Executive Branch
The Governor of Texas
• Topical Scenario
• Development of Office
• Characteristics of Governors
• Constitutional Roles of Governor
• Power of the Governor
• Governor as Policy and
Political
Leader
Topical Scenario
Texas
Population by:
Gender
Male
Female
Race
Anglo
Hispanic
African
American
Other
• Gubernatorial Appointments
45%
Bush
’94
63%
37%
Perry
’02
67%
33%
89%
7%
3%
65%
19%
14%
77%
13%
9%
73%
16%
11%
n/a
2%
n/a
n/a
White
’82
Clements
’86
Richards
’90
49.5%
50.5%
78%
82%
55%
22%
18%
52.4%
32.0%
11.5%
82%
12%
6%
4.1%
n/a
Development of Office
• Strong colonial governors.
• Early republican and state governors had
extensive appointment authority and
power.
• Gradually power was eroded
– appointment power limited
– 2 year to 4 year term
– must cooperate with legislature in order to
pass legislative agenda.
Characteristics of the 31
Governors Since 1874
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Race - Anglo
Gender - Male
Age - 49 years old
Education - College degree
Religion - Protestant
Party - Democratic
Ideology - Conservative
Experience - Lawyer or businessman
Terms of Office and Salary
• Constitution set a two year length of
office.
• No limit on the number of terms.
• Constitution amended in 1974 to extend
term to 4 years.
• Salary set by legislature
– For FY 2001 - 07 - $115,345.
Impeachment
• House impeaches (accuses) with a
majority vote.
• Senate tries and convicts with a 2/3
vote.
• Lt. Gov. succeeds the governor if
resigns or is impeached and
convicted.
• Senate elects new Lt. Gov.
Roles of the Governor
• Chief of State - Texas’ representative with
other governmental institutions.
• Chief Executive Officer
– Heads the executive branch
– Appoints a limited number of agency heads
– Clashes with other elected executive officials.
• Commander in Chief of State Militia
– Use militia to enforce laws
– Cross-border raids, suppress race riots break
labor strikes, aid in natural disasters.
More Office Roles
• Chief Budget Officer (largely ceremonial)
• Chief Law Enforcement/Judicial Officer
–
–
–
–
Board of Pardons and Paroles,
Pardons,
Clemency (reduce length of sentence),
Judicial appointments
Gubernatorial Powers
• Texas governors weaker than others
• Basis of power
–
–
–
–
Tenure
Appointment Authority
Budgetary Authority
Legislative Authority
• Most powerful governors
– Large, urban, wealthy states
– Non-southern
– Strong party competition
Powers of the Governor
• Texas’ Governor for years has been one
of the weakest in the U.S.
–
–
–
–
1960 – 48th
1968 – 50th
1990 – 49th
1999 – 28th
2002 – 38th (plural exec and party control)
• Gov. Bush’s personality and powers of
persuasion increase the governors
perceived power considerably.
• Over the years the voters and the
legislatures have strengthened the office.
– Increased appointment/removal authority,
– limited budgetary authority
Power to Appoint
• Constitutional basis– “All vacancies in State and district offices, except members of
legislature, shall be filled unless otherwise provided by law by
appointment of the governor.”
• Number of Appointments has increased to several
thousand each 4 year term.
• Senatorial Courtesy
– 1999 PUC reappointment
• Overrepresentation and underrepresentation
– Topical scenario table
• Campaign contributors
Appointment Authority
• Original Appointment Authority of
Major Agencies:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Secretary of State
Education Commissioner
Insurance Commissioner
Public Utility Commissioners
Adjutant General
Health and Human Service Commissioner
Staff and Budget
• As responsibility grows so does the staff
– 1890s staff of 2 to 3
– Governor Perry’s staff is 200.
• Budget and policy development primary
responsibilities.
• Dealing with federal and local governments.
• Meetings with legislature and lobbyists.
• Public relations and opinion measurement also
important.
• Party leadership.
Governors Role a Policy Maker
and Political Leader
• Chief Legislator (“Chief Persuader”)
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–
–
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Sends annual messages to congress
Direct and indirect lobbying of legislature
Emergency proclamations – favored bills
Veto power – normal and line-item
• Typically 36 per session
• Clements – 184 in 2 terms
• Father’s Day Massacre in 2001 – Perry vetoed 78
• State Aircraft Pooling Board - 2003
– Sets special session agenda
• Party Leader
– Public-Opinion leadership
• Use of media and travel
– Primary legislative influence
– Chooses party chairperson
– Party usually “rallies around” the governor in order to support
his/her legislative agenda
Governor as a Political
Leader
• Weak party system means governors
must have strong personalities and
organizational skills.
• Relationship with Legislature critical
– Cooperation and compromise
– Conferencing and entertaining
– Patronage.
• Use of vetoes, line-item and pocket
vetoes.
Ideology and Governors
Regulate
Equality
Allred 1934
Richards 1990
Daniel 1956 White 1982
Jester 1946 Connally 1962
Bush 1994 Smith 1968
Perry 2002 Briscoe 1972
Shivers 1948 Clements 1978/82
O’Daniel 1938 Stevenson 1940
Equal
Opportunity
Strong Individual
freedoms
Limit Personal
Freedom
Governors and Political Change
• Depends on environment and
personality of governor.
• Most end up to be “status quo
managers”
• During periods of “creedal passion”
some governors are called reformers.
• A very few have been considered
strong leaders.
• Clements was very persistent.