Ch 8 Slides

Question 1

Qualifications, Term, and Salary

Governor–The state’s highest elected executive official

Qualifications:

• At least __ years old
• Resident of Texas for at least ___ years
• ___ citizen
• Registered ____

Answer 1

Qualifications, Term, and Salary

Governor–The state’s highest elected executive official

Qualifications:

• At least 30 years old
• Resident of Texas for at least five years
• U.S. citizen
• Registered voter

Question 2

Qualifications, Term, and Salary

• Texas governors have typically been: _______
• Two women have served: ____ Richards (1991–1995) and ______ Ferguson (1925–1927; 1933–1935)
• ____ yea rterm
  
  • Term limits limit _____
  • _______–elected officials who will not serve the following term, often because their successor has already been elected
• $_______ salary, making him/her one of the highest-paid governors in the nation

Answer 2

Qualifications, Term, and Salary

• Texas governors have typically been married, Protestant, male, white, between their late 40s and early 60s, and financially well off
• Two women have served: Ann Richards (1991–1995) and Miriam “Ma” Ferguson (1925–1927; 1933–1935)
• Four year term
  
  • Term limits limit power
  • lame duck –elected officials who will not serve the following term, often because their successor has already been elected
• $150,000 salary, making him/her one of the highest-paid governors in the nation

Question 3

Executive Powers

• Texas governor’s powers are considered _______
  
  • ___________ classic study compared the power of governors
    
    • Texas falls well below the mean score of _________
    • Shortcomings in such studies:
      
      • all factors weighed equally
      • does not consider how powers are used within the political environment

Answer 3

Executive Powers

• Texas governor’s powers are considered limited
  
  • Keith Mueller’s classic study compared the power of governors
    
    • Texas falls well below the mean score of state chief executives, with only the governors of South Carolina and Mississippi holding less power
    • Shortcomings in such studies:
      
      • all factors weighed equally
      • does not consider how powers are used within the political environment

Question 4

Table 8.1 Ranking of Selected Governors Using Mueller’s Scale

Answer 4

Question 5

Executive Powers

• Texas governor has ____ formal powers—powers granted by the constitution or statutes
  
  • Little ________ authority
  • Appointment power is limited by:
    
    • _______ terms from the former governor’s appointments
    • most important executive offices in the state are elected by voters, not _______
• The governor must use his or her _______ powers pragmatically to govern effectively

Answer 5

Executive Powers

• Texas governor has limited formal powers—powers granted by the constitution or statutes
  
  • Little budgetary authority
  • Appointment power is limited by:
    
    • overlapping terms from the former governor’s appointments
    • most important executive offices in the state are elected by voters, not appointed
• The governor must use his or her informal powers pragmatically to govern effectively

Question 6

Executive Powers

• Governor can _______ executive boards and commissions and exercise law enforcement and military responsibility
• Little control over the day-to-day operations of the executive branch due to the _______ executive and the fact that most government employees are picked through a merit selection process
  
  • Ensures competent workers cannot be removed for ______ differences
  • Prevents the governor from dismissing employees who work to thwart his/her ______

Answer 6

Executive Powers

• Governor can appoint executive boards and commissions and exercise law enforcement and military responsibility
• Little control over the day-to-day operations of the executive branch due to the plural executive and the fact that most government employees are picked through a merit selection process
  
  • Ensures competent workers cannot be removed for political differences
  • Prevents the governor from dismissing employees who work to thwart his/her agenda

Question 7

Executive Powers

• Appointment Powers
  
  • Power to ______ board and commission members
    
    • About 25% are major campaign ______
  • _________ had the most ethnically and gender diverse group of appointees
  • The _______ of appointees has grown over the last few administrations

Answer 7

Executive Powers

• Appointment Powers
  
  • Power to appoint board and commission members
    
    • About 25% are major campaign contributors
  • Ann Richards had the most ethnically and gender diverse group of appointees
  • The diversity of appointees has grown over the last few administrations

Question 8

Executive Powers

• Restraints on the appointment powers of the governor
  
  • _______ courtesy –A discretion allowing senators to derail a governor’s nomination from within their home district
  • All appointments and removals must be approved by _______ of the senate
  • _______ terms –Terms of appointed board members that are staggered to ensure continuity of experience

Answer 8

Executive Powers

• Restraints on the appointment powers of the governor
  
  • Senatorial courtesy –A discretion allowing senators to derail a governor’s nomination from within their home district
  • All appointments and removals must be approved by two-thirds of the senate
  • Overlapping terms –Terms of appointed board members that are staggered to ensure continuity of experience

