The executive branch is Georgia's largest branch. It is responsible for insurance, education, labor, public services, and much more. It is made up of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Labor, Commissioner of Insurance, Public Services Commissioners, Secretary of State and the State School Superintendent.
The Governor
The Governor is elected by popular vote. He/she may serve 2 consecutive 4 year terms. In order to be governor, you must be at least 30. You must be a U.S citizen for at least 15 years. You must be a resident of the state for at least 6 years. If the Governor dies/resigns, Lieutenant governor takes over until the next election. If both officers die, then the Speaker of the House of Representatives serves.
Informal and Formal powers of the Governor
The Governor has both informal and formal powers. The formal powers of the government include management of the state's budget, Making an annual "State of the State" address to the legislature, preparing budget bills, commander-in-chief of the Georgia national guard, head of the state's civil defense, and the sender of Highway Patrol officers and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in communities in times of danger.
The Informal Powers of the Governor including guiding state agencies, issuing proclamations, appointing people to state boards and executive offices, working with legislators to get laws passed, representing the state in various meetings and events, and communicating personal position on important issues. Our current governor is Nathan Deal.
But our most famous governor is....
Governor Jimmy Carter
Lieutenant Governor
Like the governor, the Lieutenant governor is elected by the popular vote. He/she can serve unlimited terms. The qualifications are the same for governor. The lieutenant governor is the leading officer of the State Senate. He/she makes Senate committee appointments, assigns senate bills, recognizes members of the Senate who wish to speak. He/she also affects the passage/failure of some Senate bills. Our Lieutenant Governor is Casey Cagle.
Attorney General
The Attorney General is the Chief Legal Officer of the State. He is also the head of the department of law. Our Attorney General is Sam Olens.
Commissioner of Agriculture
The Commissioner of Agriculture Is the head of the agriculture department. He directs agriculture or agribusiness programs. He/she maintains state farmers' markets, supervises inspections and other services, and expands market opportunities for agriculture. Our Commissioner of Agriculture is Gary Black.
Commissioner of Labor
The Commissioner of Labor is the head of the Labor department. He is responsible for regulating the health and safety of workers, enforcing safety laws, providing insurance for the unemployed, and keeping track of labor data. Our Commissioner of Labor is Mark Butler.
Commissioner of Insurance
The Commissioner of Insurance keeps track of insurance carriers, and issues insurance licenses. Our current commissioner of Insurance is Ralph T. Hudgens.
Public service Commissioners
Public Service Commissioners keep track of utilities in Georgia and controls the rate of transportation, telephone, and electric companies.
Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is Brian Kemp. He maintains the state's official records, publishes laws, monitors elections, appoints examining boards, Grants Corporate Charters, and keeps track of security, stocks, and bonds.
State School Superintendent
The State school Superintendent is Dr. John D. Barge. He is the director of statewide educational programs. He enforces state education laws. He administers state and educational funds. He certifies and licences teachers and other educators, and he approves textbooks for use in the schools.