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Governor of Kansas
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Governors are popularly elected by a plurality to four year terms, and no individual may serve more than two successive term.
Current officeholder
The 46th and current governor is Sam Brownback, a Republican elected on November 2010.
Authority
The state Constitution addresses the office of the governor in Article I, the Executive Department.
Under Article 1, Section III:
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The supreme executive power of this state shall be vested in a governor, who shall be responsible for the enforcement of the laws of this state. |
Qualifications
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Kansas' constitution does not set out requirements for office.
Elections
Kansas elects governors in the midterm elections, that is, even years that are not Presidential election years. For Kansas, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 are all gubernatorial election years. Legally, the gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the second Monday in the January following an election. Thus, January 10, 2011 and January 12, 2015 are inaugural days.
Vacancies
- See also: How gubernatorial vacancies are filled
Details of vacancies are addressed under Article 1, Section 11.
At any time the Governor is unable to discharge the office, temporarily or permanently, the Lieutenant Governor shall take his place until edthe disability is removed.
If the Lieutenant Governor is also disabled, the legislature shall determine the line of succession.
Duties
Under the Kansas Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Kansas executive branch. The governor is the Commander-in-Chief of the state National Guard when not called into federal use. Despite being an executive branch official, the governor also possesses legislative and judicial powers. The Governor's responsibilities include making yearly "State of the State" addresses to the Kansas Legislature, submitting the budget, ensuring that state laws are enforced, and that the peace is preserved.
Other duties and privileges of the office include:
- commanding reports from any other officer of the Executive on any aspect of their job. Heads of state institutions must also make annual reports to the Governor no later than ten days prior to the state of the regular legislative session (§ 4).
- calling the legislature into special session either by proclamation or following a petition signed by two-thirds the membership of either house (§ 5), as well as adjourning the legislature when the body cannot agree to do so itself
- reorganizing the parts of the Executive "for the purpose of transferring, abolishing, consolidating or coordinating" (§ 6)
- granting pardons (§ 7)
- keeping and officially using the Great Seal of Kansas (§ 8)
- making vacancies to the offices of Attorney General of Kansas and Kansas Secretary of State (§ 11)
Compensation
- See also: Comparison of gubernatorial salaries
Under Article 1, Section 13, the gubernatorial salary is legally fixed and may not be reduced during the current term, unless such a reduction applies to all salaried state officers. However, under Article 15, Section 7, the legislature may reduce the salary of an elected officer for gross neglect of duty.
As of 2010, the Governor of Kansas is paid $110,707 a year, the 36th highest gubernatorial salary in America.
Contact information
Office of the Governor
Capitol, 300 SW 10th Ave., Ste. 212S
Topeka, KS 66612-1590
Phone:785-296-3232
See also
- Governor of Kansas Sam Brownback
- Lieutenant Governor of Kansas
- Lieutenant Governor Jeff Colyer
- Kansas Attorney General
- Kansas Secretary of State
External links
References
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State of Kansas Topeka (capital) |
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List of Kansas ballot measures | Local ballot measures | School bond issues | Ballot measure laws | Campaign Finance Requirements | Recall process | |
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