Governor and Courts

The primary duty of the executive branch is to enforce and implement the laws enacted by the legislature. The chief executive officer of the state is the governor. Governors serve for four-year terms. They can only serve for two consecutive terms in office, after which they must wait one term before being eligible to run again. 

As the chief executive, the governor oversees each of the state's departments and appoints their leaders, such as the attorney general and commissioners of education, fish and game, and public safety. In addition, the governor appoints members to over 100 state boards and commissions. The Alaska Senate must confirm most governor appointments.

Each year, the Governor submits a budget to the legislature. The governor may also convene special sessions of the legislature. One notable power of the governor is to veto or reduce single items in appropriation (spending) bills. This is commonly called the power of “line-item veto” because the governor can veto any line item of an appropriation bill and approve the remainder of the bill. It takes a three-fourths vote in the legislature to override a line-item veto.

The judicial branch applies and interprets laws to controversies brought before them. There are three levels of state courts: district courts, the court of appeals, and the Alaska Supreme Court. The Alaska Supreme Court is the highest state court. It hears appeals from lower state courts and administers the state’s judicial system. The Alaska Supreme Court is comprised of the chief justice and four associate justices. 

Judge appointments for Alaska courts start with the Alaska Judicial Council, an independent citizen's commission tasked with evaluating applicants to the Alaska courts. When there is a court opening, the Judicial Council sends a list of the most qualified candidates to the governor, who then has 45 days to make an appointment from the list. The Senate must also confirm all appointments. Under Alaska law, all judges in Alaska must stand periodically for retention by the voters on a nonpartisan ballot in a general election. Judges must receive a majority of the vote to remain on the bench. 

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