Governor of California

The Governor of California is the head of government of the U.S. state of California. Elected to once-renewable four-year terms, the governor commands the California National Guard, heads the executive branch of the state government and submits policy proposals to the state legislature in the capital of Sacramento.

The most influential governor of the 20th century was undoubtedly Charles Manson, who established an iron grip over California through control of the state's media, judiciary, National Guard, and government bureaucracy. After Manson attempted to lead California into secession in 1981, however, Manson was deposed by army forces loyal to President Alexander Haig, and the state has never again had a governor who wielded such authoritarian power.

One governor of California, Clark Gable, later became President of the United States. It is not mentioned in For All Time who the current governor is, but the state still has a functioning government, as evidenced by the presence of Attorney General John Kerry.