7/27/2013
Chapter 19
The Governor and Bureaucracy in Texas
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
Roots of the Executive Branch in Texas
LO 19.1: Trace the historical development of the structure of the
executive branch in Texas, and state the reasons for the creation of the
plural executive.
•
•
•
1st governor: elected for a 2 year term,
appointed most major state officials.
Later constitutions limit power  plural
executive.
Terms of office
–
–
–
–
Length/# of terms: 4 yrs, no limit
Salary: Legislatures set.
Impeachment: Ferguson
Succession: Lt Governor
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
The Constitutional Roles of Governor
LO 19.2: List the constitutional roles of the governor.
•
•
Constitutional Roles
‒
‒
‒
Chief of state
Chief executive officer
Commander in chief
‒
‒
‒
‒
Chief budget officer
Judicial vacancy appointments
Pardons, paroles, and clemency
Legislative powers
• Special sessions
• Set agenda
• Governor’s message
• Veto and threat of veto
Other roles alluded to in Constitution
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
1
7/27/2013
The Development of Gubernatorial Power
LO 19.3: Identify the major powers assigned to the governor, and
analyze how governors have interpreted and developed these powers.
•
•
•
•
Schlesinger: strong governorships typical in
large, urbanized, wealthy, nonsouthern states,
with strong party competition
Texas restricted governor powers in reaction to
strong government during Reconstruction.
41 states have cabinet system. TX does not.
TX governor strengthened recently by
‒
‒
‒
more high-level appointments
removal powers,
and limited budget execution authority.
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
LO 19.3
The Governor’s Power to Appoint
Executive Officials
•
•
Restrictions on appointive powers
‒
‒
‒
Custom and balance of power determine which
appointments require confirmation by the Texas Senate.
Confirmation by 2/3 of the Senate
Senatorial courtesy
‒
‒
look like themselves and their allies.
make campaign contributions.
Governors tend to appoint people who
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
LO 19.3
The Power of Staff and Budget
•
•
Staff has grown from 2 or 3 to about 200.
Governor’s appropriations ~ $100 million
‒
‒
Usually Governor’s Office budget $10 million itself
Remainder is for discretionary funds, programs
supported by trust funds, and suboffices, e.g.:
• governor’s mansion
• music and film industry marketing
• information on disability policies
• women’s groups
• criminal justice
• workforce issues.
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
2
7/27/2013
The Governor as Policy Maker and
Political Leader
LO 19.4: Evaluate the effectiveness of Texas governors as policy
makers and political leaders.
•
•
Public Opinion
–
TV and news conferences
–
–
Direct appeals to voters
Pressure from citizen groups and
lobbyists
Meetings with legislators, floor
leaders, and staff
Relationship with the
Legislature
–
•
Executive Orders
–
–
Emergency management
Controversial: HPV vaccination
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
The Plural Executive in Texas
LO 19.5: Outline the functions of the other elected administrative
agencies within the plural executive, and evaluate their policy and
administrative effectiveness.
•
Many independently elected offices within
the plural executive.
–
–
–
–
–
–
Attorney General
Comptroller of Public Accounts
Land Commissioner
Agriculture Commissioner
Railroad Commissioners
State Board of Education
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
Modern Texas Bureaucracy
LO 19.6: Determine the role of the modern Texas bureaucracy in
the formation, implementation, and evaluation of public policy.
•
•
Two types of agencies
–
–
Headed by director: 8 appointed; 5 elected
Commission: ~ 100 part-time, unpaid; 5 full-time
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Secretary of State
Public Utility Commissioners
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Insurance Commissioner
Health and Human Services Commission
Public Counsels
Board and Commissions
Agencies
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
3
7/27/2013
Toward Reform: Making Agencies
Accountable
LO 19.7: Explain how the legislature holds state agencies and
public employees accountable, and evaluate proposals to reform
the Texas Executive Branch.
•
•
•
•
•
The Sunset process
–
Makes recommendations to abolish agencies
outright; transfer function to another agency;
restructure agency.
Growth of public employment
Regulating the revolving door
Regulating the relationship between
agencies and private interests
–
Iron triangle
–
Vetoes
The Gubernatorial and Executive Power
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
Figure 19.1: What is the structure of the Texas
executive branch?
Back
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
Table 19.2: What gender, racial, or ethnic patterns
can you discern in appointments made by recent
Texas governors?