Question 9

Executive Powers

• Military Power
  
  • The governor can declare ______ law—the power to impose military rule during a crisis
  • Can enforce ______ in the case of rioting or looting
  • Can call out the Texas _____ in an emergency, such as a natural disaster
  • These powers are ______, with most military power residing with the national government

Answer 9

Executive Powers

• Military Power
  
  • The governor can declare martial law—the power to impose military rule during a crisis
  • Can enforce curfews in the case of rioting or looting
  • Can call out the Texas Guard in an emergency, such as a natural disaster
  • These powers are limited, with most military power residing with the national government

Question 10

Executive Powers

• Law Enforcement Powers
  
  • The governor has _____ law enforcement powers
    
    • Appoints the public safety ________
    • May take ______ of the Texas Rangers
    • Can _______ legislation aimed at combating crime

Answer 10

Executive Powers

• Law Enforcement Powers
  
  • The governor has limited law enforcement powers
    
    • Appoints the public safety commissioner
    • May take control of the Texas Rangers
    • Can introduce legislation aimed at combating crime

Question 11

Legislative Powers

• Session-Calling Power
  
  • The governor has the _____ power to call special sessions and set their agendas
  • The legislature cannot bring any issue to vote in special session without the governor’s approval, which astute governors can use to increase _______
  • Can keep the legislature in session _____, calling an unlimited number of 30 day sessions, incentivizing cooperation

Answer 11

Legislative Powers

• Session-Calling Power
  
  • The governor has the sole power to call special sessions and set their agendas
  • The legislature cannot bring any issue to vote in special session without the governor’s approval, which astute governors can use to increase influence
  • Can keep the legislature in session indefinitely, calling an unlimited number of 30 days essions, incentivizing cooperation

Question 12

Figure 8.1 The Costs of Special Sessions: 2009–2017

Answer 12

Question 13

Legislative Powers

• Message Power
  
  • The governor addresses the legislature on the condition of Texas in a “_____ of the State” address at the beginning of each legislative session
    
    • Presents his or her ______ agenda
    • Announces ______ issues for immediate action
    • Significance of this power is directly related to the governor’s _______ ability

Answer 13

Legislative Powers

• Message Power
  
  • The governor addresses the legislature on the condition of Texas in a “State of the State” address at the beginning of each legislative session
    
    • Presents his or her legislative agenda
    • Announces emergency issues for immediate action
    • Significance of this power is directly related to the governor’s persuasive ability

Question 14

Legislative Powers

• _____ Power –The ability of the governor to strike down legislation; subject to override.
  
  • Structure of the legislative session presents a major ______ in overriding the governor’s veto
    
    • Most legislation passes within the last ___ weeks of the session
    • The governor has __ days, excluding Sundays, to veto, sign, or let a bill become law, an additional __ days if that timeframe extends beyond the end of session
    • The Texas legislature cannot override a ___________
  • The governor can often accomplish more with the threat of ____ than the actual use of it, encouraging compromise

Answer 14

Legislative Powers

• Veto Power –The ability of the governor to strike down legislation; subject to override.
  
  • Structure of the legislative session presents a major difficulty in overriding the governor’s veto
    
    • Most legislation passes within the last two weeks of the session
    • The governor has 10 days, excluding Sundays, to veto, sign, or let a bill become law, an additional 20 days if that timeframe extends beyond the end of session
    • The Texas legislature cannot override a post-adjournment veto
  • The governor can often accomplish more with the threat of veto than the actual use of it, encouraging compromise

Question 15

Figure 8.2 The Governor’s Vetoes: 2009–2017

Answer 15

Question 16

Legislative Powers

• ______ Veto Power–The governor’s ability to delete individual items in the appropriations bill
  
  • Generally, the _____ veto is used as ______ budget management
  • The ______ has not overridden a ______ veto in state history
  • The governor has an ______ amount of negotiating power on spending bills

Answer 16

Legislative Powers

• Line Item Veto Power–The governor’s ability to delete individual items in the appropriations bill
  
  • Generally, the line item veto is used as incremental budget management
  • The legislature has not overridden a line item veto in state history
  • The governor has an extraordinary amount of negotiating power on spending bills

Question 17

Legislative Powers

• Budget Creation Power
  
  • The governor _____ responsibility for drafting the budget with the legislature. In actuality, the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) controls the budget process in Texas and the legislature disregards the governor’s budget.
  • This lack of _______ power contributes significantly to the Texas governor’s weakness. (In 42 states the budget is fully the governor’s responsibility.)
  • The governor can transfer/withhold funds from an agency only on approval by the ____.
  • Line item veto helps the governor influence the ______ decisions.

