The U. S. has 50 governors—one for each state. Though some governors become major figures in national politics, they have no formal governing role outside of their state.
There are 100 U. S. Senators—two for each state. [3] X Trustworthy Source The White House Official website for the Executive Branch of the U. S. government Go to source Each U. S. state also has its own state senate, but these are totally different from the U. S. Senate. State senators can only pass laws within their state and have no authority outside their state’s borders. [4] X Research source
In some cases, governors are responsible for appointing state judges. This gives them direct influence over the judicial branch of their state’s government. Governors can also appoint someone to temporarily fill an empty U. S. Senate seat. This sometimes happens when a U. S. Senator leaves office before an election occurs, such as when a senator resigns, passes away, or obtains another position in government.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many governors issued executive orders forcing businesses to temporarily close. Since each governor had authority over their own state, specific requirements for lockdowns and quarantines varied widely across the country. [7] X Research source
Governors can also influence public opinion in favor of policies they support. This can put pressure on state legislatures to pass laws that meet the governor’s demands.
The Senate also has the unique power to remove federal officials from office via the impeachment process, which is initiated by the House of Representatives. Removal from office requires a two-thirds majority vote. Unlike governors, senators can only make decisions by a majority vote. [9] X Research source
The Senate Majority Leader is considered the most powerful Senator, since they have authority over which bills get called for a vote. The Vice President of the United States serves as President of the Senate. They preside over the Senate but can only vote when there is a tie.
Some states don’t allow more than two consecutive terms, but permit candidates to run again after a certain number of years out of office. Some states have no term limits at all, allowing governors to serve as long as voters allow. Most governors run for office as members of a major political party. Parties select their candidates via primary elections, and voters then choose between those candidates in a general election. [12] X Research source Many governors become prominent in national politics. A few have been elected President of the United States.
Since there are no term limits, some senators have served for many decades. The longest-serving senator served for over 51 years. [14] X Research source Most Senators are members of a major political party. Parties select their nominees in primary elections, and voters then choose between nominees in a general election. Senators who are not affiliated with a political party are known as Independents. There are currently two independent senators serving in Congress. [15] X Research source A few Senators have been elected President of the United States.
