Article III
The Executive Branch
SECTION 1. EXECUTIVE POWER. The executive power of the State is vested
in the governor.
SECTION 2. GOVERNOR'S QUALIFICATIONS. The governor shall be at least
thirty years of age and a qualified voter of the State. He shall have
been a resident of Alaska at least seven years immediately preceding his
filing for office, and he shall have been a citizen of the United States
for at least seven years.
SECTION 3. ELECTION. The governor shall be chosen by the qualified
voters of the State at a general election. The candidate receiving the
greatest number of votes shall be governor.
SECTION 4. TERM OF OFFICE. The term of office of the governor is four
years, beginning at noon on the first Monday in December following his
election and ending at noon on the first Monday in December four years
later.
SECTION 5. LIMIT ON TENURE. No person who has been elected governor for
two full successive terms shall be again eligible to hold that office
until one full term has intervened.
SECTION 6. DUAL OFFICE HOLDING. The governor shall not hold any other
office or position of profit under the United States, the State, or its
political subdivisions.
SECTION 7. LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DUTIES. There shall be a lieutenant
governor. He shall have the same qualifications as the governor and
serve for the same term. He shall perform such duties as may be
prescribed by law and as may be delegated to him by the governor.
SECTION 8. SAME - ELECTION. The lieutenant governor shall be nominated
in the manner provided by law for nominating candidates for other
elective offices. In the general election the votes cast for a candidate
for governor shall be considered as cast also for the candidate for
lieutenant governor running jointly with him. The candidate whose name
appears on the ballot jointly with that of the successful candidate for
governor shall be elected lieutenant governor.
SECTION 9. ACTING GOVERNOR. In case of the temporary absence of the
governor from office, the lieutenant governor shall serve as acting
governor.
SECTION 10. SUCCESSION; FAILURE TO QUALIFY. If the governor-elect dies,
resigns, or is disqualified, the lieutenant governor elected with him
shall succeed to the office of governor for the full term. If the
governor- elect fails to assume office for any other reason, the
lieutenant governor elected with him shall serve as acting governor, and
shall succeed to the office if the governor-elect does not assume his
office within six months of the beginning of the term.
SECTION 11. VACANCY. In case of a vacancy in the office of governor for
any reason, the lieutenant governor shall succeed to the office for the
remainder of the term.
SECTION 12. ABSENCE. Whenever for a period of six months, a governor has
been continuously absent from office or has been unable to discharge the
duties of his office by reason of mental or physical disability, the
office shall be deemed vacant. The procedure for determining absence and
disability shall be prescribed by law.
SECTION 13. FURTHER SUCCESSION. Provision shall be made by law for
succession to the office of governor and for an acting governor in the
event that the lieutenant governor is unable to succeed to the office or
act as governor. No election of a lieutenant governor shall be held
except at the time of electing a governor.
SECTION 14. TITLE AND AUTHORITY OF SUCCESSOR. When the lieutenant
governor succeeds to the office of governor, he shall have the title,
powers, duties and emoluments of that office.
SECTION 15. COMPENSATION. The compensation of the governor and the
lieutenant governor shall be prescribed by law and shall not be
diminished during their term of office, unless by general law applying
to all salaried officers of the State.
SECTION 16. GOVERNOR'S AUTHORITY. The governor shall be responsible for
the faithful execution of the laws. He may, by appropriate court action
or proceeding brought in the name of the State, enforce compliance with
any constitutional or legislative mandate, or restrain violation of any
constitutional or legislative power, duty, or right by any officer,
department, or agency of the State or any of its political subdivisions.
This authority shall not be construed to authorize any action or
proceeding against the legislature.
SECTION 17. CONVENING LEGISLATURE. Whenever the governor considers it in
the public interest, he may convene the legislature, either house, or
the two houses in joint session.
SECTION 18. MESSAGES TO LEGISLATURE. The governor shall, at the
beginning of each session, and may at other times, give the legislature
information concerning the affairs of the State and recommend the
measures he considers necessary.
SECTION 19. MILITARY AUTHORITY. The governor is commander-in-chief of
the armed forces of the State. He may call out these forces to execute
the laws, suppress or prevent insurrection or lawless violence, or repel
invasion. The governor, as provided by law, shall appoint all general
and flag officers of the armed forces of the State, subject to
confirmation by a majority of the members of the legislature in joint
session. He shall appoint and commission all other officers.
SECTION 20. MARTIAL LAW. The governor may proclaim martial law when the
public safety requires it in case of rebellion or actual or imminent
invasion. Martial law shall not continue for longer than twenty days
without the approval of a majority of the members of the legislature in
joint session.
SECTION 21. EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY. Subject to procedure prescribed by law,
the governor may grant pardons, commutations, and reprieves, and may
suspend and remit fines and forfeitures. This power shall not extend to
impeachment. A parole system shall be provided by law.
SECTION 22. EXECUTIVE BRANCH. All executive and administrative offices,
departments, and agencies of the state government and their respective
functions, powers, and duties shall be allocated by law among and within
not more than twenty principal departments, so as to group them as far
as practicable according to major purposes. Regulatory, quasi-judicial,
and temporary agencies may be established by law and need not be
allocated within a principal department.
SECTION 23. REORGANIZATION. The governor may make changes in the
organization of the executive branch or in the assignment of functions
among its units which he considers necessary for efficient
administration. Where these changes require the force of law, they shall
be set forth in executive orders. The legislature shall have sixty days
of a regular session, or a full session if of shorter duration, to
disapprove these executive orders. Unless disapproved by resolution
concurred in by a majority of the members in joint session, these orders
become effective at a date thereafter to be designated by the governor.
SECTION 24. SUPERVISION. Each principal department shall be under the
supervision of the governor.
SECTION 25. DEPARTMENT HEADS. The head of each principal department
shall be a single executive unless otherwise provided by law. He shall
be appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by a majority of
the members of the legislature in joint session, and shall serve at the
pleasure of the governor, except as otherwise provided in this article
with respect to the secretary of state. The heads of all principal
departments shall be citizens of the United States.
SECTION 26. BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. When a board or commission is at the
head of a principal department or a regulatory or quasi-judicial agency,
its members shall be appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation
by a majority of the members of the legislature in joint session, and
may be removed as provided by law. They shall be citizens of the United
States. The board or commission may appoint a principal executive
officer when authorized by law, but the appointment shall be subject to
the approval of the governor.
SECTION 27. RECESS APPOINTMENTS. The governor may make appointments to
fill vacancies occurring during a recess of the legislature, in offices
requiring confirmation by the legislature. The duration of such
appointments shall be prescribed by law.