1 Learning Objectives 81 Identify the eligibility requirements term succession process and removal process for Texas governors 82 Analyze how governors use their formal powers 83 Evaluate the governors use of informal powers by the Texas governor to advance agendas ID: 803406
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Chapter 8 Governors of Texas
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Slide2Learning Objectives
8.1 Identify the eligibility requirements, term, succession process, and removal process for Texas governors
8.2 Analyze how governors use their formal powers
8.3 Evaluate the governors’ use of informal powers by the Texas governor to advance agendas
8.4 Assess the strength of the Texas governor and proposals to modify gubernatorial power
Slide3Eligibility
Thirty years of age
Citizen of the United States
Resided in Texas for at least five years immediately preceding election
Cannot hold any other office
Informal qualifications
Brilliance of mind
Legal knowledge
Political experienceSound knowledge of business and industry
Rules of the Office
Slide4Terms
1972 extended to four years
No term limits
Removal from office
Impeachment
Only one governor impeached: James E. Ferguson
Two Stages
Texas House of Representatives cast a majority vote in favor
Texas Senate sits as jury
Rules of the Office
Slide5Succession
Lieutenant governor is next in line for governor
Salary and Staff
$150,000 annually
Almost 300 staff members
Rules of the Office
Slide6Execution of Laws
Executive Orders
Proclamations
Appointment Powers
More than 3,000 positions
Appointment power shared with state Senate
Approves all
apointments
Formal Powers of Texas Governors
Slide7Legislative Powers
Recommending legislation
Legislative “emergencies”
Special sessions
Veto Powers
Line Item Veto
Military Powers
Judicial Powers: Pardon and Clemency
PardonForgive a crimeClemencyPower to reduce or delay punishment
Formal Powers of Texas Governors
Slide8Legislative Bargaining
Meals and Midnight visits
Endorsements
Working the Floor
Going Public
Dealing with the Media
Informal Powers of Texas Governors
Slide9Agenda Setting
Agenda Setting
Citizen Advisory Group
Budget
Inaugural Speech
State of the State Address
Party Leader
Personal Outreach
Economic Cheerleader
Informal Powers of Texas Governors
Slide10Sheer Length of Term
Appointees
Party Power
Criticisms and Reforms
Appointment Powers
Cronyism
Removal Powers
Budget Powers
Weak and Strong Governor
Slide11To run for governor in Texas, a candidate must be at least 30 years of age and a citizen of the United States and must have resided in Texas for at least five years immediately preceding his or her election.
Governors serve three and one-half years, on average.
The Texas legislature impeaches a governor in a two-stage process. First, the Texas House of Representatives investigates charges and must cast a majority vote in favor of impeachment. Second, the Texas Senate sits as a jury, hearing and evaluating the evidence in a trial setting. To convict an individual who has been impeached by the house and remove them from office, two-thirds of the senate must agree.
Texas Takeaways
Slide12Governors routinely use executive orders, proclamations, political appointments, vetoes, line item vetoes, pardon powers, and military powers to run the executive branch. The governor also has his or her hand in the legislative side of things. Governors recommend legislation, declare legislative emergencies, call special sessions, and bargain with legislators.
The governor has the power to call the legislature into special session on any issue they choose, and sessions can last up to 30 days after the biennial 140-day session is over.
Governors veto approximately thirty pieces of legislation per legislative session.
Vetoes are almost never overturned. Only one has been recorded in Texas history.
Texas Takeaways
Slide13The Governors’ informal powers are chief legislative bargainers, agenda setters and budget negotiators, party leaders, and economic cheerleaders.
Governors succeed more than 50 percent of the time on their agenda issues, although this is higher when governors are first elected to office or when political forces align.
The governor’s annual State of the State Speech and their inaugural address are both used to set the governor’s political and legislative agenda.
Texas Takeaways
Slide14The powers of the Texas governor are weak on paper but strong in practice. Stronger governors exercise their powers more vigorously.
Texas ranks comparatively low on an index of power; but in practice, Texas governors have used the powers of the office to make themselves politically stronger.
Texas governors have expanded their political powers through aggressive use of appointment powers, the veto, party building, and staying longer in office.
Texas Takeaways