Governor of California

The Governor of California is the highest executive authority in the state government, whose responsibilities include making yearly "state of the state" addresses to the state legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced and government runs smoothly.

The governor has the power to veto legislation, overrideable by a two-thirds majority in both houses, and can veto particular items from an appropriations bill while leaving others intact (see line-item veto). Law-enforcement powers include the ability to grant pardons and commute sentences, as well as serving as the commander-in-chief of the state militia (see National Guard).

Governors are elected by popular ballot and serve terms of four years, with a maximum of two terms. At the time of this writing, the current governor is Gray Davis, a Democrat elected in 1998 and reelected in November 2002.

See also List of California Governors

• The governor's office maintains a web site at http://www.governor.ca.gov/state/govsite/gov_homepage.jsp