Iowa GovernmentIowa Government

Executive BranchExecutive Branch

WHO AM I?WHO AM I?

WHO AM I?WHO AM I?

ActivityActivity

I will divide you into groupsI will divide you into groups I will assign you a topicI will assign you a topic In your groups research your given In your groups research your given

topic (You will have 15 minutes)topic (You will have 15 minutes) Choose 1 member to act as the Choose 1 member to act as the

speaker and present your findings to speaker and present your findings to the classthe class

What I’m Looking ForWhat I’m Looking For

How are they selected?How are they selected? How long do they serve?How long do they serve? Qualifications/RequirementsQualifications/Requirements DutiesDuties Current OfficeholderCurrent Officeholder Anything you think we need to knowAnything you think we need to know

(Order of Succession – Governor Only)(Order of Succession – Governor Only)

http://http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Pubinfo/branchesgov.htmlwww.legis.state.ia.us/Pubinfo/branchesgov.html

www.governor.iowa.govwww.governor.iowa.gov    www.state.ia.us/government/ag/www.state.ia.us/government/ag/    http://auditor.iowa.gov/http://auditor.iowa.gov/    www.sos.state.ia.us/www.sos.state.ia.us/    www.treasurer.state.ia.us/www.treasurer.state.ia.us/    www.agriculture.state.ia.us/www.agriculture.state.ia.us/    www.governor.iowa.gov/www.governor.iowa.gov/    http://www.dom.state.ia.us/http://www.dom.state.ia.us/

Other DepartmentsOther Departments21 Departments21 Departments

Agriculture and Land Agriculture and Land StewardshipStewardship

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

BlindBlind Personnel Personnel

CommerceCommerce Public DefensePublic Defense

CorrectionsCorrections Public HealthPublic Health

Cultural AffairsCultural Affairs Public SafetyPublic Safety

Economic DevelopmentEconomic Development Revenue and FinanceRevenue and Finance

EducationEducation Elder AffairsElder Affairs

Employment ServicesEmployment Services General ServicesGeneral Services

Human RightsHuman Rights Human ServicesHuman Services

Inspections and AppealsInspections and Appeals ManagementManagement

TransportationTransportation

Independent AgenciesIndependent Agencies Not under direct control of Governor Not under direct control of Governor Created by LegislatureCreated by Legislature

Type of Power?Type of Power? Quasi-legislative Quasi-legislative Quasi-judicial Quasi-judicial Quasi-executive Quasi-executive

Who are they? Who are they? Ethics and campaign disclosure boardEthics and campaign disclosure board Board of paroleBoard of parole Board of regentsBoard of regents Utilities boardUtilities board

GovernorGovernorQualifications:Qualifications:

• U.S. CitizenU.S. Citizen• 30 years old30 years old• 2 year resident (immediately preceding governorship)2 year resident (immediately preceding governorship)Term: Term:

4 Years 4 Years Selection:Selection:•Elected (Primary – General) Elected (Primary – General) Current Officeholder: Current Officeholder: Terry BranstadTerry BranstadDuties: Duties: •Pardons, Reprieves, Grant Right to Vote (Convicted Felons), ExtraditionPardons, Reprieves, Grant Right to Vote (Convicted Felons), Extradition•4 main: Appointments, Removal (Very Limited), Duty to Enforce the law, 4 main: Appointments, Removal (Very Limited), Duty to Enforce the law, Certain Military PowersCertain Military Powers•““may require information in writing from the officers of the executive may require information in writing from the officers of the executive department upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective department upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices” offices” •Deliver “state of state” address to legislature, convene legislature in special Deliver “state of state” address to legislature, convene legislature in special session, adjourn legislature if 2 houses can’t agree on adjournment date, session, adjourn legislature if 2 houses can’t agree on adjournment date, veto legislation, and call special elections in the event of a vacancy in an veto legislation, and call special elections in the event of a vacancy in an elected officeelected office

Lieutenant GovernorLieutenant Governor Term: Term:

• 4 years4 years Selection:Selection:

• Runs w/ GovernorRuns w/ Governor Current Officeholder:Current Officeholder:

• Kim ReynoldsKim Reynolds Duties: Duties:

• Exercise such powers and duties as the Exercise such powers and duties as the Governor may chooseGovernor may choose

Secretary of AgricultureSecretary of Agriculture Qualifications:Qualifications:

