Governor of Vermont

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Vermont

Vermont State Executives
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Contents

The Governor of the Commonwealth of Vermont is an elected Constitutional officer, the head of the Executive branch, and the highest state office in Vermont. The Governor is popularly elected every two years by a plurality and has no term limit.

Current officeholder

The 81st and current governor is Peter Shumlin, a Democrat elected in 2010.

Authority

The state Constitution addresses the office of the governor in both Chapter II, Sections 1-5, the Delegations and Distribution of Powers and Chapter II, Sections 20-27, Executive Department.

Under Section I:

The Commonwealth or State of Vermont shall be governed by a Governor...

Additionally, under Section I:

The Supreme Executive power shall be exercised by a Governor...

Qualifications

A candidate for governor must be:

  • a resident of Vermont for at least four years on the day of the election

Governors may not hold any legislative office or any other Constitutional office. Excepting positions in military reserves, they also may not hold any office under the federal government. Nor is the Governor eligible for any appointed position made by any branch of the Vermont government.

Elections

Vermont's Constitution address gubernatorial elections not in the section on the Executive but in Chapter II, Section 43-55, Elections; Officers; Terms of Office.

Vermont is one of only two states that elects governors biennially, that is, each even-numbered year. For Vermont, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016 are all gubernatorial election years. Legally, the gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the first Thursday following the first Tuesday in the January following an election. Thus, January 6, 2011, January 3, 2013, and January 8, 2015 are inaugural days.

If the office of the Governor is not filled in the election, a joint session of the legislature shall cast ballots to choose among three candidates.

Vacancies

See also: How gubernatorial vacancies are filled

Details of vacancy appointments are addressed under Chapter II, Section 24

The Lieutenant Governor becomes Governor anytime the elected Governor is absent or unable to discharge the office and anytime the office is vacant.

The legislature is Constitutionally required to draft laws providing for the line of succession if the Lieutenant Governor's office is also vacant.

Duties

Vermont

Vermont's Governor is charged to uphold and execute all laws, expedite legislative business as needed (§ 20).

According to the state Constitution the Governor has limited powers to grant pardons and reprieves and the power to call special sessions of the General Assembly when necessary (§ 20).

The governor is the commander-in-chief of the naval and militia forces, but may directly command those forced unless permitted to do so by the Senate (§ 20).

Other duties and privileges of the office include:

  • Commissioning all officers of the state (§ 20)
  • Making all appointments not otherwise provided for and making interim appointments to all vacant offices until the legal procedure for filling the office is performed (§ 20)
  • Granting reprieves in all cases except treason and granting pardons in all cases except impeachment (§ 200
  • Granting licenses as permitted by law (§ 20)
  • Drawing upon the Treasury for sums already appropriated by the General Assembly (§ 20)
  • Laying embargoes for up to 30 days when the legislature is in recess (§ 20)
  • Commissioning a Secretary of Military and Civil Affairs at her pleasure. Such an officer serves at the Governor's pleasure (§ 21)
  • Sealing and signing all commissions made by the state of Vermont (§ 22)
  • Keeping and using "The Great Seal of the State of Vermont" (§ 22)
  • Appointing a Treasurer when the office become vacant (§ 24)

Compensation

See also: Comparison of gubernatorial salaries

As of 2010, the Governor of Vermont is paid $142,542 a year, the 15th highest gubernatorial salary in America.

Contact information

109 State Street, Pavilion
Montpelier, VT 05609-0101
Phone:802-828-3333
Fax:802-828-3339

See also

External links

 		Suggest a link

References

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