Governor of North Carolina

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The Governor of North Carolina is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2006, the governor of North Carolina is Mike Easley, a Democrat. Among other responsibilities, the governor heads the North Carolina Council of State. The Governor of North Carolina was the last state chief executive to receive veto power; the Governor did not have this power until 1996. The Governor of North Carolina has extensive powers of appointment, making the N.C. Governorship one of the most powerful in the nation.

Originally, under the first North Carolina Constitution, the office was very weak, and was elected by the legislature (the North Carolina General Assembly) for a one-year term. Edward B. Dudley became the first governor elected by the people in 1836. Governors served two-year terms from 1836 until a new constitution was adopted in 1868.

Today, the Governor is elected by the people to a four-year term and is limited to two consecutive terms in office (as is the Lieutenant Governor). Until amendments were made to the 1971 Constitution, Governors could serve only one term. Jim Hunt became the first governor to win re-election in 1980. Hunt then won two more successive terms in the 1992 and 1996 elections.

The Governor lives in the North Carolina Executive Mansion, a Victorian "gingerbread"-style mansion in downtown Raleigh. His or her principal office is located in the North Carolina State Capitol.