Chapter 8 – Governors of Texas

Learning Objectives 8.1 Identify the eligibility requirements, term, succession process, and removal process for Texas governors 8.2 Analyze how governors use their formal powers 8.3 Evaluate the governors’ use of informal powers by the Texas governor to advance agendas 8.4 Assess the strength of the Texas governor and proposals to modify gubernatorial power

Rules of the Office Eligibility Informal qualifications Thirty years of age Citizen of the United States Resided in Texas for at least five years immediately preceding election Cannot hold any other office Informal qualifications Brilliance of mind Legal knowledge Political experience Sound knowledge of business and industry

Rules of the Office Terms Removal from office 1876 term is two years 1972 extended to four years No term limits Removal from office Impeachment Only one governor impeached: James E. Ferguson Two Stages Texas House of Representatives cast a majority vote in favor Texas Senate sits as jury

Rules of the Office Succession Salary and Staff Lieutenant governor is next in line for governor Salary and Staff $150,000 annually Almost 300 staff members

Formal Powers of Texas Governors Execution of Laws Executive Orders: legally binding orders from the governor that are used to direct government in the execution of law Proclamations: gubernatorial orders that are used to make factual determinations to trigger other available powers Appointment Powers More than 3,000 positions Appointment power shared with state Senate Approves all appointments

Formal Powers of Texas Governors Legislative Powers Recommending legislation Legislative “emergencies” Special sessions Veto Powers: formal, constitutional decisions to formally reject a resolution or bill made by the legislature Line Item Veto: a veto that allows the governor to reject a specific provision in a bill without rejecting the whole bill Military Powers Judicial Powers: Pardon and Clemency Pardon: Forgive a crime Clemency: Power to reduce or delay punishment

Informal Powers of Texas Governors Informal Powers: actions governors might take that are not formally written but are exercised through the activities of the governor Legislative Bargaining Meals and Midnight visits Endorsements Working the Floor Going Public Dealing with the Media

Informal Powers of Texas Governors Agenda Setting Informal power of the governor to use his public platform to set the state’s political and policy agenda Citizen Advisory Group Budget Budget execution: the governor’s implementation of the budget when the legislature is not in session Inaugural Speech address that is not constitutionally required but is conventionally delivered at the beginning of a new gubernatorial term State of the State Address address used by governors to set a policy agenda Party Leader Personal Outreach Economic Cheerleader

Weak and Strong Governors Sheer Length of Term Appointees Party Power Criticisms and Reforms Appointment Powers Cronyism Removal Powers Budget Powers

Texas Takeaways To run for governor in Texas, a candidate must be at least 30 years of age and a citizen of the United States and must have resided in Texas for at least five years immediately preceding his or her election. Governors serve three and one-half years, on average. The Texas legislature impeaches a governor in a two-stage process. First, the Texas House of Representatives investigates charges and must cast a majority vote in favor of impeachment. Second, the Texas Senate sits as a jury, hearing and evaluating the evidence in a trial setting. To convict an individual who has been impeached by the house and remove them from office, two-thirds of the senate must agree.

Texas Takeaways Governors routinely use executive orders, proclamations, political appointments, vetoes, line item vetoes, pardon powers, and military powers to run the executive branch. The governor also has his or her hand in the legislative side of things. Governors recommend legislation, declare legislative emergencies, call special sessions, and bargain with legislators. The governor has the power to call the legislature into special session on any issue they choose, and sessions can last up to 30 days after the biennial 140-day session is over. Governors veto approximately thirty pieces of legislation per legislative session. Vetoes are almost never overturned. Only one has been recorded in Texas history.

Texas Takeaways The Governors’ informal powers are chief legislative bargainers, agenda setters and budget negotiators, party leaders, and economic cheerleaders. Governors succeed more than 50 percent of the time on their agenda issues, although this is higher when governors are first elected to office or when political forces align. The governor’s annual State of the State Speech and their inaugural address are both used to set the governor’s political and legislative agenda.

Texas Takeaways The powers of the Texas governor are weak on paper but strong in practice. Stronger governors exercise their powers more vigorously. Texas ranks comparatively low on an index of power; but in practice, Texas governors have used the powers of the office to make themselves politically stronger. Texas governors have expanded their political powers through aggressive use of appointment powers, the veto, party building, and staying longer in office.