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2Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Gubernatorial Politics: Money Matters  Media and money play dominant role in elections of politicians and gaining support of a legislator for a governor’s agenda. 3Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Election  Constitutional prerequisites  30 years of age  U.S. Citizen  Five years of state residency  Compensation and Benefits  Salary $150,000  Expenses for official business  Staff and maintenance for a personal residence 4Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Succession  Lieutenant governor  Senate president pro tempore  Speaker of the House  Attorney general  Chief justices of 14 Texas courts of appeals in ascending order 5Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Removal from Office  Article XV Section 1 of the Texas Constitution  Articles of Impeachment begin in Texas House of Representatives with majority vote.  To remove the Governor, one or more impeachment articles must be approved by 2/3 senators present.  If convicted of impeachment, governor can no longer hold appointed or elected state office. 6Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Staff  Governor’s success depends staff support  Governor’s staff  Directs programs mandated by the legislature  Appointed and removed by governor Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning7

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 Not based on law  Based on state ceremonies, speeches, and traditions  Chief of state  Family members as source of support 9Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Appointive Power  Removal Power  Military Power  Law Enforcement Power  Budgetary Power  Executive Orders and Proclamations  Economic Development 10Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Appointive Power  The authority to name a person to a government positions  All appointees must be confirmed with two- thirds Senate vote  Advice and consent  Senatorial Courtesy  Recess Appointments  Removal Power  No independent removal power 11Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

Governor Perry’s Appointment Demographics (as of May, 2012) GenderMale 76% Anglo69% Latino/a17% African American11% Asian and other3% 12Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Military Power  Article 4, Section 7  Governor is Commander-in-Chief for military forces of the state unless they are called into actual service by the United States.  Texas Army National Guard  Texas Air National Guard  Texas State Guard  Martial Law 13Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Law Enforcement Power  Texas Public Safety Commission  Members appointed by the governor  Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)  Texas Rangers  Small number of highly trained law enforcers  Used in emergencies 14Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Budgetary Power  Two budgets made by the state to be reviewed by the state legislature  Legislative Budget Board makes one  Governor makes the other  Process influenced by governor’s veto and line-item veto power  Mostly vetoes of contingency riders for bills not passed by the legislature 15Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Executive Orders and Proclamations  Executive orders set policy within the executive branch and create or abolish task forces, councils, and other bodies  Proclamations  Official public announcement often used for ceremonial purposes 16Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Economic Development  Texas Enterprise Fund  Takes money from “rainy day fund” to retain industry  TexasOne  Attracts businesses from other states and countries  Emerging Technology Fund  Helps smaller companies develop new technology 17Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Delivering messages to the legislature  Signing bills and concurrent resolutions  Vetoing bills and concurrent resolutions  Calling special sessions of the legislature 18Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Message Power  State of the State address  Bill-Signing Power  Veto Power  A governor vetoes a bill by returning it unsigned.  Texas Legislature can override veto with two- thirds vote in both chambers  Line-item veto  Pork-barrel politics  Post-adjournment veto 19Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Special-Sessions Power  Special sessions can only be called by governor  No restrictions on number of sessions called  Lasts no more than 30 days  Governor sets the agenda, excluding impeachments and appointments 20Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Appointment and Removal of Judges and Justices  Fills vacancies caused by death, resignation or removal  Acts of Executive Clemency  Set aside or reduce court-ordered penalties for crimes  Can be a full pardon 21Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 Plural executive created by Texas Constitution and statute  The governor, lieutenant governor and four elected department heads share executive power 22Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 The Lieutenant Governor  Has executive and legislative power  Partisan elected four-year term  President of Senate but not a senator  Vacancy  Members of Texas Senate select one of the members to be acting Lieutenant Governor until the next general election 23Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 The Attorney General  Head lawyer for the state representing Texas in civil litigation  Provides legal advice to state and local officials  Enforces child-support orders issued by state courts 24Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 The Comptroller of Public Accounts  State’s chief accounting officer and tax collector  Certifies the state budget  Four-fifths vote in both chambers to override non- certification of budget  Promotes consistency in accounting methods and standards by all state agencies 25Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 The Commissioner of the General Land Office  Oversees the state’s extensive land holdings and related mineral land interests  Oversees growth of state Permanent School Fund  Chairman of Veteran’s Land Board 26Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 The Commissioner of Agriculture  Enforces state agriculture laws and provides service programs for Texas farmers, ranchers, and consumers  Controls Pesticide Programs Division  Conducts inspections of commercial scales, pumps, and meters 27Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

 The Secretary of State  Appointed by Governor with two-thirds approval of Senate  Serves four-year term concurrent with governor  Administers state election laws  Grants charters to Texas corporations  Issues permits to out-of-state corporations to do business within Texas  Processes requests for extradition of criminals to and from other states 28Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

1. Summarize the role of the governor and the process of governorship. 2. Analyze the governor’s informal power. 3. Explain the executive powers of the governor, taking the process of checks and balances into account. 29Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

4. Discuss the shared power of the executive and the legislature. 5. Illustrate powers the governor exercises over the judicial branch of state government. 6. Describe the powers of the secretary of state and elected department heads. 30Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning

1. What is the constitutional procedure for removing a governor from office? 2. True or False: All Texas governors have placed close friends and political associates in staff positions. Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning31

1. True or False: The governor’s informal powers are not based on law. 2. True or False: Public involvement of family members may be a source of support for the governor. Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning32

1. True or False: Most gubernatorial appointments must be approved by a two-third vote of the House of Representatives. 2. What constitutional power allows the governor to exercise control over state spending? Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning33

1. True or False: During a session, the governor’s veto can be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote in the House and in the Senate. 2. How can the legislature be convened for a special session? Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning34

1. True or False: A vacancy on a Texas district court or higher appellate court is filled by gubernatorial appointment. 2. Which Texas official has power to independently grant one 30-day reprieve in a death sentence case? Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning35

1. True or False: Heads of state agencies may not request opinions from the attorney general concerning the scope of their jurisdiction. 2. What is one important power of the secretary of state for persons desiring to establish a Texas corporation? Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning36