

As head of the executive branch , the governor determines the guidelines for politics in the US west coast state. He has no cabinet in the narrower sense, but there are executive offices, such as the Secretary of State or the Attorney General, as well as other heads of authorities, which roughly correspond to a minister . Some of these posts are also elected by the citizens (like the examples mentioned), but are subordinate to the governor. Others, such as the Agriculture Commissioner , who is equivalent to a minister of agriculture, or the California Director of Industrial Relations (responsible for business and industry) are appointed by the governor with the approval of the state senate. The appointed officers within the executive can be recalled by the governor at any time without the consent of the Senate. If a vacancy occurs in the elected executive offices, since there is no by-election, a new officer is appointed by the governor with the approval of the state legislature for the remainder of the term of office. For example, the current Attorney General Xavier Becerra was appointed by Governor Brown to succeed the resigned Kamala Harris in early 2017 after she moved to the US Senate.

A separate staff acts as advisors and assistants, and the governor has a free hand in filling it. It is also common to have a chief of staff to whom the governor can delegate tasks. Since the governor within the federal executive authority has final, it can also decrees , known as executive orders enacted. These are particularly important for the authorities subordinate to it. Often they are to be understood as work instructions for these authorities and thus an important control element of government business. It should be noted, however, that an executive order can not create a new right in the sense of the law, but rather refers to existing law.

In addition, the governor has the sole right of pardon in the state of California, which includes all violations of the law that fall within the jurisdiction of the state. This particularly includes a large part of criminal law . With a pardon, the governor can either cancel or soften punishments. Although the head of government can formally decide on pardons at his own discretion, he is advised by a commission of experts. In the case of crimes with particularly high media impact, a pardon or its rejection by the governor is widely received by the public.

The governor also appoints judges in the California Supreme Court and in the state's district courts . The appointment lasts for twelve years, but must be confirmed by the citizens at the next election. Here, too, the governor is advised by a commission. The governor also has the power to appoint numerous other high official positions in the state, but these must be confirmed by the state senate. If this does not take place, vacant offices can also be temporarily filled by the governor without a vote in the Senate. However, if the parliamentary chamber meets again, the corresponding votes must be made up. Like most other governors in the United States, California’s head of government also has the power to temporarily appoint a new incumbent for those US senators who have left office .

The so-called gubernatorial proclamations are similar to the executive order . These proclamations have a more symbolic character, such as the proclamation of days of remembrance.

Like other high-ranking politicians, the Governor of California is entrusted with representative duties. This means that it represents the state of California internally, as well as towards the rest of the USA or foreign powers. This can be, for example, the inauguration of buildings or traffic routes. Public speeches by the governor on various topics are also common. The governor occasionally visits other US states or overseas. These are more informal visits (for example, talks in the economic field), since the US states do not have their own foreign policy .

Commander in Chief of the National and State Guard

National Guardsmen during the Watts Riots in 1965

The governor has command and control over all militia forces in the state. It is thus, like the other governors in their respective states, Commander ( Commander-in-Chief ) of the National Guard and the State Defense Force . He can use these to combat natural disasters or, under his responsibility for the internal security of California, give the order to restore public order, for example if local law enforcement officers no longer have the situation under control. Such missions have occurred several times in the history of California and other states. A well-known example of the use of the National Guard are the race riots in Watts , a district of Los Angeles , in August 1965 by order of Governor Pat Brown. The National Guard has also been used by governors to end strikes, for example in the summer of 1934 when Frank Merriam used the militia against striking dock workers, which resulted in several deaths. With a use of the National Guard or state governor usually proclaimed the state of emergency ( state of emergency ) to the affected area. This is particularly true in the event of natural disasters such as the forest fires that regularly occur in California. The power of command over the National Guard (but not the State Guard) is transferred to the US President if they are used for the federal government. At the end of a federal deployment, the authority goes back to the governor. Such cases, however, occur very rarely because the national government maintains its own armed forces and their area of ​​responsibility differs significantly from that of the national guards.

