in each of the executive departments upon any subject pertaining
to the duties of their respective offices, he is supposed to know more
than any other person about the situation and needs of the state as a
whole; and it is, therefore, made his duty to communicate by message to
each session of the legislature such information touching the affairs of
the state as he deems expedient. The regular message is sent at the
opening of the legislative session, and special messages at any time
during the session as they seem to be needed. On extraordinary occasions
he may convene the legislature in extra session.

To place another obstruction in the way of hasty legislation, the governor
(except in Delaware, North Carolina, Ohio, and Rhode Island) has a limited
veto. [Footnote: See comments on the president's veto, page 150.]

In the administration of justice mistakes are some times made. An innocent
person may be found guilty, or a guilty person may be sentenced too
severely, mitigating circumstances appearing after sentence is passed. For
these and other reasons, there should be power somewhere to grant
reprieves, commutations, and pardons. In most of the states this power is
vested in the governor. It does not, for obvious reasons, extend to cases
of impeachment. Many thoughtful people, including some governors and
ex-governors, question very seriously the wisdom of this absolute
assignment of the pardoning power. One suggestion by way of limitation is
that no pardon issue except upon recommendation of the judge of the court
in which conviction was wrought.

Lieutenant Governor.--As may be seen by reference to the comparative
table, several of the states have no such officer. The office is designed
simply to save confusion in case of a vacancy in the office of governor,
in which case the lieutenant governor acts as governor during the vacancy.
To give him something to do the lieutenant governor is _ex officio_
president of the senate. [Footnote: In case of a vacancy in this office,
the senate, in most states, chooses one of its own number to act as
president _pro tempore_.] In most of the states, he has no voice in
legislation, except a casting vote in case of a tie. But in some states,
as indicated in the comparative table on page 294, he can debate in
committee of the whole.

State Treasurer.--This officer has duties and responsibilities similar to
those of a county treasurer.

Attorney General.--This officer has two chi