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Home , Governor, State Auditor, State government

The State Branch Why It Matters Show students a photograph of the BEFORE YOU READ TAKING As you read, take NOTES notes on the state of your state. Ask students if The Main Idea Reading Focus Key Terms executive branch. Use a graphic they know who the person is. If they can organizer like this one to record identify the governor, ask them to share A state’s executive branch 1. Who is the state’s chief governor, p. 213 your notes. carries out laws made executive, and what are patronage, p. 215 what they know about the governor: the by the state’s legislative his or her powers and , Chief State Executive governor’s age, political party, years/ branch. are duties? p. 215 2. Executive terms in offi ce, and so on. If they cannot the chief executives of Who are the other Branch state . officials of state execu- Other Offi cials identify the governor, introduce them to tive branches? the governor by discussing some of the information suggested above. Explain to students that it is part of their jobs as citizens in a democracy to know about What does the governor do? Once the writes laws, the gov- their political leaders. ernor and his or her executive team Key Terms put those laws into action. In this way, governors may affect your day-to-day affairs. Preteach the following terms: Governors can also propose legislation or veto bills, governor chief executive in each state just like the president. (p. 213) patronage system in which government The State’s Chief Executive jobs are given to people recommended by The citizens of each state elect a governor political leaders (p. 215) to run the day-to-day affairs of their state. lieutenant governor presiding offi cer The governor is the chief executive in each of the state and successor of the state. The governor works for the people of governor (p. 215) his or her state. Governors lead the state gov- ernment, set priorities, make government Taking Notes appointments, and implement laws to meet the needs of their states. Chief Executive Governor Qualifications and Terms of Governors In each state, a lists the qualifi - State Executive cations for governor. In general, a candidate Branch Other Offi cials for governor must be a U.S. citizen and must Lieutenant governor, have lived in the state for a certain number , Democrat Kathleen Sebelius was elected governor of in 2002. of years. Most states require a candidate for attorney general, state treasurer, state auditor, governor to be at least 30 years old. Howev- superintendent of public er, a few states, such as and , schools allow persons as young as 18 years of age to run for governor.

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Teach the Main Idea At Level The State Executive Branch 1. Teach Ask students the Reading Focus student volunteers write the responsibilities questions to teach this section. of each underneath the appropriate name. 2. Apply Have students create a concept web 4. Practice/Homework Ask students to of the executive branch. Tell them to include think about which state executive branch the key responsibilities of its members in the position they would most want to run for. web. Then have them write a speech that explains 3. Review Write the state offi cials of the why they would be the best choice for that executive branch on the board and have position and what they would do for the state if elected.

STATE GOVERNMENT 213 Chief Executive FOCUS ON In most state , the governor is designated as the chief execu- Ruth Ann tive of the state. As chief executive, a gover- Minner nor may share executive powers with other (1935– ) “executives,” such as the state treasurer, the Reading Focus In 2001 Ruth Ann Minner became ’s first female attorney general, and the secretary of state, governor. Born and raised on a who are also elected offi cials. State governors Who is the state’s chief executive, and small farm, she left school at age usually have a number of executive powers. what are his or her powers and duties? 16 to help on her family’s farm. Minner’s husband died when • Power of the Budget One of the duties she was 32. She had three sons to raise, but she returned and powers the governor in most states The State’s Chief Executive to school, worked two jobs, and earned her G.E.D. After her second husband died, Minner began in politics by stuffing has is the power to prepare a budget for Recall What are the three main roles envelopes. She worked as an aide in the state legislature and one or two years. The governor submits of governors? chief legislator, chief as receptionist in the governor’s office. She was elected to this budget to the legislature. The gov- executive, and political party leader four terms in the state beginning ernor’s budget sets priorities and offers in 1974, to three terms in the state Senate beginning in 1982, solutions to state problems. Citizens of a Rank Which of the governor’s du- and to two terms as lieutenant governor in 1992 and 1996. state look to this budget as an indication ties do you think is most important? Minner has also been honored in Delaware as Mother of the of leadership. Year and Woman of the Year. Which is least important? Explain • Power to Make Appointments A num- your answer. Students should choose Draw Inferences Why might issues such as adult education and ber of state agencies help the governor from the duties the governor has as child welfare be important to Governor Minner? carry out the laws. Most states have execu- chief legislator, chief executive, and tive departments that include agriculture, political party leader and other duties. justice, labor, public safety (which includes the state police), public works, and trans- Most governors serve four-year terms. portation. Each state agency has a specifi c In some states, such as and area of responsibility. For example, the Linking to Today , they serve for two years. About state board of health enforces health laws half of the states limit their governors to Women Governors In 1924, Nellie Tay- and recommends measures to improve the one or two terms in offi ce. loe Ross of and Miriam “Ma” health of state citizens. The department of The salaries of governors vary greatly human services supervises programs that Ferguson of were elected as the from state to state. For example, the gover- help people who are disabled, poor, or fi rst women governors. Since then, more nor of receives $179,000 a year. unemployed. Other state agencies admin- than 20 women have served as governor. The governor of receives $126,000 a ister state laws on conservation and public As of the end of 2004, a record eight year, and the governor of receives utilities. women held the offi ce of governor at $85,000 per year. In addition, governors Although voters elect some of the usually receive an allowance for expenses, the same time (Janet Napolitano, Ari- heads of these agencies in some states, the such as travel. In most states governors and zona; M. Jodi Rell, ; Ruth governor usually has the power to appoint their families live in an offi cial residence in Ann Minner, Delaware; Linda Lingle, these state offi cials. Appointments typical- the state capital. ; Kathleen Sebelius, Kansas; ly require confi rmation by the state Sen- Kathleen Blanco, ; Jennifer Powers and Duties of Governors ate. An offi cial who has been appointed by Granholm, ; Christine Gre- A state governor is the highest-ranking offi - the governor can usually be removed or goire, ). cial at the state level. He or she is responsible replaced by the governor. for “faithfully executing the laws” of the • Power to Supervise State Employees In state. Like the president, a governor plays most states, many important state agencies many roles in his or her state. The three main are under the governor’s control. By direct- roles are chief executive, chief legislator, and ing the operation of these agencies, the political party leader. governor can have a major impact on state

