Ten appointees who run state departments.

The governor of North Carolina appoints people to run state departments not overseen by elected members of the Council of State.

Although they make less than statewide elected officials, Cabinet appointees typically have larger budgets and supervise more state workers.

Administration: Supervises the behind-the-scenes business of state government.

Commerce: Leads the state's efforts to recruit and retain businesses.

Correction: Oversees the state prison system and related programs.

Crime Control and Public Safety: Oversees the state's law enforcement, homeland security and emergency response efforts.

Cultural Resources: Leads cultural outreach and historical preservation programs around the state.

Environment and Natural Resources: Oversees programs regulating water and air quality and protecting wildlife, wilderness and coastal areas.

Health and Human Services: Oversees the state's social welfare and health care programs.

Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention: Supervises the state's interactions with young criminals and at-risk youth.

Revenue: Oversees state tax collection.

Transportation: Oversees state highways, mass transit, ferries and other transportation programs.

Traditionally, Health and Human Services, Transportation, Correction and Environment and Natural Resources have the largest budgets and the most employees.

The smallest department in budget and employees is Cultural Resources.

Seven of Gov. Mike Easley's appointments were nicknamed the "Iron Cabinet" because many of them served from 2001 through 2008.

His original Cabinet from 2001, which included three women and three black appointees, was described as "perhaps the most diverse" in state history.

The authority of the governor to strike specific items from the state budget.

North Carolina is among the minority of U.S. states in which the governor does not have line-item veto authority.

Since 2003, four bills have been proposed to give the governor the line-item veto. With one exception, the bills' backers have all been Republicans, though Democratic Gov. Mike Easley has supported them.

None of the bills have made it to a vote. Two bills in 2003, a bill in 2005 and another in 2007 have all been referred to House committees.

According to a 2007 survey by the National Conference of State Legislatures, 43 states allowed governors to veto specific spending provisions while approving the overall budget.

During the 2008 Democratic primary, gubernatorial candidate Richard Moore called for a state referendum to give the governor line-item veto authority.

The governor, lieutenant governor and eight other top statewide elected officials.

The other officials are the secretary of state, attorney general, auditor, treasurer, superintendent of public instruction and commissioners of agriculture, insurance and labor.

Typically, the council meets monthly to approve land purchases, condemnations and right-of-way easements, but it also sometimes deals with weightier issues. 

In February of 2007, the Council of State was asked to approve an execution protocol that would involve doctors. It voted 7-3 in favor.

The first female member of the Council of State was Janice Faulkner, who was appointed by Gov. Jim Hunt in March of 1996.

That fall, Elaine Marshall became the first elected member of the Council of State when she won the race for that same position. 

In 2008, voters elected the first female majority — six of 10 members — on the Council of State, including governor, schools superintendent, auditor, treasurer, labor commissioner and secretary of state.