• 21 years of age 21 years of age • Resident of Iowa Resident of Iowa • Nomination papers filed with at least 1000 signatures Nomination papers filed with at least 1000 signatures • At least 50 eligible electors in each of at least 10 counties At least 50 eligible electors in each of at least 10 counties

Term:Term:• 4 year terms4 year terms

Selection:Selection:• Popular ElectionPopular Election

Current Officeholder: Current Officeholder: • Bill NortheyBill Northey

Duties: Duties: • Encourage, promote, and advance the interest of agriculture in Iowa, Encourage, promote, and advance the interest of agriculture in Iowa,

serves as the head of the Department of Agriculture and Land serves as the head of the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (this dept can regulate agriculture, conservation, and Stewardship (this dept can regulate agriculture, conservation, and environmental activity in state)environmental activity in state)

• 89% of Iowa is Classified as Agricultural Land89% of Iowa is Classified as Agricultural Land• Lead nation in production of corn, eggs, pork, soybeans, ethanol, and Lead nation in production of corn, eggs, pork, soybeans, ethanol, and

number of acres set aside as riparian buffers, grassed waterways, contour number of acres set aside as riparian buffers, grassed waterways, contour buffer strips, field borders, and other buffers on private farmlands buffer strips, field borders, and other buffers on private farmlands

Attorney GeneralAttorney General Qualifications:Qualifications:

• 21 years of age 21 years of age • Resident of Iowa Resident of Iowa • Nomination papers filed with at least 1000 signatures Nomination papers filed with at least 1000 signatures • At least 50 eligible electors in each of at least 10 countiesAt least 50 eligible electors in each of at least 10 counties

Term: Term: • 4 years4 years

Selection: Selection: • Popular ElectionPopular Election

Current Officeholder: Current Officeholder: • Tom MillerTom Miller

Duties: Technically and constitutionally judicial officer, acts as Duties: Technically and constitutionally judicial officer, acts as executive officerexecutive officer• Represent state in all cases before supreme court in which the state Represent state in all cases before supreme court in which the state

is a party is a party • Defend any state officer if charges are brought against the officer Defend any state officer if charges are brought against the officer

regarding the legality of official actionsregarding the legality of official actions• Advise gov’t officials regarding legal questions and provide aid and Advise gov’t officials regarding legal questions and provide aid and

assistance in drafting of state contractsassistance in drafting of state contracts

AuditorAuditor Qualifications:Qualifications:

• 21 years of age 21 years of age • Resident of Iowa Resident of Iowa • Nomination papers filed with at least 1000 signatures Nomination papers filed with at least 1000 signatures • At least 50 eligible electors in each of at least 10 countiesAt least 50 eligible electors in each of at least 10 counties

Term: Term: • 4 years4 years

Selection:Selection:• Popular ElectionPopular Election

Current Officeholder: Current Officeholder: • David A. Vaudt, CPADavid A. Vaudt, CPA

Duties:Duties: Provides fiscal oversight of the states financial affairs Provides fiscal oversight of the states financial affairs Once a year provide a full accounting and audit of the books, Once a year provide a full accounting and audit of the books,

records, and accounts for every department and office of state records, and accounts for every department and office of state governmentgovernment

Responsible for auditing the financial records of state Responsible for auditing the financial records of state universities, cities, counties, county hospitals, and school universities, cities, counties, county hospitals, and school districts districts

Secretary of StateSecretary of State Qualifications:Qualifications:

• 21 years of age 21 years of age • Resident of Iowa Resident of Iowa • Nomination papers filed with at least 1000 signatures Nomination papers filed with at least 1000 signatures • At least 50 eligible electors in each of at least 10 countiesAt least 50 eligible electors in each of at least 10 counties

Term: Term: • 4 years4 years

Selection:Selection:• Popular ElectionPopular Election

Current Officeholder: Current Officeholder: • Matt Schultz Matt Schultz

Duties:Duties:• Clerical officer of the stateClerical officer of the state• Responsible for custody and maintenance of legislative acts and Responsible for custody and maintenance of legislative acts and

resolutions and various other official state recordsresolutions and various other official state records• Responsible for land office (maintains records of annexation or Responsible for land office (maintains records of annexation or

severance of land by the state, cities, and towns, and the division of severance of land by the state, cities, and towns, and the division of corporations and trademarks, which maintains records of all corporations and trademarks, which maintains records of all businesses incorporated in Iowa, and trademarks registered with the businesses incorporated in Iowa, and trademarks registered with the state. state.

