EXECUTIVE BRANCH

tration. In addition, recent Wisconsin Governors have relied to some degree
on volunteer help; fortunately, they have been able to attract experienced
men and women in many fields who are willing to donate their time and
effort, singly or in committees, to provide our Governors with expert assist-
ance.
Unique Functions of the Governor. The Governor has a number of func-
tions which he does not share with any other state official. He represents the
state in interstate relations and at national meetings. He alone has the power
to authorize the extradition of persons charged with criminal offense. He is
the only person in the state who may exercise executive clemency and grant
pardon, reprieve or commutation of sentence to a person convicted of crime.
For proven malfeasance, the Governor may dismiss from office sheriffs,
district attorneys, coroners or registers of deeds. He may call on the Attorney
General to act for the protection of the public interest in various legal ac-
tions.
The Governor must spend a great deal of his time explaining the goals of
his administration to the citizens of the state. He takes part in many signi-
ficant ceremonies throughout the state and talks to citizens and citizen
groups in every area. On an average of 4 times a week, the Governor issues
proclamations; many of these relate to the observance of holidays or special
days, weeks or months.
Lieutenant Governor. Our Wisconsin Constitution contemplates that this
state will have a chief executive at all times. It provides that the powers and
duties of the office of Governor shall devolve upon the Lieutenant Governor,
for the residue of the unexpired term, when the incumbent Governor dies,
resigns or is removed from office. The Lieutenant Governor becomes Acting
Governor for the duration of any period when the Governor is temporarily
absent from the state, or when it is found that the Governor is temporarily
disabled to carry out the duties of his office.
Some writers tend to belittle the significance of the "standby governor",
but Wisconsin history proves them wrong. Governor Harvey died on a field
trip to the Wisconsin troops during the Civil War in 1862 and Governor
Goodland died in office in 1945. Lieutenant Governors Salomon and Renne-
bohm, respectively, became Acting Governor. In fact, the power and duties
of the office of Governor had originally fallen to Governor Goodland during
an earlier term as Lieutenant Governor when Governor-elect Loomis died
prior to inauguration.
The ever-present possibility of a vacancy in the Governor's office would
seem to require that the Governor and Lieutenant Governor are a "team,"
both representing similar political goals-but 10 times in the history of this
state the electorate has seen fit to elect as Lieutenant Governor a man who
belonged to a different political party or faction than the man elected Gover-
nor.
The Lieutenant Governor frequently appears as the representative of the
state or in his own capacity as the ranking constitutional officer at civic
affairs, banquets, dedications and other occasions when the situation seems
to call for the presence of a representative of the state. Because he pre-
sides over the sessions of the Senate, the Lieutenant Governor is present in
Madison for as long as the Legislature is in session. At any other time, his
presence in Madison is required when he functions as Acting Governor. He
maintains an office in the Capitol during his entire term.
Secretary of State. The 3rd constitutional officer elected state-wide in
Wisconsin is the Secretary of State. If for some reason both the Governor
and the Lieutenant Governor are prevented from acting as the chief execu-
tive of Wisconsin, the Secretary of State functions as Acting Governor.

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