List of governors of Connecticut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of Connecticut |
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Government of Connecticut | |
Style | Governor (informally) His Excellency (formal) |
Member of | Cabinet |
Residence | Governor's Residence |
Seat | Connecticut State Capitol, Hartford, Connecticut |
Nominator | Political parties |
Appointer | Popular vote |
Term length | Four years, no limit |
Constituting instrument | Constitution of Connecticut |
Precursor | Governor of Saybrook (merged with Connecticut, 1644) Governor of New Haven (merged with Connecticut, 1665) |
Formation | 1639 |
Succession | Line of succession |
Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut |
Salary | $150,000 (2013) |
Website | Office of the Governor |
The governor of Connecticut is the leader of the government in Connecticut. They are also the head of the state's military forces. The governor's main job is to make sure state laws are followed. They can also approve or reject new laws passed by the Connecticut General Assembly. The governor can also call the state's law-making group (the General Assembly) together.
Unlike many other governors, Connecticut's governor cannot forgive people for crimes. The governor is automatically part of the state's money-borrowing committee. They also help lead the University of Connecticut and Yale University.
Since the American Revolution, Connecticut has had 69 governors. Four of them served terms that were not in a row. The first governor, Jonathan Trumbull, served for over 14 years. However, 7 of those years were as a colonial governor. His son, Jonathan Trumbull Jr., was the longest-serving state governor. He served for over 11 years. The shortest term was by Hiram Bingham III, who served only one day. He resigned to become a U.S. Senator. Lowell Weicker is known for winning as a third-party candidate in 1990. He represented A Connecticut Party.
The current governor is Ned Lamont. He is a Democrat and started his term on January 9, 2019.
Contents
Understanding the Governor's Role
The governor of Connecticut is a very important leader. They are in charge of the state's executive branch. This means they lead many state departments and agencies.
What the Governor Does
The governor has several key responsibilities:
- Enforcing Laws: They make sure that all state laws are carried out.
- Approving or Vetoing Bills: When the General Assembly passes a new law, the governor decides if it becomes official. They can sign it (approve) or veto it (reject).
- Leading the Military: The governor is the commander-in-chief of Connecticut's military forces.
- State Budget: They play a big part in creating the state's budget. This budget decides how state money is spent.
- Appointing Officials: The governor chooses many people to work in state government.
How Connecticut's Governors Are Chosen
Connecticut was one of the original Thirteen Colonies. It became a state on January 9, 1788. For many years, Connecticut used its old colonial rules instead of a state constitution.
Changes to Governor Terms
The old rules said governors were elected every year. But they could not serve more than once every two years. Their term started in May.
The current Constitution of Connecticut was approved in 1965. It says the governor serves a four-year term. This term starts in January after an election. Before 1965, the term length changed over time:
- The 1818 constitution first set a one-year term.
- In 1875, this changed to two years.
- In 1948, it became four years.
The 1875 change also set the start date of the term to January. Before that, it was in May.
The Lieutenant Governor's Role
The constitution also says a lieutenant governor is elected for the same four-year term. Since 1962, the governor and lieutenant governor are elected together. If the governor's office becomes empty, the lieutenant governor becomes the new governor. Before 1965, the lieutenant governor only acted as governor. There is no limit to how many terms a person can serve as governor in Connecticut.
Timeline of Connecticut Governors
Timeline of Connecticut governors |
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Images for kids
See Also
- Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Connecticut