• Serves as commissioner of elections and oversees administration of Serves as commissioner of elections and oversees administration of iowa’s election laws, including the filing of nomination papers and iowa’s election laws, including the filing of nomination papers and publishing of election results. publishing of election results.

• Maintains lien records on property such as livestockMaintains lien records on property such as livestock

TreasurerTreasurer Qualifications:Qualifications:

• 21 years of age 21 years of age • Resident of Iowa Resident of Iowa • Nomination papers filed with at least 1000 signatures Nomination papers filed with at least 1000 signatures • At least 50 eligible electors in each of at least 10 countiesAt least 50 eligible electors in each of at least 10 counties

Term: Term: • 4 years4 years

Selection:Selection:• Popular ElectionPopular Election

Current Officeholder: Current Officeholder: • Michael L. FitzgeraldMichael L. Fitzgerald

Duties: Responsible for keeping a record of the receipts Duties: Responsible for keeping a record of the receipts and disbursements of state funds and investment of state and disbursements of state funds and investment of state fundsfunds

Reporting on bonding activities of all levels of governmentReporting on bonding activities of all levels of government Producing various annual financial reportsProducing various annual financial reports

DiscussionDiscussion

Similarities and Differences Similarities and Differences between Iowa’s Executive between Iowa’s Executive

Branch and the U.S. Branch and the U.S. Executive BranchExecutive Branch

Iowa LegislatureIowa Legislature

Own ConstitutionOwn Constitution Legislature = General AssemblyLegislature = General Assembly

Any decision to increase/reduce the size Any decision to increase/reduce the size or role of government resides with or role of government resides with General AssemblyGeneral Assembly

2 years2 years Second Monday of JanuarySecond Monday of January

1rst Session – 110 days1rst Session – 110 days 22ndnd session – 100 days session – 100 days Special Session – if called by Governor Special Session – if called by Governor

Iowa LegislatureIowa Legislature

2 chambers2 chambers Passed in same form in each house Passed in same form in each house

to become lawto become law

Salary:Salary: $25,000/year$25,000/year Per diem $137 + mileage Per diem $137 + mileage

House of Representatives House of Representatives Basic InfoBasic Info

100 elected Representatives100 elected Representatives 21 + years old21 + years old U.S. citizenU.S. citizen Resident of State for one year, Resident of State for one year,

District for 60 daysDistrict for 60 days 2 year terms2 year terms

Iowa SenateIowa Senate

50 Senators50 Senators 25 + years old25 + years old U.S. citizenU.S. citizen Resident of State for 1 year, district Resident of State for 1 year, district

for 60 daysfor 60 days Senatorial district = 2 adjacent Senatorial district = 2 adjacent

Representative districtsRepresentative districts 4 year terms4 year terms

Half replaced every two yearsHalf replaced every two years

LegislatureLegislature Part-time, Citizen LegislaturePart-time, Citizen Legislature

Retired, 2Retired, 2ndnd jobs jobs Constantly working on constituent serviceConstantly working on constituent service

Examples?Examples? House – select SpeakerHouse – select Speaker Senate – select PresidentSenate – select President

FormalitiesFormalities Party leaders selected (Majority, Minority Leaders)Party leaders selected (Majority, Minority Leaders)

Legislative appointments, legislative priorities, procedureal and administrative Legislative appointments, legislative priorities, procedureal and administrative detailsdetails

Committees (19) – Standing from session to sessionCommittees (19) – Standing from session to session Administration and Rules, Agriculture, Ethics, Education, Natural Resources and Administration and Rules, Agriculture, Ethics, Education, Natural Resources and

Environment, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, etc. Environment, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, etc. Conference Committees – work to resolve issues between 2 versions of billsConference Committees – work to resolve issues between 2 versions of bills Bills: Drafted, introduced, considered by a committee, considered by the chamber, if Bills: Drafted, introduced, considered by a committee, considered by the chamber, if

passed – sent to other chamber, passed again – sent to Governor passed – sent to other chamber, passed again – sent to Governor (3 days to veto and return a veto message) (3 days to veto and return a veto message) line-item veto on appropriation bills (veto particular part and sign the rest into law) line-item veto on appropriation bills (veto particular part and sign the rest into law)

Override by 2/3rds vote in both chambers Override by 2/3rds vote in both chambers Who drafts them? Who drafts them?

Sometimes legislatureSometimes legislature Often ideas given to “Legal Services Division of the Legislature Services Often ideas given to “Legal Services Division of the Legislature Services

Agency”Agency” Lawyers, subject matter expertsLawyers, subject matter experts