In this week’s edition of our Advocacy Summer School series, we will be looking more closely at the role governors play in South Carolina. If you missed our first three emails in this series, take a moment to go back and review!
Background
The governor is the head of South Carolina’s executive branch, which also includes positions like the Superintendent of Education, the Attorney General, all our state agencies, and more. In this email, we will focus primarily on the governor’s office and its role in the legislative process.
The governor’s office has seen a lot of change in the last 150 years. It was not until the end of 1865 that South Carolina voters began electing the governor.
For many years, the governor held two-year terms but could be elected twice. Starting in 1926, governors were given four-year terms but could not run for re-election. A constitutional amendment later made it possible for governors to hold two consecutive four-year terms beginning in 1982.
Until just recently, the position of lieutenant governor was elected as a separate position. In 2018, thanks to another constitutional amendment, the position became a running mate of the governor.
Present Day
Today, the governor of South Carolina is Henry McMaster, who will be the longest-serving governor in South Carolina history at the end of his term.
Governor McMaster finished Gov. Nikki Haley’s term when she became Ambassador to the United Nations, and has been elected to two of his own terms.
The Executive Branch contains over 30 departments and executive agencies, and the governor appoints members to over 250 boards and commissions, including the Children’s Trust of South Carolina!
Leaders
Governor Henry McMaster, a Republican from Columbia, became governor of South Carolina in January 2017. Governor McMaster is a lawyer by trade and practiced law for over forty years.
He was elected as Attorney General of South Carolina in 2002 and 2006 and then elected lieutenant governor in 2014. Just this year the governor signed the Kinship Care and Paid Family Leave bills that were supported by the Children’s Trust!
Read more about Gov. McMaster.
Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette is the first lieutenant governor to be elected as a running mate of the governor and was elected on his 2018 ticket. She has advocated for many of Children’s Trust’s priorities, including Paid Family Leave!
Originally from Ohio, Lt. Gov. Evette has made South Carolina home for many years and currently resides in Travelers Rest. Before her election as lieutenant governor, she was the founder and CEO of Quality Business Solutions.
Read more about Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.
Role in the Legislative Process
The governor plays a significant role in South Carolina’s legislative process. Every year the governor releases an executive budget, which signals to the General Assembly what his or her priorities are. The governor will also express their priorities in other ways, through the State of the State, press conferences, and meetings with legislators.
The governor is usually the last step in the legislative process when a bill goes to his desk for signature. If the Governor does not agree with a bill, he may choose to veto it. Once vetoed the bill goes back to the chamber of origin (ex: a bill that was introduced in the House would go back to the House) for an override vote.
To override the governor’s veto two-thirds of the body must vote to override. The bill then goes to the other chamber (ex: a bill that is overridden in the House would then go to the Senate) where it must again receive a two-thirds majority to override the governor’s veto. If either override vote fails to receive two-thirds support the bill dies. If it receives two-thirds support in both chambers the bill is passed into law, as if the governor had signed it.
Pop Quiz
The answers will be included in next week’s post.
Question 1: What is the age requirement to run for governor in South Carolina?
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30
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35
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40
Question 2: How many governors has South Carolina had?
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86
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117
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237
Question 3: Until 1812, all governors from South Carolina had come from what part of the state?
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Columbia
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Greenville
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Charleston
Extra Credit
Learn more about the other elected Constitutional officers.
The answers to last week’s quiz:
Question 1. Only residents of South Carolina can give public testimony at the State House. False.
Question 2. Legislators can only introduce 40 bills a year. False.
Question 3. Approximately 4% of bills introduced in 2023 have become law.
