Signs of a confrontation between Raj Bhavan and the elected government in a State are not infrequent in the country. The onus often appears to be on the Chief Ministers to avert a constitutional crisis, as evidenced by Pinarayi Vijayan trying to buy peace with a miffed Governor, Arif Mohammed Khan, rather than pursue a confrontational course, over several issues in recent times. One way of seeing these developments is to attribute them to the appointment of those who have been politically active in the recent past as Governors and the partisan role they play as agents of the Centre. However, the problems may have to do with the way they understand their own powers. Constrained by the ‘aid and advice’ clause in their routine functioning, some Governors seem to be using the discretionary space available to them to keep regimes on tenterhooks. A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court laid down in 1974 that the President and Governor shall “exercise their formal constitutional powers only upon and in accordance with the advice of their Ministers save in a few well-known exceptional situations” — “situations” also illustratively listed. Yet, there is the extraordinary situation of some Governors not acting upon requests to grant clemency or assent to Bills; and, in one instance in Tamil Nadu, a reluctance to reserve for the President’s consideration a Bill that expressly requires Presidential assent because of obvious conflict with a central law. Show Much of the conflict arises due to the Constitution itself. It fixes no time-frame for the Governors to act, and contains, in Article 163, an unusual power to choose what is in their discretion and what is not, with the courts being barred from inquiring into whether any advice and, if so, what advice was given. The Sarkaria Commission on Centre-State relations recommended no change in this scheme, but it is time it is revisited. While as the ‘lynchpin’ of the constitutional apparatus, Governors indeed have a duty to defend the Constitution and encourage or caution the elected regime, the impression that Governors are not obliged to heed Cabinet advice persists in some areas. At a time when regional political forces are actively seeking to be heard by the Centre, it may be time that the provisions relating to the Governor’s role are amended. Identifying areas of discretion, fixing a time-frame for them to act, and making it explicit that they are obliged to go by Cabinet advice on dealing with Bills can be considered. Regarding Bills, it is clear that the Constituent Assembly passed the provision for Governors to return Bills for reconsideration only on the express assurance that they have no discretion at all. In addition, as suggested by the M.M. Punchhi Commission, ending the practice of burdening Governors with the office of Chancellor in universities should also be considered.
Politics starts at the local level. In this series on our blog, we’re taking an in-depth look at local elected offices. As much as our lives are influenced by the legislators in Washington, our lives are significantly impacted by local elected officials, such as governors. Learn more about what a governor is, what a governor does, and how you can become one. What is a Governor?A governor is the chief executive of the state. The governor is also the commander-in-chief of the National Guard in each state. Governors hold the highest power and executive authority as an elected official in all the states across the U.S. Following the governor, a lieutenant governor is the second-highest executive position held in all the states except in Maine, New Hampshire, Wyoming, Arizona, and Oregon. The lieutenant governor is second in the line of succession for governor. Fun Fact: 17 U.S. presidents served as state governors prior to their presidency. What are the responsibilities of a Governor?The responsibilities of a governor differ from state to state, which are laid out in the state’s constitution. A governor of a state is often compared to the president, but comparatively on a lower level, in terms of responsibilities and power. After the state legislature passes the bill, the governor signs the bill into law and implements it. Some of the other major responsibilities of a governor are overseeing executive branch operations, preparing and administering the state budget, holding special sessions of the state legislature, and appointing people to state offices, including the head of the National Guard. In most states, governors also hold the authority to appoint state court judges. Governors also deliver State of the State address. A governor has the power to veto legislation and issue an executive order as well. But not all governors have the authority to line-item veto. Under a state of crisis, the power of a governor increases fundamentally to ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents. For example, statewide policies like lockdowns and mask mandates are the responsibility of the governor, under the 10th Amendment. What is the tenure of a Governor?The gubernatorial term limits range according to states and U.S. territories. In twenty-three states, including Alaska, Colorado, and New Jersey, and three territories—Guam, American Samoa, and U.S. Virgin Islands—a governor can serve for two four-year terms. Governors in those states and territories can get re-elected numerous times, but cannot hold office for more than two tenures in consecutive order. Similarly, the governors of Indiana and Oregon can only serve for two four-year terms during any twelve-year period. The governors of Wyoming and Montana are limited to eight years in office within any sixteen-year period. However, the term limits for governors of New Hampshire and Vermont are slightly different where the governor is elected for an unlimited two-year term. In eight states like California, Delaware and Oklahoma, and the Northern Mariana Islands, governors can only serve for two tenures of eight years. But governors in twelve states, such as New York, Texas, and Minnesota, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, can get elected for unlimited four-year terms. Who can run for Governor?Governors are directly elected in all the U.S. states. The eligibility requirements to run for gubernatorial elections vary state by state. The basic requirements of minimum age, state residency, and U.S. citizenship vary diversely. Generally, the minimum age requirement of a candidate can range from no requirement to 35 years old at the time of the election. A candidate may be required to be a resident of the particular state, where he or she is running for the gubernatorial election, for at least seven years or no specification. Similarly, the U.S. citizenship requirements may also vary from no requirement to at least twenty years. Like every other elected official, such as a mayor, governors affect our lives. Make sure to use your political power to elect the gubernatorial candidate of your choice. You can learn more about your state governor here. At IGNITE, we’re here to help you own your political ambition and run for public office. Start training with us today! What is the main purpose of the governor?Governors, all of whom are popularly elected, serve as the chief executive officers of the fifty-five states, commonwealths, and territories of the United States. As state managers, Governors are responsible for implementing state laws and overseeing the operation of the state executive branch.
What is the function of governor in turbine?Governing system or governor is the main controller of the hydraulic turbine. The governor varies the water flow through the turbine to control its speed or power output. Generating units speed and system frequency may be adjusted by the governor.
What is the significance of the line item veto?The line-item veto, also called the partial veto, is a special form of veto power that authorizes a chief executive to reject particular provisions of a bill enacted by a legislature without vetoing the entire bill. Many countries have different standards for invoking the line-item veto if it exists at all.
What is the most important power of the governor?In addition to the prestige of the office, most governors also had two important constitutional powers—the power to recommend and the power of the veto.
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