The governor of Rhode Island is the head of government of the U.S. state of Rhode Island and serves as commander-in-chief and Captain-General of the state's Army National Guard and Air National Guard. The current governor is Dan McKee, a member of the Democratic Party. In their capacity as commander of the national guard, the governor of Rhode Island also has the title of captain general. Rhode Island is one of the few states that currently does not have a governor's mansion or other official residence.
Qualifications The following are the requirements to be elected Governor of Rhode Island: Be at least eighteen years of age Be a resident of the State of Rhode Island for at least thirty days Be a registered voter in Rhode Island
Constitutional authority and responsibilities Section I, Article IX of the Rhode Island Constitution reads,
The Governor of Rhode Island is elected every four years and is limited to two consecutive terms. As the chief executive of the Government of Rhode Island, the governor is supported by a number of elected general officers and appointed directors of state agencies.
Responsibilities granted to the governor by the Rhode Island Constitution include the position of commander-in-chief of all components of the Rhode Island National Guard, so long as they remain un-federalized by the president of the United States, and the responsibility to submit the annual state budget to the Rhode Island General Assembly.
The governor also has the power to grant pardons and veto bills, resolutions and votes subject to a two-thirds override.
Party affiliation +Number of governors of Rhode Island by party affiliationTable does not include governors from the colonial period, when there were no organized parties in Rhode Island, and governors were generally appointed rather than elected. It also does not include acting governors.Party GovernorsRepublican32Democratic22Democratic-Republican4Independent4Whig4Country3Law and Order2Dorr Rebellion1Federalist1Know Nothing1Rhode Island Party1
Colonial Rhode Island, 1640–1775
Timeline Timeline of Rhode Island governors
See also
Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
References
External links Office of the Governor Executive Orders from the Rhode Island State Archives State Photographer Alex Tavares photographs from the Rhode Island State Archives