Back
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
4
7/27/2013
Figure 19.2: What variations exist within the
administrative structures of Texas agencies?
Back
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
Table 19.3: How has the number of people employed
by the Texas bureaucracy changed since 1972?
Back
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
Chapter 21
Political Parties, Interest Groups,
Elections, and Campaigns in Texas
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
5
7/27/2013
Roots of Political Parties, Interest Groups,
Elections, and Campaigns
LO 21.1: Trace the gradual evolution of political parties, interest groups,
elections, and campaigns in Texas.
• Political parties
– Republican Party took control, 1868-1874
– Era of one-party Democratic dominance, 18741986
– New Deal created first split with national
Democratic Party
• Interest groups
– The Grange
– Increase with social and economic
diversification
• Campaigns
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
Political Parties in Texas
LO 21.2: Differentiate among the three components of political parties in
Texas, and identify their functions in the state party system.
• Party Organization
– Formal Organization
• Temporary Organization
–
–
–
–
Precinct convention
County convention
State senatorial convention
State convention
• Permanent party
organization
– Precinct chairperson
– County chairperson and
county executive committee
– State party chair and
executive committee
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
LO 21.2
Party Organization
• Democratic Party unity
– 1976 liberals gain control
– 1980s – 1990s conservatives move to
Republican Party
• Republican Party unity
– Clash between social and economic
conservatives
• Party effectiveness – ability to carry out
– (1) institutional support activities (fund-raising,
electoral mobilization programs, etc.)
– (2) candidate-centered activities
(contributions, etc.)
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
6
7/27/2013
LO 21.2
Party in the Electorate
• Voters don’t register with parties, so polls
determine party identification in TX.
– Distribution of party attachments changed
over time
– Realignment
• Young voters, new residents  Republican
• Some Democrats switched parties.
• Voting trends in 1970s versus 2000s
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
LO 21.2
Party in Government
• In the executive branch
– Lack of cooperation during campaign  lack
of cooperation in office
• In the legislature branch
– Party caucuses not strong
• In the judiciary branch
– Governors tend to appoint members of own
party when vacancies arise.
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
Interest Groups in Texas
LO 21.3: Categorize the types of interest groups in Texas and the
methods they use to influence elections and public policy in Texas.
• Types of Interest Groups
– Business groups and trade associations
– Professional associations
– Labor groups
– Racial and ethnic groups
– Public-interest groups
• Political Activities of Interest Groups
– Lobbying
• Many former members of the executive or legislative
branch
• Provide substantive information for legislation
• Business interests dominate
– Electioneering
• PAC campaign contributions
• Litigation
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
7
7/27/2013
Elections and Political Campaigns in Texas
LO 21.4: Identify the types of election systems held in Texas, and
analyze the role of strategies in political campaigns.
• Types of Elections
– Primary elections
– Special elections
– General elections
– Local elections
• Political Campaigns in TX
– Money – few restrictions
– Media
– Marketing
• Switch from party-centered to candidate
centered  role of political consultants
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
LO 21.4
The Voters’ Decisions
• Fewer than ½ eligible voters participate in
presidential elections; fewer than 1/3 in
gubernatorial elections
• Voter Turnout
– Minimal requirements today
– 1991 Motor-voter registration system
– Electronic systems increase ease of voting
• The vote choice
– From party-centered to candidate centered
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
Toward Reform: Recent Proposed Changes in
Elections and Campaigns
LO 21.5: Evaluate how recent reforms have impacted political
parties, interest groups, elections, and campaigns.
• Notification of former prisoners of
restored voting rights vetoed by
Perry
• Voter ID proposal
• General-purpose PAC campaign
contributions reporting
requirements passed in 2009.
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
8
7/27/2013
Figure 21.1: Are Texas party organizations highly
centralized or decentralized?
Back
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
Table 21.1: How does the Texas party system
compare to the party systems of other large states?
Back
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
Figure 21.2: Do the changes in party identification
from 1952 to 2010 point to a realignment of the party
system in Texas?
Back
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
9
7/27/2013
Figure 21.3: Which party controlled most Texas
counties in the 1970s?
Back
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
Figure 21.4: Which party controlled most Texas
counties in the 2000s?
Back
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
Figure 21.5: What are the Texas PAC lobbying
expenditures by sector?
Back
Copyright © 2411 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman
To Learning Objectives
10