214 CHAPTER 8

Differentiating Instruction Below Level Special Needs Students Complete a Graphic Organizer 2. Then have students fi ll in the organizer. Tell of the Governor’s Duties them to add bullets as necessary. 1. Create the following graphic organizer on the 3. Circulate to make sure students’ organizers chalkboard: are correct and provide assistance as needed. Chief Legislator: (Legislator: proposes laws, addresses • legislature; Executive: budget, appointments, Governor: Powers Chief Executive: state employees; Party Leader: shapes Answers • and Responsibilities opinions, campaigns; Other: police, militia, Focus On because they were important Political Party Leader: National Guard, ) Verbal/Linguistic, to her as she tried to further her • Visual/Spatial education as an adult to make enough Other powers: Alternative Assessment Handbook: Rubric 13: money to raise her children • Graphic Organizers 214 policies and state action. Overall, the 50 Other State state employ more than 4.7 million people. Executive Officials Most state government jobs are open Each state also has a number of other exec- to any qualifi ed citizen who passes a state utive branch offi cials to help run the state examination. However, some state jobs are government and enforce state laws. In most Reading Focus fi lled through patronage . That is, the jobs states voters elect these offi cials. In some are given to people recommended by politi- states, however, the governor appoints Who are the other offi cials of state cal party leaders. Such jobs often go to people these offi cials who are then a part of the executive branches? who provided valuable help during the elec- governor’s . tion campaign. Other State Executive Lieutenant Governor Chief Legislator Only the state legislature can Most states have a lieutenant governor . Officials pass laws, but the governor plays an impor- The lieutenant governor becomes head of tant part in proposing new laws. The gover- Identify Name the other offi cials of the state executive branch if the governor nor usually appears before the state legislature the state executive branch. lieutenant dies, resigns, or is removed from offi ce. The at one of its early meetings. In some states this governor, secretary of state, attorney lieutenant governor often serves as the pre- takes the form of a state of the state address siding offi cer of the state senate. In some general, state treasurer, state auditor, to the legislature. At this meeting, the gover- states it is possible for the lieutenant gover- superintendent of public instruction nor outlines laws he or she thinks should be nor and the governor to belong to different passed. The governor may also submit legisla- Draw Conclusions How do the political parties. tion that he or she wants passed. He or she state treasurer and state auditor work frequently talks to leaders of the legislature, together to handle state funds? The urging them to pass specifi c bills and oppose Governor Helps Out state auditor has to make sure that any others. State legislators know that if they pass Governor Haley Barbour of money spent by the state treasurer is a the governor opposes, the governor also helps unload water and other supplies authorized. has the power to veto legislation. as part of relief efforts for residents of Mississippi affected by Hurricane Political Party Leader Make Judgments Do you think the The governor is the Katrina in 2005. head of his or her political party in the state. governor should appoint top state of- State senators and representatives within the fi cials or should the people elect them? governor’s party often model their opinions Explain your answer. Possible answers: and policies after the governor’s. The gover- The governor should appoint them nor can help them during their campaigns because he or she has to work closely for re–election. with them. The people should choose Other Powers A governor has many other who they think is best for the job. powers. Directors of many state agencies are Challenge and Enrichment Activities: appointed by the governor. The heads of the Chapter 8 state police force and state militia report to the governor. In times of emergency, such as during fl oods or hurricanes, the governor may call out the National Guard to help keep Reading Skill order and assist with relief efforts. The gov- Ask students to fi nd and ernor also has the judicial power to pardon read a speech or other primary source certain prisoners. materials by one of the state offi cials READING CHECK Summarizing What are three discussed in the section, besides the main roles of governors, and what responsibilities governor. Then have them write a brief does each role entail? paragraph summarizing the speech or other material and its goal. STATE GOVERNMENT 215

