List of Governors of California

The following is a list of the Governors of the State of California. The governor is the head of the executive branch of California's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills pass by the California Legislature, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment. [CA Const. art. V, § 8]

The original California Constitution of 1849 provided for the office of governor to be elected every two years, with no set start date for the term. An amendment ratified in 1862 increased the term to four years, [cite book |last=Henning |first=W.F. |title=Constitution of the State of California |year=1899 |publisher=C.W. Palm Company |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=XzHvfKTmBrcC&pg=PR2&lpg=PR2&dq=california+constitution+1871+amendment+governor+term&source=web&ots=gsy7IV4rg3&sig=2U0EF7AUGp0tfKiV1rhkV0nqkxs#PPR1,M1dddddd |accessdate=2008-01-18] and the 1879 constitution set the term to begin on the Monday after the January 1 following an election. In 1990, an amendment to the constitution was adopted, [cite web|url=http://lalaw.lib.ca.us/ballot-1990.html |title=California Ballot Propositions 1990-1999 |accessdate=2007-07-17 |publisher=Los Angeles County Law Library] implementing a term limit of two terms; [CA Const. art. V, § 2] prior to this limit, only one governor had been elected to more than two terms, Earl Warren. The 1849 constitution also created the office of lieutenant governor, who, in cases of vacancy in the office of governor, becomes governor. [CA Const. art. V, § 10] The governor and lieutenant governor are not eleced on the same ticket.

Many governors of California have been influential nationwide, in areas far-flung from politics. Leland Stanford founded Stanford University in 1891. Earl Warren, the longest-serving governor, won an election with the nominations of the three major parties - the only person ever to run essentially unopposed for governor of California. He later became Chief Justice of the United States. Ronald Reagan, who was president of the Screen Actors Guild and later President of the United States, and current governor Arnold Schwarzenegger both came to prominence through acting. Gray Davis was the first governor of California, and second governor in American history, to be recalled by voters.

The current governor is Arnold Schwarzenegger, who took office on November 17, 2003 following the recall of Gray Davis; his term will expire in 2011.

Governors

California was obtained by the United States in the Mexican Cession following the Mexican-American War. Unusually, it was never organized as a territory, and was admitted as a state on September 9, 1850. For the Spanish, Mexican, Bear Flag, military and territorial governors of Alta California prior to statehood, see list of pre-statehood governors of California. There have been 38 governors, each one serving a single distinct term.

ee also

*List of California Governors by time in office

References

;General
*cite web |url=http://www.californiagovernors.ca.gov/h/biography/index.html |title=Governors of California |accessdate=2007-07-18 |work=Official Site of the State of California
*cite web |url=http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.8fd3d12ab65b304f8a278110501010a0?submit=Submit&State=CA |title=Governors of California |accessdate=2007-07-18 |publisher=National Governors Association
*cite web |url=http://www.ltg.ca.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38&Itemid=323 |title=Chronology of California's Lieutenant Governors |accessdate=2007-08-10 |publisher=Office of the Lieutenant Governor

;Constitutions
*cite web |url=http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/const-toc.html |title=Constitution of the State of California |year=1879 |publisher=Legislative Counsel of California |accessdate=2008-07-20
*cite web |url=http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/level3_const1849txt.html |title=Constitution of the State of California |year=1849 |publisher=California Secretary of State |accessdate=2008-07-20

;Specific