Governor of New Hampshire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Governor of New Hampshire
State seal
Incumbent Kelly Ayotte since January 9, 2025
Government of New Hampshire
Style	Governor (informal) Her Excellency (formal)
Member of	Governor's Council Cabinet
Residence	Bridges House
Seat	Concord, New Hampshire
Term length	Two years, no term limits
Constituting instrument	New Hampshire Constitution of 1776
Precursor	Governor of Strawbery Banke 1630–1641 Governor of Dover 1631–1641 Governor of Massachusetts Bay 1641–1680
Formation	January 21, 1680 (345 years ago) (1680-01-21)
Salary	$113,834 (2013)

The governor of New Hampshire is the top leader of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. Think of them as the chief executive, like a principal for the whole state! They are in charge of making sure the state's laws are followed and that the government runs smoothly.

New Hampshire is special because its governor is elected every two years. Most other states elect their governors every four years. The election happens in November of even-numbered years. Currently, Kelly Ayotte is the 83rd governor of New Hampshire. She started her term on January 9, 2025.

Unlike many other states, there's no limit to how many terms a person can serve as governor in New Hampshire. This means a governor can be re-elected as many times as the people choose. Only a few governors have served more than three terms since the 1700s.

What Does the Governor Do?

The governor of New Hampshire has many important jobs and powers. These are written down in the Constitution of New Hampshire, which is like the state's rulebook.

• Leading the State: The governor is the main executive leader. They make sure that all state laws are carried out properly.
• Working with Lawmakers: If the two parts of the state's lawmaking body (called the General Court) disagree, the governor can help solve the problem. They can even pause or end a legislative session.
• Keeping People Safe: If there's a danger, like a health crisis, the governor can move the General Court meeting to a safer place.
• Veto Power: The governor can say "no" to (or veto) new laws that the General Court passes. This means the law won't go into effect unless the General Court votes again to override the veto.
• Appointing Officials: The governor chooses important people for state jobs. This includes judges, the state's top lawyer (the attorney general), and leaders in the state's military (the National Guard). These choices need approval from the Executive Council.
• Commander-in-Chief: The governor is the leader of all military forces within the state.
• Granting Pardons: The governor can forgive people for certain crimes. This is called a pardon.
• Managing Money: Any money spent from the state's treasury needs the governor's approval.

Who Can Be Governor?

To become governor of New Hampshire, a person must meet a few requirements:

• They must be at least 30 years old.
• They need to be a registered voter in New Hampshire.
• They must have lived in New Hampshire for at least seven years.

History of the Governor's Title

In the past, the leaders of New Hampshire were called "President of New Hampshire." This started in 1679 with the first president, John Cutt. After New Hampshire became independent, the title changed to "President of the State of New Hampshire" from 1786 to 1791.

In 1791, the Constitution of New Hampshire was updated. That's when the title officially changed from "President" to "Governor," which is what it's called today.

The Executive Council

New Hampshire has a special group called the Executive Council of New Hampshire. This council has five members and works closely with the governor. Unlike in many other states where such councils only give advice, New Hampshire's Executive Council has a lot of power.

The council can actually block many of the governor's decisions. Together, the governor and the Executive Council must approve:

• State contracts worth $5,000 or more.
• Requests for pardons.
• The appointment of judges, directors, commissioners, and the attorney general.

Who Takes Over if the Governor Can't Serve?

If the governor can no longer do their job, there's a clear order of who takes over. This is called the line of succession. It's set by the state's constitution.

Here's the order: