Governor of Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of Michigan |
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Standard of the governor
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Seal of the governor
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| Government of Michigan | |
| Style | Her Excellency The Honorable |
| Residence | Michigan Governor's Mansion |
| Term length | Four years, renewable once |
| Precursor | Governor of Michigan Territory |
| Inaugural holder | Stevens T. Mason |
| Formation | November 3, 1835 |
| Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Michigan |
| Salary | $159,300 per year |
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The governor of Michigan is like the chief leader of the state of Michigan. They are the head of government and the main executive. The current governor is Gretchen Whitmer. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Governor Whitmer started her first term on January 1, 2019. She was re-elected in 2022 for a second term. A governor is elected for a four-year term. They can serve a maximum of two terms.
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Who Can Be Governor?
To become the governor of Michigan, a person must meet certain requirements. These rules also apply to the lieutenant governor.
- They must be a U.S. citizen.
- They must have lived in Michigan for at least four years before the election.
- They must be at least 30 years old.
In 2010, a rule was added to the state constitution. It says that a person cannot hold any elected office, including governor, if they were found guilty of a serious crime. This applies if the crime involved dishonesty or fraud. It also applies if the crime was related to their job in government.
How Governors Are Elected
For a long time, from when Michigan became a state until 1966, governors were elected for two-year terms. Elections happen in November. The new governor starts their job the following January.
Before 1851, elections were held in odd-numbered years. A new state constitution was made in 1850. It changed elections to even-numbered years. So, there was one special one-year term for the governor in 1851.
The Michigan constitution changed again in 1963. It made the governor's term four years long, starting in 1967. Now, gubernatorial elections happen two years after U.S. presidential elections. For example, if a presidential election is in 2024, the next Michigan governor election will be in 2026. The winner takes office on January 1 of the next year.
Before 1992, governors could serve as many terms as they wanted. In 1992, a new rule was added to the Michigan constitution. It limited governors to two four-year terms. This rule only counted terms served after 1992. So, John Engler, who was governor at the time, served three terms. His first term was before the new rule. He was re-elected in 1994 and 1998. He had to leave office in 2002 because of the two-term limit.
What the Governor Does
The governor of Michigan has many important jobs and powers.
- They can sign new laws passed by the legislature. They can also veto laws, which means they reject them. They can even reject only parts of a law (a line item veto).
- They can change how state government agencies are organized.
- They choose most department leaders. The state Senate must agree with these choices.
- They can appoint judges. Voters then confirm these choices later.
- They choose members for various state boards and commissions.
- They suggest a budget for the state each year. This budget shows how the state will spend its money.
- They give an annual State of the State address. In this speech, they talk about how Michigan is doing.
- They can command the state militia. This is like the state's own military force.
- They can grant pardons for most crimes. This means they can forgive someone for a crime. They cannot do this for cases involving impeachment.
The governor also chooses members for the governing boards of 10 out of Michigan's 13 public universities. They also appoint members to department commissions.
History of the Governor's Office
Michigan has had 47 different people serve as governor. Two of them, John S. Barry and Frank Fitzgerald, served terms that were not back-to-back. Before Michigan became a state, there were five governors of the Michigan Territory.
Stevens T. Mason was Michigan's very first governor. He had also been a territorial governor. He was elected governor in 1835 when he was only 23 years old. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Mason served until 1840. He holds the record for being the youngest state governor in U.S. history.
Jennifer Granholm became the first female governor of Michigan. She took office on January 1, 2003, after John Engler. She served for eight years, until January 1, 2011.
See also
