Governor Edward G Rendell

The Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is the head of the executive branch of Pennsylvanias government and the commander-in-chief of the states (U.S. state) military forces. The governor (governor#United States) has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to approve or veto bill (bill (proposed law))s passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature and to convene the legislature.refconst-art4A The governor may grant pardons except in cases of impeachment, but only when recommended by the Board of Pardons.refconst-art4sec9cl1B

The first constitution in 1776 created the Supreme Executive Council as the executive branch, with the President as its head.ref1776const-sec3C The president was chosen annually by the council, though with no specific term dates.ref1776const-sec19D The 1790 constitution abolished the council and replaced the president with a governor,ref1790const-art2sec1E and established a three-year term for governor commencing on the third Tuesday of the December following the election, with governors not allowed to serve more than nine out of any twelve years.ref1790const-art4sec3F The 1838 constitution moved the start of the term to the third Tuesday of the January following the election, and allowed governors to only serve six out of any nine years.ref1838const-art2sec3G The 1874 constitution lengthened the term to four years, and prohibited governors from succeeding themselves.ref1874const-art4sec3H The current constitution of 1968 changed this to allow governors to serve two consecutive terms.refconst-art4sec3I There are no limits on the number of terms a governor may serve in total as long as there is a four year break after a second term.

If the office of governor becomes vacant through death, resignation, or conviction on impeachment, the lieutenant governor becomes governor for the remainder of the term; if the office is only temporarily vacant due to disability of the governor, the lieutenant governor only acts out the duties of governor. Should both offices be vacant, the president pro tempore (president pro tempore) of the state senate becomes governor. The position of lieutenant governor was created in the 1874 constitution; prior to then, the speaker of the senate would act as governor in cases of vacancy. Originally, the lieutenant governor could only act as governor; it was not until the 1968 constitution that the lieutenant governor could actually become governor in that fashion. Governors and lieutenant governors are elected on the same ticket (ticket (election)).refgreenpapersJ The original 1776 constitution created the position of "vice-president", though no provision was made if the office of president became vacant, which occurred four times. Contemporary sources continue to label the chief executive in such times as the vice president, without any notion of succeeding to the presidency. One acting president, George Bryan, has since been recognized as a full-fledged governor, due to his acting as president for over six months.refphmc-bryanK The office of governor has been vacant for an extended period once, a 17-day gap in 1848 between the death of the previous governor and the swearing in of his acting successor.

There have been seven presidents and 45 governors of Pennsylvania, with two governors serving non-consecutive terms, totalling 54 terms in both offices. The longest term was that of the first governor, Thomas Mifflin, who served three full terms as governor in addition to two years as president. The shortest term belonged to John C. Bell, Jr., who served only 19 days as acting governor after his predecessor resigned. The current governor is Ed Rendell, whose second term began on January 16, 2007.