1. TEXAS GOVERNMENT 2306
Unit 9
The Bureaucracy

2. The Executive Branch
That part of government that administers the law and implements public policy

3. BUREAUCRACY: DUTIES & FUNCTIONS
1.      Implementation 
2.      Filling in the details 
3.      Provide information, research, advice 
4.      Disburse state funds

4. Bureaucratic Expertise The Key to Their Power
Individual bureaucrats become experts in specialized area of administration
As experts, their advice (recommendations) carries weight with the Legislature & governor

5. Administration of the Law (filling in the details)
Administrative Law
when administrators interpret the law and write rules and regulations for its enforcement. Administrative law defines the meaning of the law and determines its effect on special interests and the public

6. HOW BUREAUCRATS ARE HIRED
·   Spoils System
o    Hired on basis of political connections, party loyalty, campaign donations, supporting winning candidate or party
o    No job security—can be fired for any reason
·   Merit System (Civil Service System)
o    Hired on the basis of knowledge, expertise, education, qualifications
o    Take a competitive exam
o Cannot be fired for political reasons

7. The Texas Bureaucracy
There is no single official in the Texas government who bears ultimate responsibility for the actions of the Texas bureaucracy
220 separate entities
300,000+ – bureaucrats (below nat’l average)
Megastates- Texas ranks 10th out of 15

8. Structure of the Cabinet System: The Ideal Bureaucratic Structure

9. Cabinet System-Strong Executive Structure
GOVERNOR
Hires department heads
Fires department heads
Issues executive orders
Dept.
Head
Dept.
Head
Dept.
Head
Dept.
Head
Dept.
Head

10. PLURAL EXECUTIVE (Weak Executive)
GOVERNOR
Hires only one department head
Most dept. heads elected by voters
No power to fire department heads
No power to issue executive orders
Comptroller
A. G.
Land
Comm.
Ag.
Comm.
Sec. of
State
Voters

11. Structure of Texas Bureaucracy

12. The Megastates & Bureaucratic Size

13. State & Local Government Bureaucrats- 1980-1996

14. Government Employees: US & Texas

15. Elected Executives: The Attorney General
The lawyer for all officials, boards, and agencies in state government
Two major functions for the state:
To give advisory opinions which determines whether a law does or not violate the Texas or U.S. constitutions;
To represent the state and government in civil and criminal litigation

16. Elected Officials: the Comptroller
Chief tax collector and chief pre-audit accounting officer for Texas government (collects 31 different state taxes & sales tax for 1,239 local governments)
Revenue Forecaster Certifies the state’s approximate biennial revenue (state budget cannot exceed this amount)
Certifies the financial condition of the state at the end of each fiscal year

17. Elected Officials: The Commissioner of the General Land Office
Manages and collects rentals and leases (oil & gas $) for state-owned lands
Awards oil, gas, sulphur, and other hard mineral leases for exploration and production on state land
Leases mineral interests in state riverbeds and tidelands
Maintains environmental quality of open beaches along Gulf Coast

18. Elected Officials: Commissioner of Agriculture
Administration of all laws, research, educational and regulatory activities related to agriculture;
Checks the accuracy of scales in meat markets and gas pumps, determines labeling procedures for pesticides
Promotes Texas agricultural products
Pesticide regulation

19. Elected Officials: the Lieutenant Governor
The source of executive powers comes from the legislative branch
Succeeds governor if a vacancy occurs
President of the Texas Senate
Ex-officio chair of:
The Legislative Budget Board;
The Legislative Council;
The Legislative Audit Board;
May exercise influence over the Sunset Advisory Commission and the Legislative Criminal Justice Board

20. Appointed Executives (by the governor)
Secretary of State – chief election officer for Texas
Adjutant General – the state’s top-ranking military officer
Health and Human Services Commissioner – in charge of 4 major health and welfare depts.
Insurance Commissioner – monitors and regulates the insurance industry

21. Elective Boards
Texas Railroad Commission – 3 elected members who regulate gas utilities, oil and gas pipelines, oil and gas drilling and pumping activities, and intrastate railroad transportation, sets rates for local natural gas companies, (regulates safety & environmental aspects of oil & gas industry)
State Board of Education – 15 members elected to 4 yr. terms from districts) oversees and regulates the Texas public school system, and administers state and national education law, distributes federal & state $ to local school districts

22. APPOINTED BOARDS
·  Governor appoints 3,000+ individuals to hundreds of specialized boards & commissions (The board or commission usually appoint the head of the agency)
·  There are 38 professional licensing & examining boards
§    (Ex.: accountants, architects, barbers, chiropractors, cosmetologists, dentists, funeral directors, land surveyors, medical doctors, nurses, exterminators, pharmacists, physical therapists, podiatrists, veterinarians)
·  Twelve College Governing Boards
Oversee state colleges & universities

23. Texas Bureaucracy-Largest Agencies

24. Bureaucratic Environment

25. The Iron Texas Star
The coalition and mutual support that exists between:
legislative committees,
administrative agencies, and
economic special interest groups

26. The Texas Iron Star

27. Gubernatorial vs. Legislative Influence over Bureaucracy

28. The Bureaucracy & the Public

29. Texas: The Board & the Commission System

30. The Texas Sunset Process

31. Sunset Process

32. REFORMS ENACTED 1. Open Meetings Act (1973) 2. Open Records Act (1973)
2.  Open Records Act (1973)
Sunset Advisory Commission (1977)
  Whistleblower Protection Act (1983)

33. REFORMS NEEDED 1. Ombudsman 2. Adoption of Cabinet-Style Government
2.   Adoption of Cabinet-Style Government
3.   Statewide Merit/Civil Service System
4. Texas Legislature (annual or longer sessions)