Residence Cedar Crest Salary $99,636 (2013) | Formation February 9, 1861 Website www.governor.ks.gov/ | |
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Term length Four years, renewable once | ||
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.
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History
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.
Territorial governors
Democratic(5) Independent(1)
State of Kansas
Democratic Populist(2) Republican
Other high offices held
This is a table of congressional seats, other federal offices, and other governorships held by governors. All representatives and senators mentioned represented Kansas except where noted. * denotes those offices which the governor resigned to take.
Living former U.S. governors of Kansas
As of January 2017, there are five former U.S. governors of Kansas who are currently living at this time, the oldest U.S. governor of Kansas being John W. Carlin (served 1979-1987, born 1940). The most recent U.S. governor of Kansas to die was John Anderson Jr. (served 1961-1965, born 1917), on September 15, 2014. The most recently serving U.S. governor of Kansas to die was Joan Finney, who served from January 14, 1991 until she left office on January 9, 1995 and died on July 28, 2001 at the age of 76.
Gubernatorial term of office
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 elections, 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.
Residence
Since 1962, the Governor of Kansas has resided in the governor's mansion, known as Cedar Crest. It was designed by the architect firm Wight and Wight. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.