The Plural Executive in Texas: The Lieutenant Governor & The Comptroller of Public Accounts

The Plural Executive Multiple Independently Elected Executive Officers Rick Perry Susan Combs Greg Abbott Jerry Patterson Todd Staples David Dewhurst Multiple Independently Elected Executive Officers May belong to different parties from each other Do not answer to each other Hold each other in check Must work together to implement public policy in Texas

Major Elected Executive Offices Governor (See 2-9 and 2-10) Lieutenant Governor Successor to the Governor Required to resign if he succeeds the Governor by1999 amendment No provision for replacing the Lieutenant Governor President of the Texas Senate Major source of Lieutenant Governor’s power Chairman of the Legislative Budget Board Standing joint committee that builds the state’s revenue and expenditure bills Appoints multiple boards and commissions Including the Sunset Advisory Commission Audits every state agency every six years to determine whether the agency should continue to exist Whether the agency should continue at the same funding level

Major Elected Executive Offices Comptroller of Public Accounts Chief Accountant and Tax Collector Merged with the Treasurer’s Office in 1995 Charged with enforcing the Balanced Budget Requirement Certifies the State Budget Estimates biennial revenue Manages State Expenditures Files State requests for federal grants “Public Face” of the Comptroller’s Office Unclaimed Properties Division Texas Tomorrow Fund

The State Budget Process Revenue Estimate Lt Gov influence Comptroller (CPA) Legislative Budget Board Governor influence Override Veto? Texas Legislature Standard Veto Line Item Veto No CPA: Preliminary Cert? Governor: Approve? Yes No Yes Yes CPA: Final Cert? No Line Removed from Bill Biennial Budget enacted Yes