Transcript Texas Government 2306

Texas Government 2306
Unit 7
The Governor
Being Governor: Most
Difficult Aspects
How Governors Spend Their
Time
The Divided Executive
• Based on the Jacksonian democratic
theory that most major officeholders
should be elected:
 A preference for decentralized leadership
 No single official responsible for either
policy initiation or implementation
TEXAS GOVERNOR
 Qualifications
– o Formal
– o Informal
 Term
 Salary
 Removal & Succession
 Impact of:
– o Colonial Experience
– o Reconstruction
Formal Qualifications to Be
Governor
• Minimal requirements:
 One must be 30 years of age
 An American citizen
 A citizen of Texas for five years prior to
election
Informal Qualifications to be
Governor
• WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant)
• Male (only two female governors in Texas)
• Middle-aged successful Businessperson
or Attorney
• Conservative-to-Moderate candidate
• Wealthy or have access to Money
Tenure
• 4 year term (47 other states, too)
• No limits on number of terms
Governor’s Compensation
• Salary is set by the legislature
• Present salary is $115,345 (among highest
in the nation)
• The governor’s mansion with a
maintenance expense account
• A professional staff with offices in the
capitol
Removal, & Succession
• Can be removed from office only by
impeachment
• The Lieutenant Governor is next in
line of succession
Impact of
• Colonial Experience
• Reconstruction
Roles of the Texas
Governor
Texas Executive Branch
The Plural Executive
Executive Powers
  Appointive Powers
• Plural executive
• Senate approval
• Staggered terms
  Removal Powers
  Directive Powers
  Budgetary Powers
Legislative Powers
  Message Powers
  Veto Powers
• Types: general, item, pocket
 Special Session Powers
Texas Governors’
Vetoes
• 1876-1968 –
– 936 vetoes
– Only 25 overridden
• Last Veto Overridden – 1979
• WHY?
Judicial Powers
  Clemency Powers
-originally unlimited
-after 1936 most powers transferred to the
Board of Pardons and Paroles
-can only postpone executions for 30 days
 Fill judicial vacancies
Military-Law
Enforcement Powers
• Law Enforcement Powers – very
limited
• Military Powers – commander-inchief of the state militia, able to
declare an area under martial law
Powers as Party Chief


Patronage (appointment powers)
Appoints Party Chair
Powers as Chief of State
 Ceremonial duties
 as members of multistate organizations they help
coordinate relations with other states;
 As coordinator of state agencies interactions with the
federal government;
 To request federal aid due to natural disasters or
economic crises
 Visibility
 Represents/Speaks for Texas
Ranking of 50 State
Governors - 1971
3 Constitutional Amendments
to Strengthen Governor
• 1972—changed term from 2 to 4 years
• (went into effect in 1975)
• 1981—gave governor removal power over
personal appointees
• (with approval of 2/3 of Texas Senate)
• 1985—created the Budget Execution
Committee—
• can transfer money from one agency to another &
reduce expenditures if a budget shortfall occurs
(governor, lieut. governor, & speaker)
Ranking of 50 State
Governors - 1999
Constitutional Powers of 50
State Governors
Governor’s Informal Powers
The Five “P’s”
• 1.
Personality
• 2.
Political Expertise
• 3.
Press Relations
• 4.
Prestige
• 5.
Public Support/Popularity
Recommended Reforms for
the Texas Governor

Replace plural executive with cabinet
system

Expand appointment powers

Expand removal powers

Increase budgetary powers
 Increase directive powers