Malcolm Rivera
The current Georgia Constitution does not impose term limits on governors. However, governors are limited to two consecutive terms but are eligible to run again after four years out of office. This is similar to the situation in several other states, including Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia. The lack of term limits in Georgia means that a governor could theoretically serve an infinite number of terms if they remain popular enough to keep getting re-elected.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Does the current Georgia Constitution impose term limits on governors? | No, but governors are limited to two consecutive terms of four years each, after which they can serve again after a gap of four years. |
| Number of states with term limits on governors | 37 |
| Number of states without term limits on governors | 13 |
| States without term limits on governors | Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin |
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What You'll Learn
History of term limits in Georgia
The history of term limits for governors in Georgia has been a dynamic one, with several changes over the years.
Under the 1777 constitution, governors were restricted and could not hold office for more than one year out of three. The 1789 constitution then lengthened the terms to two years. The 1865 constitution mandated a four-year break after serving two terms, but this was short-lived as the 1868 constitution removed term limits altogether, allowing four-year terms.
In 1877, the term length was reverted to the previous two-year limit, and governors were required to take a four-year break before running again. This changed once more in 1945, when the term length was increased to four years. The 1983 constitution allowed governors to succeed themselves once before having to wait four years to run again.
There have been 83 governors of Georgia, with 11 serving more than one term. The longest-serving governors each served two full four-year terms.
Currently, 37 states in the US impose term limits on their governors, and Georgia is one of them. The typical limit is two consecutive four-year terms.
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Current term limits in Georgia
The governor of Georgia is subject to term limits. Specifically, Georgia's governors are limited to two consecutive terms but are eligible to run again after a four-year break. This is a common limit, with 37 states imposing term restrictions on their governors.
Historically, the state's rules regarding gubernatorial terms have been subject to frequent change. Under the Rules and Regulations of 1776, considered the first constitution, the chief executive was a president chosen by the legislature every six months. The 1777 constitution replaced the president with a governor, chosen annually, who could only serve one year out of every three. The governor's term was doubled to two years in 1789, and popular elections were introduced in 1824. The 1865 constitution limited governors to two consecutive terms of two years, with the possibility of re-election after a four-year break. This was extended to a single four-year term in 1868, but the 1865 provisions were reinstated in 1877.
Despite these term limits, there have been 77 governors of Georgia, 11 of whom served multiple non-consecutive terms. This is theoretically possible due to the lack of restrictions on consecutive terms served by a governor and lieutenant governor, provided they maintain their popularity.
There is currently a national campaign to impose term limits on Congress, with Georgia being one of the first target states. The campaign aims to use a term limits convention as a means to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
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Governors' powers
The powers of governors vary from state to state in the US. Governors generally possess broad executive authority to act within their states. In Georgia, the governor has the following powers:
- The governor is the chief executive of the state and oversees the executive branch.
- The governor is the commander in chief of the state's military forces.
- The governor has the power to veto, approve, or take no action on any bill or resolution passed by the General Assembly.
- The governor is the director of the state budget and can make budgetary decisions about any department of state government.
- The governor has the power to appoint individuals to public offices and can fill vacancies in certain offices.
- The governor can require information in writing from constitutional officers and all other officers and employees of the executive branch.
- The governor can grant clemency, including pardons and commutations.
In addition to these specific powers, the governor's influence in Georgia extends to every level of state government, including the elected heads of various state departments. The governor's budgetary power and control over discretionary spending further enhance their influence in the state.
It is worth noting that Georgia's constitution imposes a term limit of two consecutive terms for governors, which is a common feature in many states.
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Lieutenant governor's role
The current Georgia Constitution does not impose term limits on governors, nor does it impose term limits on lieutenant governors.
The Lieutenant Governor of Georgia is the second-ranking officer of the executive branch and the first in line to succeed the Governor of Georgia. The Lieutenant Governor is elected independently of the Governor and serves as the President of the Georgia State Senate.
The role was created by an amendment to the state constitution in 1945, with Melvin E. Thompson becoming the first person elected to the office in 1946. The Lieutenant Governor's primary duty is to serve as President of the Senate, where they preside over debates and cast tie-breaking votes. They are not a member of the Senate and are therefore barred from sponsoring legislation.
The Lieutenant Governor also assumes the duties and powers of the Governor in the event of their incapacity, death, or removal from office by the State Supreme Court. In such cases, the Lieutenant Governor does not assume the title of Governor but exercises their powers until the next general election.
The current Lieutenant Governor of Georgia is Burt Jones, who assumed office in 2023.
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Governors' eligibility
The current Georgia Constitution does not impose term limits on governors. However, to be eligible for election to the office of Governor, a person must be a citizen of the United States for 15 years, a legal resident of the state for six years immediately preceding the election, and must have attained the age of 30 years by the date of assuming office.
Historically, the state has had various constitutions and rules regarding the governor's term limits. The 1776 Rules and Regulations of Georgia, considered the state's first constitution, had a president chosen by the legislature every six months. This was soon replaced by the 1777 constitution, which provided for a governor to be selected by the legislature annually, with a term limited to one year out of every three. The governor's term was extended to two years under the 1789 constitution, and an 1824 amendment allowed for the governor to be popularly elected.
The 1865 constitution, following Georgia's surrender in the Civil War, restricted governors to two consecutive terms of two years each, but they could run again after a four-year break. The Reconstruction constitution of 1868 extended the governor's term to four years. After Reconstruction, the 1877 constitution reverted to the 1865 rules.
Currently, 37 states have term restrictions for their governors, while 13 states, including Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, do not. The most typical restriction is for two back-to-back four-year terms. Virginia is the only state that only allows one consecutive term, but former governors can run again after four years.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the current Georgia Constitution does not impose term limits on governors. However, there is a national campaign to limit the terms of Congress, with Georgia as one of the first target states.
Yes, historically, there have been several changes to the term limits for governors in Georgia. The 1865 Constitution limited governors to two consecutive terms of two years each, with the ability to serve again after a gap of four years. This was changed by the 1877 Constitution, which removed the term limit.
Yes, 37 states in the US have some form of term limit on the office of governor, with the most common limit being two consecutive four-year terms. Only Virginia has a one-term consecutive limit. 13 states do not impose term limits on their governors, including New Hampshire and Vermont, which have two-year terms.
