1. Chapter 9 – The Plural Executive and the Bureaucracy

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

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

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

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

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

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

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.