GOVERNOR

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

State House, Annapolis, Maryland, January 2014. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Elected by popular vote for a term of four years, the Governor takes office on the third Wednesday of January following election. No person may serve as Governor for more than two consecutive terms.

To be eligible for the office of Governor, a person must be at least thirty years of age and must have been a resident and registered voter of the State for five years immediately preceding election (Const., Art. II, secs. 1, 3, 5, 8, 21, 21A).

Government House, Annapolis, Maryland, May 2003. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

To each annual session of the General Assembly, the Governor must submit a budget of government for the following fiscal year. The Governor also may inform the General Assembly at any time of the condition of the State (Const., Art. II, sec. 19; Art. III, sec. 52(3)). Most commonly, this occurs through the State of the State Address at the beginning of a regular legislative session in January or February.

Every bill passed by the General Assembly, except the annual budget bill, must be presented to the Governor before it becomes law. The Governor then may sign the bill into law or veto it. Any bill that the Governor vetoes may be passed without his signature by a three-fifths vote of the total number of members of each house of the General Assembly, either at the current session or at the session following. If a bill is presented more than six days before the General Assembly adjourns and is not vetoed within six days, or if a bill is presented within six days prior to the adjournment of the General Assembly and is not vetoed within thirty days after its presentment, then the bill becomes law without the Governor's signature. The Governor may veto any part of an appropriations bill, in the same manner as other bills, without vetoing it in its entirety (Const., Art. II, sec. 17; Art. III, sec. 52(6)).

The Governor is commander-in-chief of the military forces of the State - the National Guard - except when such forces are called into national service. If the National Guard is called, the Governor may establish a State Guard (Const., Art. II, sec. 8).

In times of public emergency or energy emergency, the Governor has certain emergency powers as defined by law (Code Public Safety Article, secs. 14-301 through 14-406).

The Governor appoints all military and civil officers of the State subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, except when the election or appointment of such officers otherwise is provided for. In addition to appointing the heads of major departments, boards, and commissions of the State government, the Governor appoints certain boards and commissions in each county and the City of Baltimore, as provided for by law. The Governor also commissions notaries public and appoints persons to fill vacancies in the offices of Attorney General, Comptroller, and seats in the General Assembly. Any officer appointed by the Governor, except a member of the General Assembly, is removable by him for cause.

The Governor may grant pardons to persons convicted of criminal acts against the State, commute the sentences of prisoners of the State, and remit fines and forfeitures for offenses against the State. The Governor may extradite prisoners or persons wanted by other states upon the presentation of a writ of extradition and may issue a warrant for the arrest of any person so wanted. The Governor also may ask for the return to this State of any prisoner or person of another state wanted for the violation of the laws of Maryland (Const., Art. II, sec. 20).

By virtue of his office, the Governor serves on certain boards and commissions. The Governor chairs the Board of Public Works, the Governor's Executive Council (Cabinet), the P-20 Leadership Council of Maryland, and the State House Trust. The Governor also serves on the Commission to Review Maryland's Use of Assessments and Testing in Public Schools; the State Commission on the Capital City; the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Baltimore City; the Board of Trustees, Maryland Environmental Trust; the Rural Maryland Council; the Maryland Veterans Home Commission; and the Governor's Workforce Investment Board. In addition, the Governor is a member of several interstate boards: the Anacostia Watershed Restoration Leadership Council; the Appalachian Regional Commission; the Chesapeake Executive Council; the Education Commission of the States; the Interstate Mining Compact Commission; the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean; the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission; the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin; the Southern Regional Education Board; the Southern States Energy Board; and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission.

CHIEF OF STAFF

Under the Chief of Staff, the Governor named three Senior Advisors in 2015 to assist the Governor's Office.

State House (from School St.), Annapolis, Maryland, November 1999. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Reporting directly to the Chief of Staff, three Deputy Chiefs of Staff are responsible for the functions of government carried out by other government agencies.

One deputy chief of staff is responsible for oversight of Maryland departments of Commerce, General Services, Housing and Community Development, State Police, and Public Safety and Correctional Services; the Governor's offices of Federal Relations and Policy; State agencies, including Maryland Emergency Management Agency, Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services System, Maryland Energy Administration, State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, Military Department, and Maryland Stadium Authority.

A second deputy chief of staff oversees the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and seven departments: Agriculture; Environment; Information Technology; Labor, Licensing and Regulation; Natural Resources; Planning; and Transportation; as well as the State Department of Assessments and Taxation; the Maryland Environmental Service, the Maryland Insurance Administration; and the Public Service Commission.

