The Governor of California is the highest executive authority in the state government, whose responsibilities include making annual "State of the State" addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced.
The position was created in 1849, before California became a state. Previously, there had been six American military governors and numerous Mexican governors when California was part of the United Mexican States.
The current governor is Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, who was elected on October 7, 2003 to complete recalled Democratic Governor Gray Davis's term, and reelected on November 7, 2006, defeating California State Treasurer Phil Angelides of the Democratic Party. His second term is scheduled to last until January 3, 2011.
