Governing TX CH08

Chapter The Texas Executive Branch The Texas Executive Branch 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 The Governor • To be successful, the governor must: – Use appointments well – Willing to veto, but also to negotiate • Win support for policy agenda from legislators, interest groups, and other vested parties – Convince public to adopt vision for state – Since governors have limited power, it becomes more important to be popular among voters The Governor • Formal powers of Texas governor – Call special sessions of the legislature – Pardon criminals – Permit fugitives to be extradited – Appoint state board and commission members – Veto acts of the legislature – Give the State of the State address – Declare martial law The Governor • Informal powers of Texas governor – Biggest power is the power to persuade – Address the legislature – Set the agenda for state government • Cooperation/influence with legislature, agencies, boards/commissions – Media covers governor statements and politics – By far, the most visible state government official The Governor • Formal requirements to run – Thirty years of age – U.S citizen – Resided in Texas for the prior five years • Informal requirements (viable candidates) – Strong name recognition – Prior elected experience – Successful at fund-raising for campaign and party – Support from national party Governors of Texas and Their Terms of Office since 1874 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 The Plural Executive • Attorney general (AG) – State’s highest civil attorney • In charge of all civil cases where state is a party in the lawsuit – When state is sued, or when state sues • Can issue opinions for agencies that have the impact and force of law • Collects child support The Plural Executive • Commissioner of General Land Office (GLO) – Texas owns or has mineral interests in 20.3 million acres of land, plus all underwater lands 10 miles out from the coast • Responsible for 18,000+ producing oil wells • Responsible for awarding drilling exploration rights on state land • Protects environmental quality of state land and water The Plural Executive • Commissioner of agriculture – Enforces agricultural laws including quarantine laws, food inspection, disease and pest control programs, weights and measures The Plural Executive • Comptroller of public accounts • Invests state money – Pension funds, debt, current accounts • Oversees taxation – Collection, current totals, projections • Estimates state revenues – Influences how much legislature can budget Boards, Commissions, and Regulatory Agencies • Bureaucracy: complex structure of offices, tasks and rules employed by largescale institutions to coordinate tasks and personnel • At this point, Gov Perry has appointed every single state bureaucratic appointee to every position the state constitution allows – Over 10 years as governor, unprecedented opportunities to appoint and influence state policy Boards, Commissions, and Regulatory Agencies • Multimember appointed boards – Appointed by governor and approved by Senate – Examples: Dept of Parks & Wildlife, Dept of Correction, Public Utilities Commission • Single executive boards – Appointed by governor, approved by Senate • Example: Dept of Insurance has just one commissioner Boards, Commissions, and Regulatory Agencies • Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) – Six-year terms, one member elected every other year – Regulate trucking, rail freight, oil and natural gas industries • Controlled production to maintain price stability • Today, the RRC no longer regulates railroads! Boards, Commissions, and Regulatory Agencies • State Board of Education (SBOE) – 15 members serving four-year terms – Elected in geographic districts representing different state regions • Recommend commissioner of education candidates to governor – Education commissioner oversees Texas Education Agency (TEA) Sunset Advisory Commission • Sunset Advisory Commission (SAC) – Evaluates utility of state agencies • Once every 12 years, each agency can be abolished unless legislature votes to renew it • Agencies must justify their existence – Detail how they meet legislative mandates • 58 agencies have expired under the SAC Thinking Critically about the Executive in Texas Public Opinion Poll Should Texas governors have term limits similar to the president of the United States (maximum of two, four-year terms)? a) Yes, no one should serve too long b) No, voters should be able to choose whichever candidate they prefer Public Opinion Poll Do you think the public perceives the office of governor as a strong or weak office/position in Texas government? a) Strong b) Weak Public Opinion Poll Should some plural executive offices be eliminated, with those responsibilities belonging to the governor instead? a) Yes, too many executive positions is an inefficient way to run the state b) No, voters should continue to have influence on all of these separate functions Public Opinion Poll Should candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run on a ticket, similar to presidential and vice presidential candidates? a) Yes, it would provide more cooperation at the top levels of government b) No, the public should be able to choose individuals for each office Public Opinion Poll Which of the following in the plural executive you think has the most important duties? a) Lt governor b) Attorney general c) Comptroller of public accounts d) Land commissioner e) Railroad commission