Governor of Kansas
Encyclopedia
The Governor of the State of Kansas is the head of state
for the State of Kansas
, United States
. Under the Kansas Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government
, serving as the chief executive of the Kansas executive branch, of the government of Kansas
. The Governor is the Commander-in-Chief
of the Kansas 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
.
The office was created in 1861 when Kansas was officially admitted to the United States
as the 34th state
. Prior to statehood in 1861, the office was preceded by a Presidential
appointed Governor of Kansas Territory
with similar powers.
The 46th and current Governor of Kansas is Sam Brownback
. His term began on January 11, 2011. He succeeded Mark Parkinson
, who began his term on April 28, 2009 when Kathleen Sebelius
resigned upon the US Senate vote confirming her as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
There is no lifetime limit on the number of times he or she may be elected, but a governor who has been elected to two consecutive terms must be out of office for at least one election cycle before being eligible once again for re-election. Elections occur at the same time as the Congressional midterm election
s, and each term begins on the second Monday of January following the election. The lieutenant governor is subject to the same limitations and runs on a combined ticket with the governor.
If the governor becomes incapacitated, the lieutenant governor assumes the duties of the governor. However if both offices become vacant, the line of succession is determined by the legislature
. Under present law, the President of the Senate
would be next in line to assume the governorship, followed by the Speaker of the House.
. It was designed by the architect firm Wight and Wight
. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1982.
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
for the State of Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Under the Kansas Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
, serving as the chief executive of the Kansas executive branch, of the government of Kansas
Government of Kansas
The government of the US state of Kansas, established by the Kansas Constitution, is a republican democracy modeled after the Federal government of the United States. The state government has three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial...
. The Governor is the Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the Kansas National Guard
Kansas National Guard
The Kansas National Guard, is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. state of Kansas. It comprises both the Kansas Army National Guard and the Kansas Air National Guard. The Governor of Kansas is Commander-in-Chief of the Kansas National Guard when in state use...
when not called into Federal
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
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
Kansas Legislature
The Kansas Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Kansas. It is a bicameral assembly, composed of the lower Kansas House of Representatives, composed of 125 Representatives, and the upper Kansas Senate, with 40 Senators...
, submitting the budget, ensuring that state laws are enforced, and that the peace is preserved
Conservator of the Peace
A conservator of the peace is defined as a public official authorized to conserve and maintain the public peace.-Examples:Under common law, conservators of the peace included judges, police, sheriffs, and constables.The king is mentioned as the first...
.
The office was created in 1861 when Kansas was officially admitted to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as the 34th state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
. Prior to statehood in 1861, the office was preceded by a Presidential
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
appointed Governor of Kansas Territory
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas....
with similar powers.
The 46th and current Governor of Kansas is Sam Brownback
Sam Brownback
Samuel Dale "Sam" Brownback is the 46th and current Governor of Kansas. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a U.S. Senator from Kansas from 1996 to 2011, and as a U.S. Representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district from 1995 to 1996...
. His term began on January 11, 2011. He succeeded Mark Parkinson
Mark Parkinson
Mark V. Parkinson is the president and chief executive officer of the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living...
, who began his term on April 28, 2009 when Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius is an American politician currently serving as the 21st Secretary of Health and Human Services. She was the second female Governor of Kansas from 2003 to 2009, the Democratic respondent to the 2008 State of the Union address, and chair-emerita of the Democratic Governors...
resigned upon the US Senate vote confirming her as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
There is no lifetime limit on the number of times he or she may be elected, but a governor who has been elected to two consecutive terms must be out of office for at least one election cycle before being eligible once again for re-election. Elections occur at the same time as the Congressional midterm election
Midterm election
Midterm elections in the United States refer to general elections in the United States that are held two years after the quadrennial elections for the President of the United States...
s, and each term begins on the second Monday of January following the election. The lieutenant governor is subject to the same limitations and runs on a combined ticket with the governor.
If the governor becomes incapacitated, the lieutenant governor assumes the duties of the governor. However if both offices become vacant, the line of succession is determined by the legislature
Kansas Legislature
The Kansas Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Kansas. It is a bicameral assembly, composed of the lower Kansas House of Representatives, composed of 125 Representatives, and the upper Kansas Senate, with 40 Senators...
. Under present law, the President of the Senate
President of the Senate
The President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate, and is the speaker of other assemblies.The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's succession for its top executive office: for example, the President of the Senate of Nigeria is second in line...
would be next in line to assume the governorship, followed by the Speaker of the House.
Residence
Since 1962, the Governor of Kansas has resided in the governor's mansion, known as Cedar CrestCedar Crest (mansion)
The Kansas Governor's Residence, also known as Cedar Crest, is the official residence of the governor of Kansas. Built in 1928 and bequeathed to the state in 1955, it became the governor's residence in 1962....
. It was designed by the architect firm Wight and Wight
Wight and Wight
Wight and Wight, known also as Wight & Wight, was an architecture firm in Kansas City, Missouri consisting of the brothers Thomas Wight and William Wight who designed several landmark buildings in Missouri and Kansas....
. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1982.