How does a governor "introduce" legislation?

[Athelwulf]

This news about New York Governor Paterson introducing a bill to legalize same-sex marriage (by the way: YAY!) leaves me thinking: Does the executive branch really have the power to introduce legislation? I thought that was just the legislative branch's domain. I thought all the executive could do was informally coordinate with a legislator, or informally put a proposal out in the open and hope a legislator will pick it up. Y'know, separation of powers and all.

Perhaps I just don't know much about this particular aspect of government. As a politics junkie, I'd like to understand what process is being employed. Could someone help me understand? Is this sloppy reporting? Or does a state governor (or the New York governor in particular) explicitly have this power?

[HillbillyBob]

1. Good Question, it seems to me in different states there might be

different mechanisms for a governor to get a bill introduced.
Im something of a political junkie too, though mainly is pointing out the crumby job they are (n't) doing.
edited to add
Yay that Gov David Paterson is pushing for our equality too.
Living in NC we were thrilled to see NC go blue for Obama, however narrowly.
We even saw some Rs in our rural county vote for him or said they did, since they are pretty upstanding folks they were as or more pissed off with Bushco as we were.
We keep seeing the reprehensibles trying to introduce Anti gay amendments and our representatives and senators in the NC General Assembly knock it down.
We do consider going up north to one of the other states where it is legal to marry and do it. We know it would not stand here, and I don't know if my failing health would stand up to fighting it in court here in NC to try..but it might be worth while just to stir sh__.

[glowing]

2. Anyone should be able to introduce legislation. What do you think lobbying firms do?

There are groups of students who do this in FL all the time with their govt classes... I think though, for it to proceed anywhere, a legislator has to pick it up and bring it to the floor. Its more complex than this, but I'm not sure the exact rules. The Whitehouse does this too.. submits legislation for congress. I remember learning about it in more detail in school.. long time ago, but now I'm a bit fuzzy on the details.

[HillbillyBob]

3. ayup school was a looong time ago for me..and im

reaching the age where sometimers slides in to most of the timers to old timers..

[RB TexLa]

4. The governor's staff writes up the bill, the governor approves what is in the bill and they have an

ally in the legislature introduce it as a bill. Usually they have an ally in each chamber do so.

[Lavender Brown]

5. The Governor has the power to develop a legislative agenda and submit program bills

This is the text of the bill Paterson submitted today: http://www.ny.gov/governor/bills/pdf/gpb_10.pdf :woohoo:

[Athelwulf]

6. Thanks for the link.

Your post helps clarify it. I'll go research the concept of a program bill.