Governor of South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of South Carolina |
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| Government of South Carolina | |
| Style | His Excellency |
| Residence | Governors Mansion |
| Seat | Columbia |
| Appointer | Elected at-large |
| Term length | Four years, renewable once consecutively |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of South Carolina |
| Inaugural holder | William Sayle |
| Formation | March 15, 1670 |
| Salary | $106,078 (2022) |
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The governor of South Carolina is the main leader of the state government in South Carolina. Think of them as the state's chief executive. The governor is also the top commander of the South Carolina National Guard when it's not working for the national government.
The governor has many important jobs. They give a yearly "State of the State" speech to the state's lawmakers, called the South Carolina General Assembly. They also suggest a budget for the state and make sure that state laws are followed.
The current governor of South Carolina is Henry McMaster. He is the 117th person to hold this job. He became governor on January 24, 2017. This happened after the previous governor, Nikki Haley, left to become a United States ambassador. Governor McMaster has won two elections since then, in 2018 and 2022.
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Becoming Governor: What You Need to Know
To become governor of South Carolina, you need to meet a few rules. These rules are written in the state's constitution.
First, a candidate must be at least 30 years old. Second, they must be a citizen of the United States. They also need to have lived in South Carolina for at least five years before the election.
There's also an old rule that says a person can't be governor if they "deny the existence of the Supreme Being." However, this rule is not really followed today. The U.S. Supreme Court decided in 1961 that religious tests for public jobs are not allowed. Even so, this old rule is still in the South Carolina Constitution.
How Long Does a Governor Serve?
A governor in South Carolina serves for a four-year term. Their term starts at noon on a specific Wednesday in January after they are elected.
A person can be elected governor for two terms in a row. But there's no limit on how many total terms they can serve. This means someone could be governor, then take a break, and then run for governor again later. For example, Olin D. Johnston served non-consecutive terms, meaning he was governor, left office, and then became governor again later.
What Does the Governor Do?
The governor of South Carolina has many important powers and duties. Here are some of their main responsibilities:
- They have the highest executive power in the state.
- They choose leaders for 14 state agencies. However, the state's lawmakers often help with these choices.
- They are the commander of the South Carolina National Guard.
- They also lead the South Carolina State Guard, which helps the National Guard with state defense.
- They can change a death sentence to life imprisonment.
- They can call the state's lawmakers (General Assembly) together for special meetings if there's an emergency.
- They can also end a meeting of the General Assembly.
- They can say "no" to new laws (this is called a veto). They can even say "no" to specific parts of a budget bill (a Line-item veto).
- They can declare a state of emergency during disasters like hurricanes. They also lead the efforts to help the state recover.
- During emergencies, they can close public schools and government offices.
- They oversee all state departments.
- They are the head of the board of trustees for all state universities.
- They present a plan for the state's budget to the General Assembly every January.
- They give a "State of the State" speech to the General Assembly, usually in January.
- If a U.S. Senator's seat becomes empty, the governor can appoint someone to fill it until the next election.
- They can appoint or temporarily remove county sheriffs if there's a vacancy.
- They can remove elected school board officials for serious reasons, like not doing their job or having conflicts of interest.
The governor is also part of the State Fiscal Accountability Authority. This group helps manage state spending and property.
Who Takes Over if the Governor Can't Serve?
If the governor can no longer do their job, there's a clear plan for who takes over. This is called the line of succession.
| # | Position | Current officeholder |
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| 1 | Lieutenant Governor | Pamela Evette (R) |
| 2 | President of the South Carolina Senate | Thomas C. Alexander (R) |
| 3 | Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives | Murrell Smith (R) |
| Next in line if the top three are unavailable | ||
| 4 | Secretary of State | Mark Hammond (R) |
| 5 | Treasurer | Curtis Loftis (R) |
| 6 | Attorney General | Alan Wilson (R) |
If the governor is temporarily unable to serve, the lieutenant governor takes on the governor's powers. This happened in 2014 when Lieutenant Governor Yancey McGill acted as governor while Governor Nikki Haley had surgery.
No governor in South Carolina has ever been removed from office by impeachment. However, since 1776, ten governors have resigned. Four governors have died while in office. One governor, Andrew Gordon Magrath, was removed by the Union Army in 1865 at the end of the American Civil War. In 2009, lawmakers thought about removing Governor Mark Sanford, but they decided not to.
The Governor's Promise: Oath of Office
Before taking office, the governor must say an oath. This is a special promise to do their best for the state and country.
The oath is: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am duly qualified, according to the Constitution of this State, to exercise the duties of the office to which I have been elected, (or appointed), and that I will, to the best of my ability, discharge the duties thereof, and preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of this State and of the United States. So help me God."
A Look Back: History of South Carolina's Governors
The role of governor in South Carolina has changed a lot over time.
Early Leaders: Proprietary and Royal Periods (1670-1776)
From 1670 to 1719, during the "proprietary period," governors were chosen by the "Lord Proprietors." These were the people who owned the land in the colony. Governors didn't have a set term limit.
From 1719 to 1776, during the "royal period," governors were chosen by the British government. They represented the British monarch. These governors had a lot of power. They could appoint officials and even reject new laws. They also didn't have fixed terms.
After Independence: Articles of Confederation (1776-1792)
After the American Revolution, from 1776 to 1779, the leader of South Carolina was called the "President." The state's lawmakers chose this person. Only two people held this title: John Rutledge and Rawlins Lowndes. From 1779, the title changed back to "Governor."
Changes After 1790
Under the Constitution of 1790, governors were chosen by the General Assembly. They served two-year terms and could not serve two terms in a row. This system lasted until the American Civil War. After the war, the Union army removed Governor Andrew Gordon Magrath. The U.S. President then appointed a new governor.
Modern Governors: Post Civil-War Era
James Lawrence Orr was the first governor to be elected directly by the people in 1865.
After the Civil War, the U.S. Congress made big changes. A new state constitution was written in 1868. This constitution gave all male citizens over 21 the right to vote, no matter their race. It also allowed the governor to be elected for two terms in a row.
Later, in 1890, Benjamin Tillman was elected governor. His supporters wanted a new constitution. The Constitution of 1895 brought in rules like a poll tax (a fee to vote) and a literacy test (a reading and writing test for voters). These rules made it harder for many people to vote.
However, these voting rules were later changed. In 1964, the Twenty-fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution made poll taxes illegal for federal elections. The U.S. Supreme Court then said that poll taxes were illegal for all elections. Later, federal laws also removed literacy tests.
From 1926 to 1978, governors were elected for one four-year term and could not be re-elected right away. Since 1980, governors have been elected for a four-year term and can be re-elected once in a row.
Where the Governor Lives: Official Residence
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The official home of the governor of South Carolina is the South Carolina Governor's Mansion. It's located at 800 Richland Street in Columbia, South Carolina. The mansion was built in 1855. It was originally part of a military academy. In 1868, it became the governor's official residence. The state constitution says that the governor must live where the state's lawmakers meet.
