[2] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws and the power to approve or veto bills passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly,[3] as well as to convene the legislature.

The shortest term belonged to John C. Bell Jr., who served only 19 days as acting governor after his predecessor, Edward Martin, resigned.

[8] The constitution created the position of "vice-president", though no provision was made if the office of the president became vacant, which occurred four times later.

Contemporary sources continue to label the chief executive in such times as the vice-president, without any notion of succeeding in the presidency.

[21] The 1838 constitution moved the start of the term to the third Tuesday of the January following the election, and allowed governors to only serve six out of any nine years.