Election and term of office

Primaries

For the primaries (primary election) , which always take place on the Tuesday after the first Monday in June of the election year, which was introduced in 2012 by referendum new electoral law. The area code is based on the so-called nonpartisan blanket primary system. With this system, all applicants for the governorship, regardless of party affiliation, can vote in a single area code and no longer separately by party. For the actual election, the two applicants with the most votes from the primary then compete against each other. This electoral mode was first used on June 3, 2014, and the primaries for all other political offices in California were also held according to this principle. Prior to 2014, primaries were held separately by party. The candidate with the most votes from the respective primary was nominated for a party. In addition, there were often numerous non-party candidates in the main election. Since, with the new legal situation, only the two most successful applicants from the primary are actually up for election, it is no longer possible to vote to third-party candidates. This automatically leads to the election winner gaining an absolute majority . Since the modified electoral system is independent of party affiliation, it would theoretically also be possible for two candidates from the same party to meet in a main election. Primary elections based on the principle of the nonpartisan blanket primary are practiced in California as well as in Louisiana and Washington .

Electoral process and the right to stand

Ronald Reagan celebrates his victory in the 1966 gubernatorial election

The governor is elected every four years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The date for the polls always falls between November 2nd and 8th. The election is made directly by the people, so one speaks of a direct election . Elections to other executive government offices in California, the State Legislature and Congress are held in parallel . Since Congress is a mid-term election , no presidential election will be held. These therefore always take place in the middle of the term of office of the California governor, who in turn is elected in the middle of a presidential term. Election years are for example 2010, 2014 and 2018.

The candidate with the most votes automatically emerges as the winner of the election. As in almost all other states, an absolute majority of the votes is not provided for the election to governor. It has therefore happened several times in history that governors were elected with less than 50 percent of the vote. This was always the case when candidates from smaller parties or independent applicants achieved larger shares of the vote and the choice between candidates from the two large parties was tight. However, the pre-election system introduced in 2012, in which only the two applicants with the most votes can run for the main election, automatically results in an absolute majority of the votes for the winner.

All citizens of the state of California over the age of eighteen are eligible to vote. The right to stand for election , i.e. the right to be elected governor, is granted to every adult with American citizenship who has lived in California for at least five years. However, American citizenship is not required from birth. This means that immigrants who make up a substantial proportion of the California population can also take on this office. From 2003 to 2011, for example, the native Austrian Arnold Schwarzenegger was governor. Unlike in many US states, the California suffrage does not stipulate a minimum age (e.g. 25, 30 or 35 years) in order to be eligible. In fact, no governor has been under 30 years of age.

Term of office

Great media rush at Arnold Schwarzenegger's inauguration in 2003

According to the California Constitution, the governor's new term begins on the Monday following January 1st following the election. So there are around two months between the election and the swearing-in. The previous head of government remains in office from the moment of the polls until the handover. During this approximately two-month period, the election winner is also referred to as the governor-elect ("elected governor"). However, it is an informal designation, since an elected but not yet sworn governor has no constitutional significance as a public official. The duties and powers do not pass to the election winner until they are sworn in. A re-elected incumbent is not called a governor-elect .

On the day of inauguration, which falls between January 2 and 8, the new or re-elected incumbent takes the oath. This must be obtained by a state judicial officer. Usually it is the presiding judge of the State Court of Justice (Chief Justice) . Several thousand guests always appear at the inauguration, the gubernatorial inauguration , at the State Capitol in Sacramento. After taking the oath, the governor usually gives a speech in which he sets out the main lines of his government policy. This will be followed by a public ball . The inauguration ceremony is always well received by the media. The oath of office to be taken, as set out in the California Constitution, is:

“I [Name] do solemnly swear [or affirm] that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. "
“I [name] solemnly swear [or pledge] that I will preserve the United States Constitution and the State of California and defend them against all enemies, both outside and inside; that I will follow her in good faith and with loyalty; that I undertake this duty voluntarily, without any secret reservation or the intention to evade it, and that I will carry out the duties of the office that I am assuming well and faithfully. "

This is the oath used by most of the US public officials. In other states, the name of the state is changed accordingly; for offices at the federal level, the state constitutions are not mentioned. Some governors added the religious affirmation “So help me god” at the end. The state constitution does not provide for this due to the separation of church and state .

