1. The Executive Branch
The Plural Executive

2. The Governor Informal Powers Partisan leadership Access to Congressmen
Most visible member of his/her political party in Texas
Able to set the party agenda
Access to Congressmen
The ‘chief lobbyist’ for the state
Member of the Nat’l Association of State Governors
Persuasion
Connected with both formal and informal message power
“Leadership style”
How the governor uses his or her formal and informal powers

3. 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