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Gubernatorial Politics: Money Matters
 Media and money play dominant role in elections of politicians and gaining support of a legislator for a governor ’ s agenda.
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Election
 Constitutional prerequisites
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30 years of age
U.S. Citizen
Five years of state residency
Compensation and Benefits
 Salary $150,000
 Expenses for official business
 Staff and maintenance for a personal residence
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Succession
 Lieutenant governor
 Senate president pro tempore
 Speaker of the House
 Attorney general
 Chief justices of 14 Texas courts of appeals in ascending order
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Removal from Office
 Article XV Section 1 of the Texas
Constitution
 Articles of Impeachment begin in Texas House of
Representatives with majority vote.
 To remove the Governor, one or more impeachment articles must be approved by 2/3 senators present.
 If convicted of impeachment, governor can no longer hold appointed or elected state office.
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Staff
 Governor ’ s success depends staff support
 Governor ’ s staff
 Directs programs mandated by the legislature
 Appointed and removed by governor
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Not based on law
 Based on state ceremonies, speeches, and traditions
Chief of state
Family members as source of support
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Appointive Power
Removal Power
Military Power
Law Enforcement Power
Budgetary Power
Executive Orders and Proclamations
Economic Development
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Appointive Power
 The authority to name a person to a government positions
 All appointees must be confirmed with twothirds Senate vote
 Advice and consent
 Senatorial Courtesy
 Recess Appointments
Removal Power
 No independent removal power
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Governor Perry ’ s Appointment
Demographics
(as of May, 2012)
Gender Male 76%
Anglo
Latino/a
69%
17%
African American 11%
Asian and other 3%
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Military Power
 Article 4, Section 7
 Governor is Commander-in-Chief for military forces of the state unless they are called into actual service by the United States.
 Texas Army National Guard
 Texas Air National Guard
 Texas State Guard
 Martial Law
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Law Enforcement Power
 Texas Public Safety Commission
 Members appointed by the governor
 Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
 Texas Rangers
 Small number of highly trained law enforcers
 Used in emergencies
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Budgetary Power
 Two budgets made by the state to be reviewed by the state legislature
 Legislative Budget Board makes one
 Governor makes the other
 Process influenced by governor ’ s veto and line-item veto power
 Mostly vetoes of contingency riders for bills not passed by the legislature
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Executive Orders and Proclamations
 Executive orders set policy within the executive branch and create or abolish task forces, councils, and other bodies
 Proclamations
 Official public announcement often used for ceremonial purposes
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Economic Development
 Texas Enterprise Fund
 Takes money from “ rainy day fund ” to retain industry
 TexasOne
 Attracts businesses from other states and countries
 Emerging Technology Fund
 Helps smaller companies develop new technology
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Delivering messages to the legislature
Signing bills and concurrent resolutions
Vetoing bills and concurrent resolutions
Calling special sessions of the legislature
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Message Power
 State of the State address
Bill-Signing Power
Veto Power
 A governor vetoes a bill by returning it unsigned.
 Texas Legislature can override veto with twothirds vote in both chambers
 Line-item veto
 Pork-barrel politics
 Post-adjournment veto
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Special-Sessions Power
 Special sessions can only be called by governor
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No restrictions on number of sessions called
Lasts no more than 30 days
 Governor sets the agenda, excluding impeachments and appointments
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Appointment and Removal of Judges and
Justices
 Fills vacancies caused by death, resignation or removal
Acts of Executive Clemency
 Set aside or reduce court-ordered penalties for crimes
 Can be a full pardon
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Plural executive created by Texas
Constitution and statute
 The governor, lieutenant governor and four elected department heads share executive power
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The Lieutenant Governor
 Has executive and legislative power
 Partisan elected four-year term
 President of Senate but not a senator
 Vacancy
 Members of Texas Senate select one of the members to be acting Lieutenant Governor until the next general election
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The Attorney General
 Head lawyer for the state representing Texas in civil litigation
 Provides legal advice to state and local officials
 Enforces child-support orders issued by state courts
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The Comptroller of Public Accounts
 State ’ s chief accounting officer and tax collector
 Certifies the state budget
 Four-fifths vote in both chambers to override noncertification of budget
 Promotes consistency in accounting methods and standards by all state agencies
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The Commissioner of the General Land
Office
 Oversees the state ’ s extensive land holdings and related mineral land interests
 Oversees growth of state Permanent School
Fund
 Chairman of Veteran ’ s Land Board
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The Commissioner of Agriculture
 Enforces state agriculture laws and provides service programs for Texas farmers, ranchers, and consumers
 Controls Pesticide Programs Division
 Conducts inspections of commercial scales, pumps, and meters
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 Appointed by Governor with two-thirds approval of Senate
 Serves four-year term concurrent with governor
 Administers state election laws
 Grants charters to Texas corporations
 Issues permits to out-of-state corporations to do business within Texas
 Processes requests for extradition of criminals to and from other states
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1.
2.
3.
Summarize the role of the governor and the process of governorship.
Analyze the governor ’ s informal power.
Explain the executive powers of the governor, taking the process of checks and balances into account.
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4.
5.
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Discuss the shared power of the executive and the legislature.
Illustrate powers the governor exercises over the judicial branch of state government.
Describe the powers of the secretary of state and elected department heads.
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1.
2.
What is the constitutional procedure for removing a governor from office?
True or False: All Texas governors have placed close friends and political associates in staff positions.
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1.
2.
True or False: The governor ’ s informal powers are not based on law.
True or False: Public involvement of family members may be a source of support for the governor.
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1.
2.
True or False: Most gubernatorial appointments must be approved by a two-third vote of the House of
Representatives.
What constitutional power allows the governor to exercise control over state spending?
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1.
2.
True or False: During a session, the governor ’ s veto can be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote in the House and in the Senate.
How can the legislature be convened for a special session?
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2.
True or False: A vacancy on a Texas district court or higher appellate court is filled by gubernatorial appointment.
Which Texas official has power to independently grant one 30-day reprieve in a death sentence case?
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2.
True or False: Heads of state agencies may not request opinions from the attorney general concerning the scope of their jurisdiction.
What is one important power of the secretary of state for persons desiring to establish a Texas corporation?
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