The governor's single term of office is four years. Re-election has only been permitted once since a referendum in 1990. However, a second electoral term does not necessarily have to follow the first. The California constitution only states that no person can serve more than two terms as governor. The limitation to two electoral terms applies for life. In a number of states, the governor may only serve no more than two terms in a row. Except for Jerry Brown, there was no governor whose terms were not consecutive. Term limits in California also apply to the other electoral offices of the executive branch and members of the state legislature. Before the referendum, there was no limit to the terms of office. Nevertheless, after Jerry Brown, only Earl Warren served for more than eight years, namely from 1943 to 1953. In October 1953, after a little more than half of his third term, he resigned to become federal judge . In 1966, Pat Brown's candidacy for a third term was unsuccessful because he was defeated in the gubernatorial election by his challenger, later US President Ronald Reagan .

From 1849 to 1863, the governor's tenure was only two years, like most other states in the United States at the time. It was then extended to four years. From 1880 to 1883 there was a three-year term of office, which is unique in California history. The purpose of the one-time three-year electoral term was to adapt to other states and the mid-term elections to Congress . This was intended to put the governor, other state offices, and Congress at the same ballot to increase turnout . Compared to other states, California extended its governor's term of office from two to four years relatively early. New York, for example, did not do this until 1938, and Texas only in 1972.

Recall

Deposed Governor Gray Davis (right) and his elected successor Arnold Schwarzenegger (left) with
George W. Bush in November 2003

California is one of the 18 US states that allow a recall against the governor. A recall enables voters to remove the governor before the end of his term. Otherwise, this is only possible through the legislature in the event of legal misconduct by means of impeachment . In order to be able to start a recall, twelve percent of the eligible population must agree. This is done using signature lists. If there is a sufficient number of supporters, the entire electorate can vote on the whereabouts of the incumbent and a successor. If a majority is in favor of removal, the candidate who received the most votes is automatically elected as the new governor. He takes up the post of governor after one month. However, he only ends the current term of office and is not elected for a full four years. This means that the regular gubernatorial election cycle is always maintained.

In 2003 the first successful recall against a governor, namely Gray Davis , took place. Davis was deposed by California voters less than a year after his successful re-election in November 2002. Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected as his successor and took over the business of government a month after the polls were held. After North Dakota in 1921, this was only the second successful recall attempt in the United States. The first (unsuccessful) recall attempt against a California governor was made in 1968 during Ronald Reagan's tenure . There had been a total of 48 recall attempts since its introduction in California in 1913, but all of them were unsuccessful.

Succession planning

The Californian
Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis

Since the early election of the governor is only possible by the California constitution within the framework of a recall , the premature loss of the incumbent, which may arise for other reasons, was regulated by law. If the governor dies in office, resigns or is removed from office by the state legislature for legal misconduct, the lieutenant governor automatically becomes the new governor for the remainder of the term. The lieutenant governor becomes the new governor and does not only exercise the office in an executive role. In addition to the Vice-Governor, there is a succession procedure established by law, which provides for further office holders such as the chairmen of the two chambers of parliament, the Secretary of State , the Attorney General and the State Treasurer . Unlike the lieutenant governor, they can only advance to the position of acting governor . However, since the governor can appoint a new lieutenant governor with the consent of both houses of the state legislature, it is very unlikely that anyone other than the lieutenant governor will replace a prematurely divorced governor.

Since the vice governor in California, unlike most other states, is elected separately and not on a so-called ticket (such as the president and vice president of the USA), a different party affiliation can result. For example, under Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, there were three vice-governors, two of whom were Democrats. Only Abel Maldonado , Arnold Schwarzenegger's deputy in the final months of his reign, was also a member of the Republican Party. He was not elected, but appointed by Schwarzenegger with the approval of the state legislature. In the next regular election in November 2010, Maldonado was defeated by the current Democratic Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom . However, the practice of electing governor and lieutenant governor separately has already been the subject of public debate and criticism. The choice of candidates for the two offices as a duo is required. In this election process, the nominee for governor-elect chooses his running mate himself, while the candidate for the post of governor has virtually no influence on the election of his deputy in the case of separate votes.

In addition to the succession plan, the California Constitution provides that the lieutenant governor becomes executive governor when the governor is outside the state. This has also been discussed controversially, as an executive governor has the same powers as a full office holder. It is therefore only a purely technical distinction. However, if a lieutenant governor is in office due to the incumbent's abstinence, there is a so-called (informal) gentleman's agreement that the lieutenant governor only carries out the most urgent tasks and does not make any fundamental political decisions.

