Governor of California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of California |
|
|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| Government of California | |
| Member of | Cabinet Regents of the University of California |
| Residence | Governor's Mansion |
| Seat | California State Capitol (principal workplace) Stanford Mansion (workplace and reception center) |
| Nominator | Political parties |
| Appointer | Popular vote |
| Term length | Four-year term, renewable once |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of California |
| Precursor | |
| Inaugural holder | Peter Hardeman Burnett |
| Formation | December 20, 1849 |
| Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of California |
| Salary | US$224,020 (2022) |
.jpg)
The governor of California is the main leader of the state government in California. Think of them as the "chief executive" of the state. They are also the boss of the California National Guard and the California State Guard.
The Constitution of California sets out what the governor does. Their jobs include creating the state's yearly budget. They also make sure that state laws are followed. Every year, the governor gives a speech called the State of the State address to the California State Legislature. This position was created in 1849, just before California became a state.
The current governor of California is Gavin Newsom. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He became governor on January 7, 2019.
Becoming Governor of California
Who Can Be Governor?
To become governor, a person must be a U.S. citizen. They must also be a registered voter in California. A candidate cannot have been found guilty of serious crimes like bribery. Also, they cannot have served two terms as governor since November 6, 1990.
How Governors Are Elected
Governors are chosen by a popular ballot, meaning people vote for them. They serve for four years. A governor can only serve two terms in total if those terms were after November 6, 1990.
When a governor starts their job, they take an oath. This is a promise to support and protect the laws of the United States and California. They promise to do their duties well and honestly. Governors officially start their term on the first Monday after January 1, following their election.
Removing a Governor from Office
.JPG)
There are two main ways to remove a governor from office before their term ends.
Impeachment by the Legislature
The State Assembly can accuse the governor of "misconduct in office." This is called impeachment. If the Assembly votes to impeach, the State Senate then holds a trial. If two-thirds of the State Senate votes to remove the governor, they lose their job.
Recall by the Voters
People in California can also try to remove a governor through a "recall election." This starts when a certain number of voters sign petitions. If enough signatures are collected, voters then get to decide two things. First, they vote on whether to remove the current governor. Second, on the same ballot, they vote for a possible replacement. If most voters choose to remove the governor, the person with the most votes among the replacements becomes the new governor.
California has had two major recall attempts that made it to a vote. In 2003, voters recalled Governor Gray Davis. He was replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger. This was the first time a California governor was voted out of office. More recently, Governor Gavin Newsom faced a recall election in 2021, but he won and stayed in office.
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
.jpg)
California's lieutenant governor is elected separately from the governor. They are not chosen as a team. This means the governor and lieutenant governor can be from different political parties. This has happened often in California's history.
This separate election can be important. The California Constitution says that if the governor leaves the state, the lieutenant governor gets all the governor's powers. This means the lieutenant governor can sign or veto laws. They can also make official appointments while the governor is away.
Usually, the lieutenant governor only handles small tasks when the governor is out of state. However, there have been times when this "gentlemen's agreement" was not followed. For example, Mike Curb signed several orders that the governor did not agree with when the governor was away. Courts have said that the lieutenant governor does have the right to act as governor when the governor is not in California.
The lieutenant governor also leads the California State Senate.
Governor's Official Locations
.jpg)
The official home of the California governor is the California Governor's Mansion in Sacramento. Many governors have lived there. However, some governors have chosen to live in their own homes instead. The mansion is also one of the places where the governor works.
The governor's main office is inside the California State Capitol building in Sacramento. This is where most of their daily work happens.
The Leland Stanford Mansion in Sacramento is another official workplace for the governor. It also serves as a special place for official events and meetings for the California government.
See also
In Spanish: Gobernador de California para niños
- List of governors of California
- List of governors of California before 1850
- List of governors of California by education
- Politics of California
- Politics of California before 1900
- First ladies and partners of California
- List of burial places of governors of California
