who is the current governor of georgia 2011?
Nathan Deal
entailment
 As with all other US states and the federal government , Georgia 's government is based on the separation of legislative , executive , and judicial power . Executive authority in the state rests with the governor , currently Nathan Deal ( Republican ) . Both the Governor of Georgia and lieutenant governor are elected on separate ballots to four @-@ year terms of office . Unlike the federal government , but like many other U.S. States , most of the executive officials who comprise the governor 's cabinet are elected by the citizens of Georgia rather than appointed by the governor . 

contradiction
 The ascendancy of the Republican Party in Georgia and in the South in general also resulted in Georgia U.S. House of Representatives member Newt Gingrich being elected as Speaker of the House following the election of a Republican majority in the House in 1994 . Gingrich served as Speaker until 1999 , when he resigned in the aftermath of the loss of House seats held by members of the GOP . Gingrich also mounted an unsuccessful bid for President in the 2012 election , but withdrew after winning only the South Carolina and Georgia primaries . 

entailment
 Seven men have resigned the office of governor before the end of their terms — John J. Crittenden , Beriah Magoffin , John W. Stevenson , Augustus O. Stanley , Happy Chandler , Earle C. Clements , and Wendell H. Ford . Six resigned to accept a higher office : Crittenden was appointed Attorney General of the United States and the other five were elected to the U.S. Senate . Only Beriah Magoffin resigned under duress . A Confederate sympathizer during the Civil War , Magoffin 's power was entirely checked by a hostile , pro @-@ Union legislature . With the state 's government in gridlock , Magoffin agreed to resign in exchange for being able to name his successor . Lieutenant Governor Linn Boyd had died in office , and the Speaker of the Senate , John F. Fisk , was not acceptable to Magoffin as a successor . Fisk resigned as Speaker , and the Senate elected Magoffin 's choice , James Fisher Robinson as Speaker . Magoffin then resigned , Robinson was elevated to governor , and Fisk was re @-@ elected as Speaker of the Senate . 

contradiction
 After Governor McGreevey resigned in the midst of a sex scandal in 2004 , Richard Codey served again as acting governor from November 15 , 2004 to January 17 , 2006 . Codey was the only acting governor during this time , as the 2003 legislative elections had given the Democrats outright control of the state senate . Codey 's tenure ended with the inauguration of Governor Jon Corzine on January 17 , 2006 . 

contradiction
 After several episodes where the state had multiple " acting governors " in the span of a few years following the resignations of Governor Christine Todd Whitman in 2001 and Governor James E. McGreevey in 2004 , popular sentiment and political pressure from the state 's residents and news media outlets sought a permanent and tenable solution to the issue of gubernatorial succession . A referendum put before the state 's voters authorized the amendment of the state 's constitution in 2006 . This amendment provided for the state 's first lieutenant governor to be elected in the state 's 2009 gubernatorial election . 