Rewards and privileges

Governor's Mansion in Sacramento
Dining Room in the Governor's Mansion , where social events often take place with the Governor

The annual salary of the governor of California is just under $ 174,000  . This ranks him in 7th place of the best paid heads of government in the US states. However, the salary of the New York governor who receives the highest pay is only slightly higher at $ 179,000. The governor and his family are also entitled to personal protection , which is provided by the California State Police .

The Governor's Mansion in Sacramento is the official residence of the Governor . The building was completed in 1877 and was inhabited by every governor until Jerry Brown took office for the first time in 1975. However, during his first tenure as governor, Brown waived this privilege and stayed in his private apartment. His successors did not officially move into the building either, but used it more for ceremonial occasions. In December 2015, during his second tenure as governor, Brown moved back into the Governor's Mansion . Today the site is part of a state park . Guided tours of the building have also been offered regularly since the 1970s. There are still social events with the governor taking place there.

The governor's office is located in the California State Capitol , Sacramento. There he has his own staff and a public relations department. For the 2012–13 fiscal year, the budget of the governor's office, the Executive Office of the Governor , was $ 12,660,000.

Like his colleagues in other states, the Governor of California wears national emblems . The governor has his own seal, which consists of the inscription Seal of the Governor of the State of California (" Seal of the Governor of the State of California ") with the flag of the state in the middle. The seal is used in particular for public appearances such as press conferences; for example, it is often attached to the front of the lectern where the governor is standing. In addition to the seal, the governor also has his own standard . It's a four-star blue flag with the seal of the State of California in the middle.

Evaluation of the office

Since California is governed by the presidential system , the post of governor corresponds to that of the head of state; at national level that of the President. The positions of the US President and the California governor are quite comparable in the political system , despite their different responsibilities (national and state politics are much more restrictively separated in the US than, for example, in Germany; see federalism in the United States ) . Both have extensive executive powers, such as a right of veto in the legislative process. In some places the powers of attorney differ, for example the president has his own cabinet , the members of which he appoints himself; on the other hand, with the line item veto , the California governor has more influence on the passing of laws. These differences between the president and the governors of all states are due to the different forms of the respective constitutions . However, they exist in more detail, because the presidential system of government (choice of the head of state, executive powers, etc.) is found in the United States in the federal state as well as in all states.

Although the post of governor in Germany can best be compared to that of a prime minister , he has a stronger position in the political system. Unlike a Prime Minister, he comes into office by direct election - therefore has its own legitimacy by the voters - and is also not responsible to the legislature , although much more can be achieved politically through cooperation between the two. A key difference is shown by the fact that Prime Ministers can be voted out of office by the respective Landtag , while the Governor, apart from recall, can only be withdrawn in the event of legal misconduct before the end of the election period. Both the governor through his direct election and the parliamentarians through the lack of group discipline are less party-bound than in a parliamentary system. In any case, the voting decisions of US citizens are usually more personal than party-related. This can be seen in the example of the actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was twice elected governor as a Republican, although California has turned significantly more to the Democrats in recent years and the state legislature has also been controlled by Democrats.

With his right of veto, in particular the line item veto and the associated influence on the state budget, the governor, as an individual official, has far more influence on legislation than the prime minister of a German state. In the parliamentary system of government, a Prime Minister usually has a majority of MPs behind him, but must take into account the majority and, if necessary, coalition interests . None of this is necessarily the case with the governor. The governor can work with different MPs on a topic-specific basis. Since the US states have more legislative competences, and these are more strictly separated from those of the federal government, the government of a state has more influence on the individual political issues. As examples, among other things you will penalty the - things - that Society - that choice - and much of the labor law be mentioned in the US - unlike in Germany - fall within the jurisdiction of the states. The other executive powers are more extensive than those of a Prime Minister. For example, the power of grace affects almost all criminal law, which in the United States is, with a few exceptions, a matter for the states.

