Chapter 24 The Governor and Bureaucracy in Texas Pearson Education, Inc. © 2008 American Government 9th Edition to accompany Comprehensive, Alternate, Texas, and Essentials Editions O’Connor and Sabato

The Executive in Texas  Texas has a plural executive. An executive branch in which power and policy implementation are divided among several executive agencies rather than centralized under one person The governor does not get to appoint most agency heads. Not assured control of state government so they must build strong outside support

The Development of the Executive in Texas  Spanish kings designated the first Spain, Mexican Constitutional Governors created as well as an executive council  Early American governors appointed by the Crown Relatively weak

From President of the Lone Star Republic to Governor of Texas  Republic of Texas Executive consisted of a president who governed with a cabinet  State of Texas Entered U.S. with relatively strong executive Constitutional changes weakened the executive

Terms of Office  Length and Number of Terms Four year term with no term limits  Salary 2007 Governor’s salary was $115,345  Impeachment Executive positions are subject to impeachment by the legislative branch Jim Ferguson  Succession The constitutional declaration that the lieutenant governor succeeds to the governorship if there is a vacancy

The Constitutional Roles of the Governor  Chief of state Governor in his/her role as the official head representing the state of Texas in its relationship with the national government, other states, and foreign dignitaries  Chief executive officer Governor as top official of the executive branch of Texas state government  Commander in chief Governor in his or her role as head of the state militia

The Constitutional Roles of the Governor  Chief Budget Officer The governor, who is charged with preparing the state budget proposal for the legislature  State Board of Control  Legislative Budget Board  Clemency The governor’s authority to reduce the length of a person’s prison sentence  Governor’s Message Message that the governor declares to the legislature, pronouncing policy goals, budget priorities, and authorization for the legislature to act

Development of Gubernatorial Power  Characteristics Restrictions  Primarily utilized in 18 th and 19 th  Governor Edmund J. Davis  Constitutional Convention of 1875 Comparing the Texas Governor with Other Governors  Texas does not have cabinet system selected and responsible for the governor unlike many other states  Compared to other states, Texas’ governor is weak.  But legislature and voters have increased the governor’s power in the 20 th century

Governor’s Power to Appoint Executive Officials  Governor appoints more agency heads today than ever before.  Texas gubernatorial appointment requires consent of the Texas Senate in a vote of at least two-thirds of those present. Senatorial courtesy: governor defers to the state senator in whose district the nominee resides

Power of Staff and Budget  Broad responsibilities of staff Develop governor’s budget proposal Develop policy recommendations Public relations, liaison work Working with citizens and lobbyists Duties may change  Budget varies Depends on what the legislature appropriates given what functions the legislature and the governor choose to place under the office May exceed $100 million a year  Usually $10 million of that is for the narrower Governor’s office (2007=8 million)  Rest is discretionary funds and suboffices

The Governor as Policy Maker and Political Leader Political leadership of governor flows from:  Governor’s skills  Previous experience  Similarity in party, philosophy, and ideology with other decision makers

Gender, Race, and Money in Gubernatorial Appointments

The Governor as Policy Maker and Political Leader  Public-Opinion Leadership Public relations  Relationship with the Legislature Must develop a good working relationship with key legislators Must use the powers of the governorship to assist the legislative process, and sometimes, thwart it  State of the state message and budget message  Emergency proclamations  Veto and the line-item veto  Executive orders

Ideology and Governors

The Plural Executive in Texas  Attorney General Elected official who is the chief counsel for the state of Texas  Comptroller of Public Accounts Elected official who is the state’s tax collector  Land Commissioner Elected official responsible for managing and leasing the state’s property

The Plural Executive in Texas  Agricultural Commissioner Elected official in charge of regulating and promoting agriculture  Railroad Commission Full-time, three-member paid commission elected by the people to regulate oil and gas and some transportation entities  State Board of Education Fifteen-member elected body that sets some education policy for the state and has limited authority to oversee the Texas Agency and school districts Texas Education Agency  The state agency that oversees local school districts and disburses state funds to districts

Modern Texas Bureaucracy  Administrative Procedures Act A statute containing Texas’s rule-making process Requires agency officials to seek written public comments, and sometimes hold public hearings before adopting rules and regulations  Secretary of State State official appointed by the governor to be the keeper of the state’s records (ex. State laws, election data and filings)

Modern Texas Bureaucracy  Public Utility Commission Full-time, three member paid commission appointed by the governor to regulate public utilities in Texas Quasi judicial role  Receive petitions from companies or individuals, hearing evidence in a hearing, similar to a judicial proceeding, and ruling on the petition  Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Full-time, three member paid commission appointed by governor to administer the state’s environmental programs

Modern Texas Bureaucracy  Insurance Commissioner Official appointed by the governor to direct the Department of Insurance and regulate the insurance industry  Health and Human Services Commissioner Appointed by the governor to oversee the state’s multi-agency health and human service programs

Modern Texas Bureaucracy  Public Counsels Officials appointed by the governor to represent the public before regulatory agencies Captured agencies: a government regulatory agency that consistently makes decisions favorable to the private interests that it regulates  Boards and Commissions Govern agencies Example: Ten boards of trustees of Texas’s colleges and universities run thirty-seven general academic institutions, nine medical schools,and nine major services. Make policy Are generally appointed by governor with Senate confirmation

Making Agencies Accountable  The Sunset Process Sunset law: a law that sets a date for a program or regulation to expire unless reauthorized by the legislature  Staff Size and Pay Staff has grown; pay varies Full-time equivalent (FTE)

Making Agencies Accountable  Regulating the Revolving Door Revolving door: an exchange of personnel between private interests and public regulators  Regulating the Relationship between Agencies and Private Interests Power to interpret legislative intent makes executive agencies policy powerhouses  Agency capture  Iron triangles