The third deputy chief of staff oversees seven departments: Aging; Disabilities; Education; Health and Mental Hygiene; Human Resources; Juvenile Services; and Veterans Affairs; as well as the Secretary of State; the Maryland Higher Education Commission; and seven offices: Business Ombudsman; Children, Community Initiatives; Crime Control and Prevention; Deaf and Hard of Hearing; Minority Affairs; and Performance Improvement.

EXECUTIVE SERVICES
Executive Services is responsible for Correspondence and Constituent Services, and Executive Support Services.

All civil and military officers of the State, whose appointment or election is not otherwise provided for by the Constitution or by law, are nominated and appointed by the Governor with Senate advice and consent (Const., Art. II, secs. 10-14). The Appointments Office assists the Governor in this process.

OFFICE OF THE BUSINESS OMBUDSMAN
In October 2014, the Office of the Business Ombudsman was established within the Office of the Governor (Chapter 641, Acts of 2014).

The Office of the Business Ombudsman resolves problems that businesses face when interacting with State agencies. The Office ensures that State government is responsive to the needs of business, and serves as a central clearinghouse of information for business services and information. Further, the Office refers individuals and businesses to the appropriate resources in State government; provides comprehensive permit information and assistance; and apprises the Governor and General Assembly of problems encountered by businesses doing business with State agencies.

The Office establishes and maintains a list of business assistance programs and services in the State; implements a business fairness and responsiveness service; develops and maintains a program that provides comprehensive information on permits; and establishes procedures to assist permit applicants experiencing difficulties.

STATE CUSTOMER SERVICE & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS TRAINING PROGRAM
In October 2015, the State Customer Service and Business Development Efforts Training Program was created (Chapter 138, Acts of 2015).

Administered by the Office of the Business Ombudsman, the Program seeks to improve and increase the responsiveness of customer services provided by State agencies to businesses and the public. State customer service standards that identify best practices for providing excellent customer services are developed by the Office. Five State agencies participate in the Program, providing customer service training for each employee who regularly interacts with businesses and the public. These agencies are the Department of Commerce; the Department of the Environment; the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation; the State Highway Administration of the Department of Transportation; and the State Department of Assessments and Taxation.

OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

OFFICE OF LEGAL COUNSEL
The Office of Legal Counsel originated in 1991as Legal, Labor, and Special Issues. It reorganized in 1995 as the Office of Legal Counsel and Regulatory Affairs, and reformed under its present name in 2003.

To the Governor, Lt. Governor, the First Lady, and their staffs, the Office provides legal advice. The Office also coordinates matters related to the Governor's clemency and extradition powers, such as pardon, parole, and commutation of sentences.

Responsible for many functions, the Chief Legal Counsel heads the Office and serves as senior legal advisor and criminal justice advisor to the Office of the Governor. The Chief Legal Counsel also helps develop and advance the Administration's legislative package, and monitors important State litigation. Moreover, the Chief Legal Counsel reviews Executive Orders, negotiates memoranda of understanding, assists the Governor in the appointment of judges, and serves as liaison to the Judiciary, the Office of the Attorney General, and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland.

LEGISLATIVE OFFICE
The Legislative Office was organized formally by 1967 within the Office of the Governor. In January 2004, the Legislative Office merged with the Governor's Policy Office to form the Legislative and Policy Office. In 2007, it reformed as the Legislative Office.

GOVERNOR'S MILITARY STAFF
Fifth Regiment Armory, 219 29th Division St., Baltimore, MD 21201 - 2288

The Governor may choose a military staff consisting of the Adjutant General and not more than twelve aides selected from the commissioned officers of the Maryland National Guard and naval militia. The Governor's military staff directs the functions of the Military Department (Code Public Safety Article, secs. 13-301 through 13-306).

OFFICE OF POLICY
Organized in 2003, the Governor's Policy Office merged with the Legislative Office in January 2004 to form the Legislative and Policy Office. In 2007, it was restructured again as the Office of Policy.

PRESS OFFICE
By 1967, the Press Office was known as the Public Relations Office. By 1971, it was called the News Office. In 1979, it became the Press Office. Renamed the Communications Office in 1995, it later resumed the name, Press Office.

The Press Office assists the Governor with communications to the public and the media, speechwriting, and research.

OFFICE OF TRANSFORMATION & RENEWAL
In July 2016, the Office of Transformation and Renewal formed.

Throughout State Government, the Office works to improve efficiency and customer service while adhering to greater accountability and performance standards.

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