Statistical

Terms of office

Earl Warren , governor from 1943 to 1953, has the second longest term in California and the longest uninterrupted
  • Jerry Brown held the office longest to date (1975 to 1983 and 2011 to 2019). He overtook Earl Warren , who ran the business from 1943 to 1953. However, Warren remains the governor with the longest uninterrupted term in office.
  • Milton Latham only served as governor from January 5-14, 1861, the shortest term. He resigned nine days after being elected to the U.S. Senate .
  • So far, seven lieutenant governors have moved up without election to governor due to the premature failure of the incumbent; last after Earl Warren's resignation in 1953, when his deputy Goodwin Knight became governor. Three of the junior lieutenant governors were re-elected after the end of the term they were due to end. These were the three successor governors in the 20th century, while none of the four followers succeeded in re-election in the 19th century.
  • Two governors have died in office: Washington Bartlett in 1887 and James Rolph in 1934. Both died of natural causes.
  • From the founding of the state until the 1930s, only a few governors were successful in re-election. From 1850 to 1934, 27 people held the governorship, but only five were confirmed in office. From 1853 to 1914, no governor at all was confirmed in office (some of them were not nominated for re-election by their party, which has since become unusual). There have been twelve other governors since 1934, ten of whom were re-elected at least once. If you factor in Gray Davis' recall in 2003, only four heads of government have been voted out of office since 1934.

Age

John Neely Johnson , youngest governor to take office and the only one in the know-nothing party
  • The youngest governor was John Neely Johnson , head of government from 1856 to 1858, when he took office at age 30. At 72, when he was sworn in in 2011, Jerry Brown was the oldest incumbent. When Brown first took over the governorship in 1975, he was one of the youngest governors at 36.
  • Ronald Reagan reached the highest age of all governors at 93 years. The youngest official, John Neely Johnson, also had the shortest lifespan, as he passed away at the age of 47.
  • California's first governor, Peter Burnett , enjoyed the longest retirement, 44 years. He left office in 1851 and died in 1895.
  • Robert Waterman had, apart from the governors who died in office, the shortest lifetime after the end of his term of office. He died in April 1891, three months after leaving the Governor's Mansion .

Party affiliation

Hiram Johnson , governor from 1911 to 1917, was the only head of government appointed by the Progressive Party

California already had 22 Republican Party governors at its head, while the Democratic Party only has 17 incumbents. The Know-Nothing Party (John Neely Johnson) and the Progressive Party ( Hiram Johnson ), two short-lived parties, the latter also being a member of the Republicans, each provided a governor . A democratic dominance in the first three decades since the founding of the state was followed by a long period of time in which the Republicans predominantly provided the governor. This development was in line with the national trend. For example, there was a Republican head of government in California between 1899 and 1939. Culbert Olson's one term (1939 to 1943) was not followed by a Democrat again until Pat Brown took office in 1959. Until the 1980s, California was more of a Republican affair. Nationally important Republican politicians in the 20th century such as Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan also came from California. Reagan was elected US president six years after his tenure as governor, making him the only California governor to have so far. Two years after his failed presidential candidacy, Nixon ran unsuccessfully for the highest office in California in 1962, six years before his election to the White House . The past few decades have seen a preponderance of Republican governors, although California has leaned more towards the Democratic Party at both state and national levels since the early 1990s. This is due on the one hand to the growing number of Latinos and on the other hand to the increasing urbanization. Because both residents of larger cities and the Hispanic population tend towards the politically more left-wing Democrats. Because of this, however, Republican governors over the past three decades have been viewed as less conservative than officials from more rural states. Political scientists attribute the success of many Republican candidates over the past few decades, while the Democrats predominated in the state legislature , to a very personalized election in California; For a long time, California has chosen people rather than parties. In 2018, the situation arose seriously that the candidates for the Democrats could win three elections in a row and thus the governorship would be occupied by a Democrat for more than eight years.

