After reading this chapter, you should be able to understand:

• how the power of governors has changed over the last one hundred years
• the role of a governor as a state’s chief legislator
• how governors control state agencies
• the role of a governor as a state’s chief spokesperson
• the role of a governor as a state’s party chief
• how formal and informal powers differ
• the changing nature of gubernatorial campaigns
• the roles of other executive and statewide offices