The Governor of New Jersey is the chief executive of the U.S. state of New Jersey. The current holder of that office is Jon Corzine, who re-assumed executive powers on May 7,2007 from acting Gov. Richard Codey, after recuperating from an automobile accident on April 12, 2007. Corzine's term began on January 17, 2006 and continues until January 19, 2010.

Role

The governor is directly elected by the voters to become the political and ceremonial head of the sovereign state. The governor performs the executive functions of the state, and is not directly subordinate to the federal authorities. The governor assumes additional roles, such as being the Commander-in-Chief of the New Jersey National Guard forces (when they are not federalized).

The Governor of New Jersey is considered one of the most powerful governorships in the nation as it is currently the only state-wide (non-federal) elected office in the state. Thus, unlike many other states that have elections for some cabinet-level positions, under the New Jersey State Constitution the governor appoints the entire cabinet, subject to confirmation by the New Jersey Senate.

The Governor is also responsible for appointing two constitutionally created officers, the New Jersey Attorney General and the New Jersey Secretary of State, with the approval of the senate.

State law allows for a maximum salary of $175,000. Jon Corzine accepts a token salary of $1 per year as Governor. Jim McGreevey, his predecessor, took home an annual salary of $157,000.

The Executive Mansion and ceremonial residence of the governor is Drumthwacket, located in Princeton, New Jersey. Some governors have chosen to either live in the mansion part-time or in their own homes.

Lieutenant Governor

On Election Day, November 8, 2005, the voters passed an amendment to the New Jersey State Constitution that creates the position of Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey, effective with the 2009 elections. The amendment also provides that in the event of a permanent vacancy in the office of Governor before the first Lieutenant Governor takes office in 2010, the President of the New Jersey Senate would become Governor and would vacate his or her Senate seat. Should the offices of Governor and President of the Senate be simultaneously vacant (or should the President of the Senate decline to become Governor), the Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly would become Governor following a similar procedure.

Before this amendment was passed, an acting governor was even more powerful than an elected governor, as he simultaneously served as president of the New Jersey Senate, thus having a major hand in one half of the legislative process and being the executive process. As a result, Governor Richard Codey was the final person to wield such power.

See also

• List of Governors of New Jersey

References