Others

Romualdo Pacheco , the only Latino to date to
hold the governorship
  • So far there has only been one direct family relationship between all governors: Jerry Brown is the son of Pat Brown. Pat Brown's daughter Kathleen Brown ran for governorship in 1994, but was defeated by incumbent Pete Wilson .
  • In 1994, Kathleen Brown was the second woman, after Dianne Feinstein in the 1990 election, to be nominated for governorship by one of the two major parties. With Meg Whitman , a woman ran for the first time in 2010 with the Republicans. All three were defeated by their male opponent in the elections. Therefore, no woman has held the highest office in California so far.
  • Romualdo Pacheco was the only incumbent who belonged to an ethnic minority. Pacheco, a Latino , held the governorship for only nine months in 1875 in succession from the office of lieutenant governor and was not directly elected. The African American Tom Bradley ran for governor in 1982 and 1986 as the top candidate of the Democrats, but his defeat in 1982 was extremely narrow. This was later described as the Bradley Effect , given his Afro-American identity, as well as previous polls that found him slightly at an advantage over his counterpart George Deukmejian .
  • So far, two governors have been born outside the United States: John G. Downey was born in Ireland , Arnold Schwarzenegger was born in Austria .
  • To date, two governors have married during their tenure: Frank Merriam in 1936 and Goodwin Knight in 1954.
  • By October 2012, Jerry Brown had signed more than 12,500 bills to the state legislature than any other incumbent since the state was founded.

See also

literature

  • Brian P. Janiskee, Ken Masugi: Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State , Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011 ISBN 978-1-4422-0338-9
  • Christoph M. Haas, Wolfgang Jäger: Government system of the USA: Lehr- und Handbuch , Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, 2007 ISBN 978-3-486-58438-7

Web links

Commons : Governors of California  - Collection of Images, Videos, and Audio Files

