The Structure of Texas Government:
Important Agencies and Offices
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The Governor
§ Texas governor position is weak by design
§  1876 Constitution (currently in place) reaction to
overly powerful governor during Reconstruction
§ Governor is one member of plural executive
§  Multiple elected offices independent of governor
§  Unique to Texas, most state governors appoint and
remove these executive positions (that Texans elect)
§  Important functions outside governor’s authority
§  Budget most notably
Gubernatorial Elections
§ Constitutional Requirements
§  30+ years old
§  U.S. citizen
§  Texas residency for five years
immediately preceding election
§  *Must acknowledge existence of
Supreme Being
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Campaigns
§ Campaigns usually start election year
January
§ Party primaries held in March
§ General elections in November
§  Follow the national calendar
§ Currently, GOP primaries more consequential
than general election for statewide offices
§ Candidates must fund-raise and make the
rounds before then.
Campaigns
§ State size makes governor campaigns
expensive for two reasons:
§ Travel distances to fund-raising and events
§  Rallies, editorial board meetings, debates
•  Travel costs add up (air, gas, cars, hotel, meals, mobile tech)
§ 20 different advertising media markets
§  Television and radio ads run by geographic
region
§  Even in online ad era, most money is spent on TV ads
Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis on
the gubernatorial campaign trail.
Critical Thinking Question: Should there be legal
limits on the size of campaign contributions?
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Gubernatorial Elections
§ Gubernatorial Politics: Money
Matters
§  Significant funding needed
§  Sanchez vs. Perry (2002)
§  Donor policymaking appointments
§  Symbolic of public support
§  Tool to gain legislative support
Learning Check
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Overview of the Governorship
§ Compensation and Benefits
§  $150,000 annual salary + benefits
§  Official travel and security
§  Staff/maintenance for personal residence
§  Staff
§  Appointed and removed by governor
§  Directs programs mandated by legislature
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The Office of the Governor
Critical Thinking Question:
Is a large staff necessary for the Texas governor?
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Overview of the Governorship
§ Succession
§  Lieutenant governor
§  If governor dies, resigns or is unable to serve
§  If governor temporarily unable to serve,
disqualified, impeached
§  If governor absent from state, serves as acting
governor
§  Next in line: president pro tempore of Senate
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Overview of the Governorship
§ Removal from Office
§  Power of impeachment → House of
Representatives (majority vote)
§  Conviction by the Senate (two-thirds majority)
§  Governor James E. ‘‘Pa’’ Ferguson
§  Only governor impeached and removed
Learning Check
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Informal Powers of the Governor
§ Informal Powers
§  Not based on law: rely on governor’s
popularity with public
§  Chief of state role
§  Traditions, symbols, and ceremonies
§  Speeches and public appearances
§  Use of social media
§  Involvement of family members
Learning Check
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Executive Powers of the
Governor
§ Appointive Power
§  “Advise and consent” of Senate
§  Recess appointments
§  Limitation: most appointments for six-year
terms (political overlap)
§ Interim appointment for vacated U.S.
Senate seat
§ Senatorial courtesy
§  Senator from the appointee’s district must
approve of the appointment.
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Executive Powers of the
Governor
§ Removal Power
§  No independent removal power over
most state agencies
§ Military Power
§  Commander-in-Chief of Texas military
§  Texas National Guard
§  Texas Air National guard
§  Texas State Guard
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Executive Powers of the
Governor
§ Law Enforcement Power
§  Appoints Public Safety Commission
§  Can command Texas Rangers
§ Budgetary Power
§  Prepare budget
§  Veto and line-item veto
§  Contingency rider
Learning Check
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Legislative Powers of the
Governor
§ Message Power
§  State of the State address
§ Bill Signing Power
§ Veto Power
§  Line-item veto
§  Gov. can veto specific elements of appropriations
bills.
§  Postadjournment veto
§  Veto after legislature ends session, preventing
override
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Critical Thinking Question
Does the governor exercise too much, too little, or the right
amount of influence over legislation?
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Legislative Powers of the
Governor
§ Special Sessions Power
§  No restrictions on number of sessions
§  Limited to 30 days
Learning Check
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Judicial Powers of the Governor
§ State judge vacancies filled by the governor
§  All state judges are elected, but many retire or
otherwise leave office during their tenure.
§  95 percent of judges are re-elected, thus judges
appointed by governor likely to remain in office
§ Governors can give 30-day stay of execution
§  Any other change to any sentence must first be
recommended by the Board of Pardons and
Paroles
Judicial Powers of the Governor
§ Acts of Executive Clemency
§  Parole
§  Full pardon
§  Conditional pardon
§  Death sentence reprieve
Learning Check
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The Plural Executive
§ The Lieutenant Governor
§  Elected
§  Most influential in legislative branch
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The Plural Executive
§ The Attorney General
§  Elected
§  Represents state in civil litigation
§  Issues advisory opinions
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The Plural Executive
§ The Comptroller of Public Accounts
§  Elected
§  Chief accounting officer and tax collector
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The Plural Executive
§ The Commissioner of the General
Land Office
§  Elected
§  Oversees public lands/mineral interests
(oil and gas leases)
§  Oversees Permanent School Fund
§  Competing interests
§  Environmental vs. generating revenue
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The Plural Executive
§ The Commissioner of Agriculture
§  Elected
§  “Practicing farmer”
§  Enforces agricultural laws and policies
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The Plural Executive
§ The Secretary of State
§  Appointed by governor (for concurrent
term)
§  Chief elections officer
§  Grants corporate charters/permits
Learning Check
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How Do We Compare. . . in Governor’s
Compensation and Staff Size?
Critical Thinking Question
Is the Texas governor compensated too little, an appropriate
amount, or excessively?
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TX Governor Rick Perry
Will Work Hard for Texas
Click picture to view video
Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
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Video Discussion Questions
1.  Should Texas governors be subject
to term limits? Why or why not?
2.  Are Governor’s Perry’s legislative
priorities mentioned in this video
aligned with the majority of Texans’?
3.  What is the most important quality a
governor should possess?
Copyright © 2016 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
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