Final answer:
When a Senate vacancy occurs, the governor can make a temporary appointment until a special election is held. State legislatures provide the authority for such appointments, as outlined by the Constitution and the 17th Amendment, unless state law dictates otherwise.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a vacancy occurs in the Senate, not due to the natural expiration of a term, there are specific procedures for filling it. The Constitution, with the addition of the 17th Amendment, allows state legislatures to enable the governor to make temporary appointments for such vacancies.
This appointment lasts until a special election can be held, as directed by the state's legislature, to allow the citizens to elect a new senator. The state's executive authority is responsible for issuing writs of election to arrange this process. It is important to note that as of 2009, only four states do not permit these temporary appointments by the governor.
Specifically, in the case of a sudden vacancy, the executive authority of the state issues writs of election to fill the vacancy. However, should the vacancy occur during a recess of the state legislature, the governor can make a temporary appointment until the legislature reconvenes and addresses the vacancy, following the procedures established by the state law and the 17th Amendment.