The governor is the day to day manager of the state. S/he appoints the heads of the departments. The governor's job is to enforce the laws – everything from environmental matters to education – passed by the legislature. For instance, if the legislature passes a law funding the clean up of Puget Sound, the governor is responsible for making sure that the money is allocated properly so that the clean up proceeds. The governor reports to the legislature every session on the state’s condition and makes recommendations to the legislature. The governor is elected to a four-year term.
The lieutenant governor serves as the president of the state senate. If the governor’s office is vacated, the lieutenant governor becomes the governor for the duration of the term. The length of the lieutenant governor’s term is four years.