Collaborative Learning At Level Conduct a Mock Interview of a State Offi cial 1. Distribute “Lesson 8: The State Executive 4. Have students tape the shows and play them Branch in the News” from the Simulations for the class. As students watch the shows, and Case Studies booklet. have them take notes on who the offi cials are 2. Organize students into small groups and have and what their responsibilities are. them research a current state offi cial. Interpersonal, Verbal/Linguistic Simulations and Case Studies: Lesson 8: The Answers 3. Have each group create a television news State Executive Branch in the News program in which they interview the offi cial. Reading Check chief executive: draws up a budget, appoints state officials and Students should decide who plays the parts of Alternative Assessment Handbook: Rubric 22: Multimedia Presentations works with them to carry out laws; chief the offi cial, interviewer, and television crew. legislator: proposes laws, signs laws, and puts them into action; political party leader: head of political party in the state 215 Secretary of State State Auditor The secretary of state keeps state records and The state auditor ensures that no public carries out election laws. In states without funds from the state treasury are used with- a lieutenant governor, the secretary of state out authorization. The auditor also regularly Close may take over as governor if the governor’s examines the state’s fi nancial records to make offi ce becomes vacant. sure that they are correct. The auditor is some- Review with students the positions times called the . in the state executive branch and the Attorney General Superintendent of Public Instruction responsibilities of each offi cial. The attorney general is in charge of the state’s The superintendent of public instruction legal business, or matters concerning the law. carries out the policies of the state board Review He or she provides state offi cials with advice of education. The state board makes regu- about the meaning of laws. The attorney gen- Online Quiz: Section 3 lations, under state law, that govern local eral or an assistant represents the state in court Quiz Game school districts. The superintendent dis- when the state is involved in a lawsuit. The tributes state funds to local school systems attorney general may also assist local offi cials Assess according to state and federal laws. In some in the prosecution of criminals. SE Section 3 Assessment states this offi cial is called the superinten- dent of public schools or the state commis- Daily Quizzes: Section 3 State Treasurer sioner of education. In some states the state treasurer is in charge Reteach of handling all state funds. Sometimes this READING CHECK Supporting a Point of Main Idea Activities for Differentiated offi cial supervises the collection of and View Which official do you think has the most Instruction: Section 3 pays the state’s bills as well. important responsibilities, and why?

go.hrw.com Online Quiz KEYWORD: SZ7 HP8 SECTION 3 ASSESSMENT

Reviewing Ideas and Terms Critical Thinking 1. a. Defi ne Write a brief defi nition for the terms 3. Categorizing Copy the graphic organizer. Use it governor and patronage . and your notes to identify the role of each state offi cial. b. Summarize What are the primary powers and duties of most governors? Position Duties c. Draw Conclusions How does the governor’s Lieutenant Governor legislative power infl uence the types of bills legisla- Secretary of State tors introduce? Attorney General d. Make Predictions What might happen if State Treasurer the governor and legislature do not agree on State Auditor legislative priorities? Superintendent of Public Instruction 2. a. Defi ne Write a brief defi nition for the term lieutenant governor . Focus on Writing b. Identify What state executive offi cials deal with 4. Problem Solving state fi nances? Imagine that you are part of the governor’s executive team. You have been asked c. Compare and Contrast How are the duties to put into action a bill that creates new after-school and responsibilities of the lieutenant governor programs. Write out a plan for this program. similar to those of the vice president of the ? How are they different?

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Section 3 Assessment Answers

1. a. governor, p. 213; patronage p. 215 b. pro- positions dies or is removed from office; pose, sign, and enact laws; create a budget; the lieutenant governor serves as presiding appoint other state officials; lead his or her officer of the state senate, and the vice presi- political party in the state c. Legislators know dent serves as presiding officer of the U.S. Answers the governor can veto bills or sign them into Senate. law, so he or she has great influence on the 3. See pages 215–216 for roles. bills introduced. d. Bills will not be passed. Reading Check Students should 4. Students’ program suggestions should be choose from the governor, lieutenant 2. a. lieutenant governor, p. 215 b. state trea- educational in some way and should include governor, secretary of state, surer and state auditor c. Both take over mention of state officials who would be state treasurer, state auditor, and the position above them if the person in that superintendent of public instruction, and needed to implement the program(s). should provide a complete explanation for their choice. 216