Individual evidence

  1. Chistoph M. Haas, Wolfgang Jäger: Government System of the USA: Text and Handbook , Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, 2007 ISBN 978-3-486-58438-7 , pp. 459 ff.
  2. American Politics: Federalism. History Learning Site, accessed August 22, 2014 .
  3. Brian P. Janiskee, Ken Masugi: Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State , Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011 ISBN 978-1-4422-0338-9 , page 71/72
  4. California State Constitution Article 4, Sec. 3. (No longer available online.) State of California, archived from the original on January 10, 1997 ; accessed on August 26, 2014 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.leginfo.ca.gov
  5. Brian P. Janiskee, Ken Masugi: Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State , Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011 ISBN 978-1-4422-0338-9 , pp 72-74
  6. Christoph M. Haas, Wolfgang Jäger: Government system of the USA: Lehr- und Handbuch , Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, 2007 ISBN 978-3-486-58438-7 , p. 467 ff
  7. Christoph M. Haas, Wolfgang Jäger: Government system of the USA: Lehr- und Handbuch , Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, 2007 ISBN 978-3-486-58438-7 , pp. 467-68
  8. California State Constitution Article 5, Sec. 18. (No longer available online.) State of California, archived from the original on January 8, 2011 ; accessed on August 26, 2014 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.leginfo.ca.gov
  9. Brian P. Janiskee, Ken Masugi: Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State , Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011 ISBN 978-1-4422-0338-9 , page 71 et seq.
  10. Chistoph M. Haas, Wolfgang Jäger: Government system of the USA: Lehr- und Handbuch , Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, 2007 ISBN 978-3-486-58438-7 , pp. 459 to 475
  11. California State Constitution Article 4, Sec. 10. (No longer available online.) State of California, archived from the original on January 10, 1997 ; accessed on August 26, 2014 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.leginfo.ca.gov
  12. ^ A b c d Margaret R. Ferguson: Introduction to Governors. The State University of New Jersey, Center on the American Governor, accessed August 22, 2014 .
  13. ^ California Legislative Process. California State Senate, accessed August 22, 2014 .
  14. Brian P. Janiskee, Ken Masugi: Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State , Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011 ISBN 978-1-4422-0338-9 , page 72
  15. ^ Bryan Joseph: Two-thirds majority rule confounds budget process. The Orange County Register, August 21, 2013, accessed August 22, 2014 .
  16. Brian P. Janiskee, Ken Masugi: Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State , Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011 ISBN 978-1-4422-0338-9 , page 72
  17. ^ California Government Code. (No longer available online.) State of California, archived from the original March 9, 2013 ; accessed on August 22, 2014 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.leginfo.ca.gov
  18. Brian P. Janiskee, Ken Masugi: Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State , Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011 ISBN 978-1-4422-0338-9 , page 72
  19. Brian P. Janiskee, Ken Masugi: Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State , Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011 ISBN 978-1-4422-0338-9 , page 75
  20. California State Constitution Article 5, Sec. 8. (No longer available online.) State of California, archived from the original on January 8, 2011 ; accessed on August 26, 2014 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.leginfo.ca.gov
  21. Brian P. Janiskee, Ken Masugi: Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State , Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011 ISBN 978-1-4422-0338-9 , page 72
  22. Brian P. Janiskee, Ken Masugi: Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State , Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011 ISBN 978-1-4422-0338-9 , pp 76f.
  23. California State Constitution Article 5, Sec. 7. (No longer available online.) State of California, archived from the original on January 8, 2011 ; accessed on August 26, 2014 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.leginfo.ca.gov
  24. Jennifer Medina: California's Nonpartisan Primary Shows Independents to Be in Short Supply. The New York Times, June 6, 2014, accessed August 22, 2014 .
  25. Brian P. Janiskee, Ken Masugi: Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State , Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011 ISBN 978-1-4422-0338-9 , page 72
  26. California State Constitution Article 5, Sec. 2. (No longer available online.) State of California, archived from the original on January 8, 2011 ; accessed on August 26, 2014 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.leginfo.ca.gov
  27. Brian P. Janiskee, Ken Masugi: Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State , Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011 ISBN 978-1-4422-0338-9 , page 72
  28. California State Constitution Article 5, Sec. 2. (No longer available online.) State of California, archived from the original on January 8, 2011 ; accessed on August 26, 2014 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.leginfo.ca.gov
  29. California State Constitution Article 20, Sec. 3. (No longer available online.) State of California, archived from the original on October 9, 2014 ; accessed on August 26, 2014 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.leginfo.ca.gov
  30. ^ Length of Terms of Office of State Governors throughout American History. The Green Papers, accessed August 22, 2014 .
  31. Brian P. Janiskee, Ken Masugi: Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State , Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011 ISBN 978-1-4422-0338-9 , page 75 f.
  32. Recall Idea Got Its Start in LA in 1898. The Los Angeles Times, July 13, 2013, accessed August 22, 2014 .
  33. ^ Recall History in California (1913 to Present). California Secretary of State, accessed January 5, 2015 .
  34. Brian P. Janiskee, Ken Masugi: Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State , Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011 ISBN 978-1-4422-0338-9 , page 76
  35. ^ Gary South: Should the Governor and Lt Governor Run as a Ticket? Fox and Hounds, August 22, 2013, accessed August 22, 2014 .
  36. Chistoph M. Haas, Wolfgang Jäger: Government system of the USA: Lehr- und Handbuch , Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, 2007 ISBN 978-3-486-58438-7 , pp. 471 to 474
  37. ^ Highest paid governors in the United States. therichest.com, accessed August 22, 2014 .
  38. ^ CHP & California State Police Merger. (No longer available online.) California State Police, archived from the original on May 28, 2010 ; accessed on August 22, 2014 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.chp.ca.gov
  39. First Family Moves Into California Governor's Mansion , Capradio, December 17, 2015 (English)
  40. Stacy Finz: Governor's Mansion empty in Sacramento. San Francisco Gate, October 4, 2010; accessed August 22, 2014 .
  41. ^ Enacted Budget. State of California, accessed August 22, 2014 .
  42. Brian P. Janiskee, Ken Masugi: Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State , Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011 ISBN 978-1-4422-0338-9 , page 72
  43. Brian P. Janiskee, Ken Masugi: Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State , Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011 ISBN 978-1-4422-0338-9 , page 72 et seq.
  44. a b Jose Cheibub: Systems of Government: parliamentarism and presidentialism. (PDF) Harvard University, accessed on August 22, 2014 .
  45. Federal Agency for Civic Education : Presidential System of Government , Parliamentary System of Government, accessed on August 22, 2014
  46. ^ Robert Longley: Federalism: National vs. State Government. About News, accessed August 22, 2014 .
  47. Brian P. Janiskee, Ken Masugi: Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State , Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011 ISBN 978-1-4422-0338-9 , page 40 et seq.
  48. David Soders: Jerry Brown surpasses Reagan, Deukmejian for most bills signed. (No longer available online.) Capitol Alert, October 1, 2012, archived from the original on July 8, 2014 ; accessed on August 22, 2014 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / blogs.sacbee.com
This article was added to the list of excellent articles on September 8, 2014 in this version .