Governor's Office | South Dakota State Government

The governor of South Dakota is the chief executive of the state and is elected by the citizens every four years for no more than two consecutive terms. The governor makes policy recommendations that lawmakers in both the state House and Senate chambers may sponsor and introduce as bills. The governor also appoints members of boards and commissions who oversee the heads of state agencies and departments. The constitutional and statutory duties of the Governor include signing or vetoing bills passed by the Legislature, serving as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces, convening special sessions of the Legislature for specific purposes, delivering a report on the condition of the state to the Legislature at the beginning of each regular session and a report on the condition of the budget on the first Tuesday of each December, recommending the General Bill to appropriate each year's funding, which the Legislature then amends, granting reprieves and commutations of punishment and pardons upon the recommendation of the Board of Pardons and Paroles and revoking conditional pardons, and declaring special elections to fill vacancies in certain elected offices.

12/02/2025