Governors of the United States
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The following is a list of incumbent governors of the United States and their territories. There are currently 13 Republicans, 4 Democrats, and 1 independent that hold the office of Governor (or equivalent) in the States. Additionally, NUM Republicans, NUM independents and NUM Democrats serve as Governors of United States Territories, Administrator of the Fœderal Capital Territory, and Governor of the District of Columbia.
History[edit | edit source]
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Terminology: “Governor” vs. “Governor-General”[edit | edit source]
In the United States, the chief Executives at the State and Union level are styled in some form of, “Governor”: For the States (and the Territories as well), the style is “Governor”; whereas the Federal Governor is styled, “Governor-General”. The form Governor-General is, like ”Secretary-General”, or ”Attorney-General”, refers to an official who, in a republic as opposed to most monarchies, has jurisdiction and responsibility over a number of regions —Hence, their jurisdiction is “general”. In federal systems, the appending of “-general” to the title can sometimes also be used in the same sense that “general government” is synonymous with “federal government”; however, this convention really only applies to the title, “Governor-General”, that is, that the Governor-General is the General Governor of the Federation (e.g., the Federal Governor). For the other titles, the “General” refers to this officer being the general such officer for that portfolio; for example, “Attorney-General”, can be defined as the “General Attorney” for that jurisdiction; and in like Manner, “Secretary-General” can be defines as a given jurisdiction’s “General Secretary”.
In United States variations of the English language, the titles Governor-General, Attorney-General, Secretary-General, and so on, are hyphenated; whereas in Canadian English, these titles are not (e.g., Governor General, Attorney General, Secretary General, and so on): In this regard, the United States variations of the English language are in harmony with the same standard in Australian English.
Governors of the United States[edit | edit source]
Union governor[edit | edit source]
Main article: Governor-General of the United States
The Governor-General of the United States is the Federal Governor of the United States, and as such is the chief Executive of the United States Government: The Governor-General is the General Governor of the United States, who is the head of government of the General Government of the Union (the United States Federal Government). However, the Governor-General is not the head of state of the Union of States. Instead, this role is vested in the 19-member United States Federal Council, of which the Governor-General, by virtue of his office, is also President of the Federal Council (The Federal Council is composed of 19 members: The Governor-General as their President, and the Governors of the 18 States): The Federal Council, as a whole, functions as a collective presidency.
The Governor-General is indirectly elected by the People of the United States through a Electoral College, in which votes are cast by States, and each State has a number of Votes that is partly based on population, in which each State is entitled to a Number of Electors equal to its combined representation in both Houses of Congress, provided that each State is entitled to at least four Electors (e.g., three Senators plus one Representative). In order to be elected Governor-General, a candidate must win a double Majority in the College of Electors: a Majority of Votes from a Majority of States. In the event that no double Majority is secured, then the U.S. House of Representatives choses the Governor-General from the two candidates with the most Votes, with the delegation from each State having one Vote.
Powers and duties[edit | edit source]
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State governors[edit | edit source]
Main article: State governors of the United States
The Governors of the States are popularly and directly elected by the People.
Powers and duties[edit | edit source]
The Governor is the chief Executive of the State, and as such is both the State’s Head of Government and its Head of State. He transacts all executive business with the Officers of the Government, civil and military, and may require Information in writing from the Officers in the executive Department upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices. In some States, the Governor is empowered to convene the State Legislature into special Session; and, when there is disagreement between the two Houses of the State Legislature as to adjournment, may adjourn them to such Time as he thinks Necessary. He is also the Commander-in-Chief of the State Militia and the State Military; and in some States he is also the Colonel-in-Chief of the State Police. Furthermore, in some States the Governor is empowered to take personal command of some or all Police forces in and throughout the State during emergencies.
Territorial governors[edit | edit source]
Main article: Governors of United States territories
Territorial Governors are nominally appointed by the Governor-General. However, Federal law directs the territorial Legislature to recommend at least three persons to the Governor-General, from which he choses one as Governor. However, Federal law also grants the Governor-General the Authority to disregard the recommendation of the territorial Legislature if, in his judgement, the persons recommended to him are unfit, unqualified, or incompetent, in which case he is empowered to make his own choice as to whom he appoints, so long as such person is a citizen of the Territory of and for which he is to be Governor: Under the Territorial Government Act, 1722, “[I]n all cases, no Person shall serve, or be eligible to serve, as Governor of a Territory who shall not, when chosen, have attained to the Age of twenty-seven Years and been three Years a resident of the Territory of and for which he is to be Governor[;]” which, in plain English, means that only residents of any given Territory may be chosen as Governor of said Territory, regardless if the Person was recommended by the territorial Legislature to the Governor-General for appointment, or chosen and appointed by the Governor-General outright —So long he shall be at least twenty-seven years old and have resided in said Territory for at least three years at the time he takes the Territorial Oath of Office and enters into office.
Powers and duties[edit | edit source]
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District governors[edit | edit source]
Main articles: Administrator of the Fœderal Capital Territory and Governor of the District of Columbia
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Powers and duties[edit | edit source]
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