Governor of New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of New York |
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Standard of the governor of New York
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Seal of the governor of New York
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| Government of New York | |
| Style |
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| Residence | New York Executive Mansion |
| Term length | Four years, no term limit |
| Constituting instrument | New York Constitution of 1777 |
| Precursor | Royal Governor of the Province of New York |
| Inaugural holder | George Clinton |
| Formation | July 30, 1777 |
| Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of New York |
| Salary | $225,000 (2020) |
The governor of New York is the top leader of the state of New York. Think of the governor as the "boss" of the state's government. They lead the part of the government that carries out laws, called the executive branch. The governor is also in charge of New York's military forces.
The governor makes sure state laws are followed. They can also approve or reject (veto) new laws passed by the New York Legislature. The governor can call the legislature together for special meetings. They can also forgive people for crimes, except in cases of serious wrongdoing like impeachment or treason (betraying the state).
The current governor is Kathy Hochul. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She became governor on August 24, 2021, and was elected for a full term in 2022.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Governor
The role of governor in New York began a long time ago. When the British took over New Amsterdam, they created this position. It replaced the Dutch leaders who were called director-generals. The first governor of New York was appointed in 1777.
How is the Governor Chosen?
The governor is chosen by the people of New York in an election. This election happens every four years. It takes place in years when there is no presidential election.
To become governor, a person must:
- Be a citizen of the United States.
- Have lived in New York for at least five years before the election.
- Be at least thirty years old.
What Does the Governor Do?
The governor has many important jobs. Their main duty is to make sure state laws are put into action. They can approve new laws or use their veto to stop them. A veto means the governor says "no" to a bill passed by the New York State Legislature.
The governor can also:
- Call special meetings of the legislature.
- Grant pardons, which means officially forgiving someone for a crime. This is not allowed in cases of treason or impeachment.
The governor leads the state's Executive Department. This is a big part of the government that helps run New York.
Governors Who Became President
Many New York governors have become very famous. Ten New York governors have been chosen as candidates for President of the United States. Four of them actually became president:
Also, six New York governors have served as Vice President of the United States. Two governors, John Jay and Charles Evans Hughes, even became the top judge in the country, the Chief Justice.
Helping the Governor: Appointments
The governor chooses many people to help them run the state. These people work in the governor's own office. They give advice and help with daily tasks. These choices do not need approval from the New York State Senate.
The governor also picks leaders for different state departments and offices. These choices usually need to be approved by the state Senate. These leaders are like the governor's team, helping to manage different parts of the state government.
Who Takes Over if the Governor Can't Serve?
New York has a plan for who takes over if the governor cannot do their job. This is called the line of succession.
Since 1777, New York has had a lieutenant governor of New York. The lieutenant governor is also the president of the State Senate. If the governor leaves office because of death, resignation, or impeachment, the lieutenant governor becomes the new governor.
If the lieutenant governor's office becomes empty, the temporary president of the State Senate takes over their duties. If both the governor and lieutenant governor cannot serve, the temporary president of the Senate acts as governor.
Here is the order of who takes over:
- Lieutenant Governor
- Temporary President of the Senate
- Speaker of the Assembly
- Attorney General
- Comptroller
- Commissioner of Transportation
- Commissioner of Health
- Commissioner of Commerce
- Industrial Commissioner
- Chairman of the Public Service Commission
- Secretary of State
See also
- Politics of New York (state)
- List of governors of New York
- First ladies and gentlemen of New York
- List of colonial governors of New York
- New York gubernatorial elections, for results of the elections for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of New York.
