Chapter 9 – The Plural Executive and the Bureaucracy

Learning Objectives 9.1 Describe the roles, functions, and structure of the bureaucracy in Texas 9.2 Explain the roles of the elected members of the executive branch 9.3 Identify the functions of important governor-appointed, single-head agencies 9.4 Describe the purposes important multimember agencies serve 9.5 Differentiate between multimember elected commissions and hybrid agencies 9.6 Assess how the plural executive influences policy and the methods of holding the bureaucracy in check

Bureaucracy in Texas Plural executive: diffusion of authority and power throughout several entities in the executive branch and the bureaucracy Bureaucracy: government organization that implements laws and provides services to individuals

Bureaucracy in Texas What the Texas Bureaucracy Does Policy Implementation Implementation: execution by the bureaucracy of laws and decisions made by the legislative, executive, or judicial branch Rule-Making Regulations designed to control government or the conduct of people and industries Regulation Standards that are established for the function and management of industry, business, individuals, and other parts of government Licensing Authorization process that gives a company, an individual, or an organization permission to carry out a specific task Enforcement Carrying out of rules by an agency or commission within the bureaucracy

Bureaucracy in Texas The Structure of the Texas Bureaucracy Agencies headed by officials appointed by the governor Agencies headed by officials independently elected by the people outside of the governor’s control Boards and commissions headed by a multimember, governor-appointed board or commission Hybrid agencies with a mix of elected and appointed boards and commissions headed by an appointed board or commission

Independently Elected Officers Lieutenant Governor Qualifications Must be thirty years old US Citizen Texas resident for more than five years prior to election Four year term, no limit Presiding officer of the Texas Senate Role of the lieutenant governor who is in charge of the administrative and procedural duties of the Texas Senate

Independently Elected Officers Lieutenant Governor Roles Working with the governor Managing the Senate Directing the Flow of Legislation Tiebreaking vote in the Senate Appointments to Senate Committees Membership on Key Legislative Boards Involving Texans in the Law-making process

Independently Elected Officers Attorney General Comptroller of Public Accounts Commissioner of the General Land Office Agriculture Commissioner Plural Executive Feuds

Governor-Appointed, Single-Head Agencies Secretary of State Commissioner for Health and Human Services Department of Insurance

Governor-Appointed, Multimember Agencies Public Utility Commission Department of Transportation Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Multimember Elected Commissions and Hybrid Agencies Texas Railroad Commission Texas Ethics Commission State Board of Education

Controlling the Bureaucracy Selection of the Bureaucracy Sluggish Policymaking Oversight and Change Sunset Process Legislative Oversight Gubernatorial Oversight Other Agencies with Oversight

Texas Takeaways Bureaucracies administer rules, make rules, enforce laws, and provide services to individuals. The Texas bureaucracy has grown due to a combination of population growth and economic expansion. Agencies with more appointees from the governor are more indebted to the governor. Agencies that are elected independently are less likely to cater to the governor’s will.

Texas Takeaways The lieutenant governor serves as the presiding officer of the Texas Senate, casts tiebreaking votes, and serves and appoints officials to key state boards and commissions. The AG office’s consumer functions involve enforcement of health, safety, and consumer regulations and protection of the rights of the elderly and disabled. The attorney general is also responsible for enforcement of child support payments, including locating absent parents, establishing paternity, reviewing and adjusting child support payments, and collecting and distributing child support payments.

Texas Takeaways The comptroller sets the revenue estimate and audits the budget. The Secretary of State is the chief elections administrator, the steward of all state records, and an ambassador of the state to other nations. The HHSC is so difficult to manage because it is a large agency and has many policies that it must implement. In a governor-appointed, singled-headed agency, the appointee is often closer to the governor. Where there are more appointees on a larger commission, the governor may have less influence.

Texas Takeaways The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality deals with natural resources, maintains clean air and water, and protects the environment, among others. The TRC’s primary functions are the regulation of the oil and gas industry and environmental protection. The main goal of the Texas Ethics Commission is to oversee, regulate, and enforce campaign finance and lobbying activities. The State Board of Education oversees the curriculum standards for primary and secondary education.

Texas Takeaways The mission of the Sunset Commission is to periodically review the function and efficiency of agencies. An agency is set to be abolished unless legislation is passed to allow that agency to continue to function. The state can hold the bureaucracy accountable in several ways, including the Sunset process and legislative, gubernatorial, and agency oversight.