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Texas Government 2306

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

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Texas Government 2306

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  1. Texas Government 2306 Unit 6 The Governor

  2. Being Governor: Most Difficult Aspects

  3. How Governors Spend Their Time

  4. 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

  5. TEXAS GOVERNOR ·Qualifications • oFormal • oInformal • Term • Salary ·Removal & Succession ·Impact of: • oColonial Experience • oReconstruction

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. Tenure • 4 year term (47 other states, too) • No limits on number of terms

  9. 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

  10. Removal, & Succession • Can be removed from office only by impeachment • The Lieutenant Governor is next in line of succession

  11. Impact of • Colonial Experience • Reconstruction

  12. Roles of the Texas Governor

  13. Texas Executive BranchThe Plural Executive

  14. Executive Powers • ·Appointive Powers • Plural executive • Senate approval • Staggered terms • ·Removal Powers • ·Directive Powers • · Budgetary Powers

  15. Legislative Powers • · Message Powers • ·Veto Powers • Types: general, item, pocket · Special Session Powers

  16. Texas Governors’ Vetoes • 1876-1968 – • 936 vetoes • Only 25 overridden • Last Veto Overridden– 1979 • WHY?

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. Powers as Party Chief • ·Patronage (appointment powers) · Appoints Party Chair

  20. 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

  21. Ranking of 50 State Governors - 1971

  22. 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)

  23. Ranking of 50 State Governors - 1999

  24. Constitutional Powers of 50 State Governors

  25. Governor’s Informal Powers The Five “P’s” • 1.Personality  • 2.Political Expertise  • 3.Press Relations   • 4.Prestige  • 5.Public Support/Popularity

  26. Recommended Reforms for the Texas Governor ·Replace plural executive with cabinet system  ·Expand appointment powers ·Expand removal powers  ·Increase budgetary powers  · Increase directive powers

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