Texas Government 2306

Unit 6

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 BranchThe 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-in-chief 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