The State Governor I

Authors

John A. Fairlie, University of Illinois

Abstract

In all the States of the American Union there is an official known as the governor, who is at the head of the executive department of the State government. Most of the State constitutions provide that "the supreme executive power" shall be vested in the governor; and in some States, the phrase "chief executive power" is used; while others have the simpler form, "the executive power," as found in the national constitution. The qualifying adjective, "supreme" or "chief," found in most of the State constitutions serves to indicate at the outset a difference in the position of the governor from that of the President of the United States. In some respects the State governor has a position similar to that of the President of the United States, exercising important powers and influence in legislation and acting at least nominally as head of the State administration. But the administrative powers of the governor are more restricted than those of the President; and his control over the administration is often very limited.

Recommended Citation

John A. Fairlie, The State Governor I, 10 Mich. L. Rev. 370 (1912).
Available at: https://repository.law.umich.edu/mlr/vol10/iss5/2