The Texas Governor
The Constrained Executive
Executive Structure
What is the difference between a cabinet, which surrounds the U.S. President, and a plural
executive, in which the Texas Governor exists? Which structure does Texas have, and what
does it predict about the powers of the Texas Governor? Pages 924-925 in We the People will
help.
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Cabinet system
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Subordinate officials report to the chief executive
Plural executive
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Executive authority is placed in the hands of several elected individuals who are constitutionally independent
Qualifications and Background
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Constitutional qualifications
Who has served?
Who has served as Texas Governor? Are there common demographics and career backgrounds
governor tend to share? The first section on page 915 in We the People describes who has
served.
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Terms and limitations
Impeachment
Review the impeachment and removal process on pages 916-917 in We the People. Who starts
the process, and what vote is required? Who decides the issue, and what vote is necessary for
success?
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The Senate
Order of succession
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The House
Used if the governor dies, resigns, becomes incapacitated or leaves the state
Support
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Staff has grown as a response to the growth and increasing complexity of government
What has required the “gubernatorial enterprise,” the size of the governor’s support staff,
increased dramatically since the 1960s? Pages 307-308 in Practicing Texas Politics present a
quick explanation:
http://tinyurl.com/o3t38tq
Powers and Responsibilities
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Legislative powers
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The governor can declare pieces of legislation as emergency measures
What does declaring a bill an emergency do? What is required for a governor to declare a bill
an emergency? Open the pdf file:
http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/pubslegref/gtli.pdf
Find the paragraph led by the heading “Emergency Matters” for a succinct description.
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Veto
Line-item veto
What are the limitations of the governor’s line-item veto power? The second-to-last paragraph
here explains it. Notice what the subject of the primer is:
http://www.texastransparency.org/State_Finance/Budget_Finance/Budget_Primer.php
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Veto override
Special sessions
Appointment powers
Assuming all members present and voting, how many senators would it take to block a
gubernatorial appointment?
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The Senate must approve by a 2/3 vote
Senatorial Courtesy
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Judicial powers
Review the governor’s powers of clemency over the judiciary. What do each of the terms below
mean? What limitations on them exist? Look here first, then check the meaning of each term
below:
http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/bpp/exec_clem/exec_clem.html
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Reprieves (http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/bpp/exec_clem/Reprieve.html)
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Capital punishment cases
Execution authority
Appoints the three-member board that heads the Department of Public safety
Commander-in-Chief of the Texas National Guard
Makes appearances and proclamations to exude leadership and bolster public perceptions
Political party leadership
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Introduction
Ceremonial powers
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Extradition (http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/extradition)
Law enforcement and military powers
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Pardon (http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/bpp/exec_clem/Effects_of_a_Full_Pardon.html)
Budgetary powers
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Commutation (http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/bpp/exec_clem/What_is_a_Commutation_of_Sentence.html)
Unofficial leader of his party within the state
Administrative powers
Why are the governor’s administrative powers particularly weak? What is it about the
structure of the Texas executive branch that make this so? A simple definition of administration
will help:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/administration
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Arguably the weakest of the powers
Complete the Chapter 24 simulation in StudySpace now:
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/polisci/we-the-people9/texas/ch/24/simulations.aspx
Measuring Power
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How powerful is the Texas Governor?
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Constitutionally, the Texas governor is among the weakest in the nation
Use the gubernatorial powers below to assess how strong the Texas governor is within the
state. In which ones his he strong, and in which is he weak?
• Tenure potential
• Appointment powers
• Budgetary powers
• Veto powers
How powerful are the line-item veto powers of the Texas Governor? How do they compare to
state governors across the U.S.? Consult the Book of States:
http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/kc/system/files/Table_4.4.pdf
• Party control of state legislature
• Number of other statewide elected officials
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Unofficial and informal powers are hard to measure
Policymaking Process
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The “Bully Pulpit”
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The governor has an excellent platform to promulgate their views
Implementation
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The weak administrative power the governor wields makes implementation difficult