Opinion ID: 2226536
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Whether Removal of Executive Employees Is Duty and Prerogative of Executive Branch of State Government

Text: The NEOC asserts that § 81-2707(1) is violative of Neb. Const. art. II, § 1, which provides: The powers of the government of this state are divided into three distinct departments, the legislative, executive and judicial, and no person or collection of persons being one of these departments, shall exercise any power properly belonging to either of the others, except as hereinafter expressly directed or permitted. (Emphasis supplied.) In other words, the Nebraska Constitution prohibits one branch of government from encroaching on the duties and prerogatives of the others or from improperly delegating its own duties and prerogatives. Calabro v. City of Omaha, 247 Neb. 955, 531 N.W.2d 541 (1995); Clemens v. Harvey, 247 Neb. 77, 525 N.W.2d 185 (1994). This aspect of the separation of powers clause serves as the beam from which our system of checks and balances is suspended. State ex rel. Spire v. Conway, 238 Neb. 766, 472 N.W.2d 403 (1991). Article IV, § 1, of the Nebraska Constitution states in pertinent part: The heads of all executive departments established by law, other than those to be elected as provided herein, shall be appointed by the Governor, with the consent of a majority of all members elected to the Legislature, but officers so appointed may be removed by the Governor. Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the heads of the various executive or civil departments shall have power to appoint and remove all subordinate employees in their respective departments. Article IV, § 10, of the Nebraska Constitution states in pertinent part: The Governor shall have power to remove, for cause and after a public hearing, any person whom he may appoint for a term except officers provided for in Article V of the Constitution.... The Governor shall have power to remove any other person whom he appoints at any time and for any reason. In State ex rel. Beck v. Young, 154 Neb. 588, 591, 48 N.W.2d 677, 679 (1951), this court held: Except as limited by the Constitution itself the supreme executive power is to be exercised by the Governor and, under the division of powers devised by the Constitution, neither the Legislature nor the courts may exercise the powers thus conferred upon the executive branch. The power to remove an officer or employee in the executive branch of the government is an executive function. (Emphasis supplied.) The Beck court then went on to restate that [t]he power of appointment and removal is in the Governor ... and the legislative or judicial branches may not properly trench upon the executive power thus granted. Id. at 594, 48 N.W.2d at 681 (citing Myers v. United States, 272 U.S. 52, 47 S.Ct. 21, 71 L.Ed. 160 (1926)). Thus, it is clear that the power to remove an employee in the executive branch of state government is an executive duty and prerogative.