Governor of Vermont
{{short description|Head of state and of government of the U.S. state of Vermont}}
{{For|a list|List of governors of Vermont}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Governor
| body = Vermont
| native_name =
| insignia = Coat of arms of Vermont.svg
| insigniasize = 110px
| insigniacaption = Arms of the State of Vermont
| insigniaalt = Arms of the State of Vermont
| image = Phil Scott 2019 (cropped).jpg
| imagesize = 200px
| alt =
| imagecaption =
| incumbent = Phil Scott
| acting =
| incumbentsince = January 5, 2017
| department = Government of Vermont
| status = Head of state
Head of government
| residence = None official
| seat = State House
{{small|(Ceremonial office)}}
The Pavilion
{{small|(Working office)}}
| nominator = Political parties
| appointer = Majority vote
| termlength = Two years, no term limits
| constituting_instrument = Constitution of Vermont
| precursor = Governor of the Vermont Republic
| inaugural = Thomas Chittenden
| formation =
| succession = Line of succession
| deputy = Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
| website = {{Official_website}}
| footnotes =
}}
The governor of Vermont is the head of government of the U.S. state of Vermont. The officeholder is elected in even-numbered years by direct voting for a term of two years. Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every two years, instead of every four as in the other 48 U.S. states.{{cite news |last1=Ring |first1=Wilson |title=Two-year terms in Vt., New Hampshire, keep governors constantly on the campaign trail |url=https://www.timesargus.com/news/two-year-terms-in-vt-new-hampshire-keep-governors-constantly/article_078074de-898b-5a9a-9fdf-8195c08ca0cf.html |access-date=November 11, 2018 |via=Barre Montpelier Times Argus |agency=Associated Press |date=November 7, 2006 |language=en |archive-date=July 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730124516/https://www.timesargus.com/news/two-year-terms-in-vt-new-hampshire-keep-governors-constantly/article_078074de-898b-5a9a-9fdf-8195c08ca0cf.html |url-status=live }}
There is no limit on the number of terms a Vermont governor can serve.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G02/VT.phtml|title=Vermont 2002 Midterm Election|website=www.thegreenpapers.com|access-date=2018-03-13|archive-date=2019-07-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730124525/http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G02/VT.phtml|url-status=dead}} If no candidate receives at least 50% plus one vote of all votes for governor cast in the election, the governor of Vermont is then elected by the state legislature.Constitution of Vermont Chapter 2, Section 20. The incumbent Vermont governor is Republican Phil Scott. He was sworn in on January 5, 2017, becoming Vermont's 82nd governor.{{cite web |title=Governor Scott Inaugural Address |url=https://governor.vermont.gov/sites/scott/files/documents/Governor%20Phil%20Scott%20Inaugural%20Address_01-05-17.pdf |website=Official Vermont Government Website |access-date=2 February 2025}}
Function
File:PavilionMansard3.png in Montpelier, location of the governor of Vermont's working offices]]
The governor's working offices are located in The Pavilion in the state capital of Montpelier, Vermont.{{cite web |last1=Strahan |first1=Derek |title=The Pavilion, Montpelier, Vermont - Lost New England |url=https://lostnewengland.com/2021/10/the-pavilion-montpelier-vermont/ |website=Lost New England |access-date=3 February 2025 |date=8 October 2021}} The Governor's ceremonial office, used during the legislative session of the General Assembly, is located in the Vermont State House, also in Montpelier.{{cite web |title=Kunin in ceremonial office, 1986 · Digital Vermont: A Project of the Vermont Historical Society |url=https://www.digitalvermont.org/items/show/1891?advanced%5B%5D%5Belement_id%5D=7&advanced%5B%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B%5D%5Bterms%5D=Broadsides+&sort_field=added |website=Digital Vermont |access-date=3 February 2025}}
The Constitution of Vermont details the powers of the governor:{{cite web |title=Vermont Governor |url=https://www.runforoffice.org/elected_offices/48405-vermont-governor |website=Run For Office |access-date=1 January 2023 |language=en |archive-date=1 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101145115/https://www.runforoffice.org/elected_offices/48405-vermont-governor |url-status=live }}
- To commission or appoint all officers ("except where provision is, or shall be, otherwise made by law or this Frame of Government")
- To fill all vacancies in office until the office can be filled in the manner directed by state constitution or by state law
- To correspond with other States
- To "transact business with officers of government, civil and military"
- To "prepare such business as may appear necessary, to lay before the General Assembly.
- To grant pardons and remit fines, except for cases of treason, in which the governor may only grant reprieves until the end of the next session of the General Assembly, and for cases of impeachment, in which the governor cannot grant either reprieves or pardons
- To "take care that the laws be faithfully executed" and "expedite the execution of such measures as may be resolved upon by the General Assembly"
- To "draw upon the Treasury for such sums as may be appropriated by the General Assembly"
- To "lay embargoes, or prohibit the exportation of any commodity" for up to 30 days during a recess of the General Assembly
- To "grant such licenses as shall be directed by law"
- To call special sessions of the General Assembly when necessary
- To be the "Captain-General and Commander-in-Chief" of the "forces of the State" (the Vermont State Guard and Vermont National Guard), although the governor cannot "command in person, in time of war, or insurrection, unless by the advice and consent of the Senate, and no longer than they shall approve thereof"
The lieutenant governor of Vermont is elected separately from the governor.{{cite web |url=https://sos.vermont.gov/vsara/learn/constitution/1793-constitution/ |title=Vermont Constitution – 1793 – Chapter II |website=sos.vermont.gov |publisher=Vermont Secretary of State |location=Montpelier, VT |access-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118163132/https://sos.vermont.gov/vsara/learn/constitution/1793-constitution/ |url-status=live }} If the incumbent governor dies, resigns or is removed from office via impeachment, then the lieutenant governor becomes governor. The lieutenant governor is also the lieutenant general "forces of the State".
Succession
{{main|Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Vermont}}
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
;General
{{Refbegin}}
- Doyle, William T. "The Vermont Political Tradition and Those Who Helped Make It." Doyle Publisher: 1987. {{ISBN|0-9615486-1-4}}.
- Duffy, John J., et al. The Vermont Encyclopedia. University Press of New England: 2003. {{ISBN|1-58465-086-9}}.
- Potash, P. Jeffrey, et al. Freedom and Unity: A History of Vermont. Vermont Historical Society: 2004. {{ISBN|0-934720-49-5}}.
{{Refend}}
External links
{{Commons category|Governors of Vermont}}
- [http://www.vermont.gov/governor/ Official website of the Governor of Vermont]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070722214334/http://www.snellingcenter.org/constitutionalamendment/publicopinion/ Snelling Center for Government study and poll on the length of term of Vermont governors]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070806170522/http://vermont.gov/index.shtml Government of Vermont portal]
{{Vermont}}
{{US Chief Executives}}
{{Governors of Vermont}}
{{Vermont statewide elected officials}}