Answer 17

Legislative Powers

• Budget Creation Power
  
  • The governor shares responsibility for drafting the budget with the legislature. In actuality, the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) controls the budget process in Texas and the legislature disregards the governor’s budget.
  • This lack of budgetary power contributes significantly to the Texas governor’s weakness. (In 42 states the budget is fully the governor’s responsibility.)
  • The governor can transfer/withhold funds from an agency only on approval by the LBB.
  • Line item veto helps the governor influence the spending decisions.

Question 18

Judicial Powers

• Appointment Power
  
  • The governor appoints judges to fill vacancies at the _____ level or above
  • _______ of the senate must approve the governor’s nominees

Answer 18

Judicial Powers

• Appointment Power
  
  • The governor appoints judges to fill vacancies at the district level or above
  • Two-thirds of the senate must approve the governor’s nominees

Question 19

Judicial Powers

• _______ Power–power to pardon, commute or parole
  
  • The governor has no _______ power to pardon or parole but can make recommendations to the Board of Pardons and Paroles and can approve or reject their recommendations
  • Can grant a ___-day reprieve in a death penalty case

Answer 19

Judicial Powers

• Clemency Power–power to pardon, commute or parole
  
  • The governor has no independent power to pardon or parole but can make recommendations to the Board of Pardons and Paroles and can approve or reject their recommendations
  • Can grant a 30-day reprieve in a death penalty case

Question 20

Informal Powers

• Informal powers –Powers not specifically granted in the ______ or statutes
• Partisan Leadership
  
  • The governor ______ for his or her political party
  • Can introduce a legislative package reflecting the party’s _____
  • Must be able to convince members to vote the party ____ on key votes
  • Must be able to work with members of the _______ party

Answer 20

Informal Powers

• Informal powers –Powers not specifically granted in the constitution or statutes
• Partisan Leadership
  
  • The governor speaks for his or her political party
  • Can introduce a legislative package reflecting the party’s values
  • Must be able to convince members to vote the party line on key votes
  • Must be able to work with members of the opposition party

Question 21

Informal Powers

• Persuasive Power
  
  • As a representative of Texas, the governor strives to project a positive image for the state and act as an ____ (for instance, inducing businesses to move to Texas)
  • More than any other state official, the governor can influence public ____
  • Access to a state-wide _____ network

Answer 21

Informal Powers

• Persuasive Power
  
  • As a representative of Texas, the governor strives to project a positive image for the state and act as an advocate (for instance, inducing businesses to move to Texas)
  • More than any other state official, the governor can influence public opinion
  • Access to a state-wide media network

Question 22

Informal Powers

• International Relations
  
  • The governor plays an important role in _______ relations, particularly with Latin American and Mexico on trade, as well as issues like water resources and border security
• Leadership Style
  
  • In Texas, a governor’s approach to his job has a significant impact on how much ____ he wields

Answer 22

Informal Powers

• International Relations
  
  • The governor plays an important role in international relations, particularly with Latin American and Mexico on trade, as well as issues like water resources and border security
• Leadership Style
  
  • In Texas, a governor’s approach to his job has a significant impact on how much power he wields

Question 23

The Governor’s Staff

• A competent staff—the governor’s aides, not subject to _____ approval—is critical to effective governing
  
  • The governor’s office is divided into several separate _____, such as the Administrative Office, Criminal Justice Division, and Policy Office
  • Staff members chosen by the ______ with no legislative approval

Answer 23

The Governor’s Staff

• A competent staff—the governor’s aides, not subject to legislative approval—is critical to effective governing
  
  • The governor’s office is divided into several separate entities, such as the Administrative Office, Criminal Justice Division, and Policy Office
  • Staff members chosen by the governor with no legislative approval

Question 24

The Governor’s Staff

• •Staff members are often involved in _____ relations
  
  • ______ Office –governor’s lobbyists; help develop policy initiatives
• Staff helps develop the specifics of the governor’s policy proposals and advises on the best ____ to bring proposals forward in the legislative process
• Office of Governmental Appointments and the Policy Office assist with appointments and ensure that the governor’s _____ are implemented

Answer 24

The Governor’s Staff

• •Staff members are often involved in intergovernmental relations
  
  • Legislative Office –governor’s lobbyists; help develop policy initiatives
• Staff helps develop the specifics of the governor’s policy proposals and advises on the best time to bring proposals forward in the legislative process
• Office of Governmental Appointments and the Policy Office assist with appointments and ensure that the governor’s policies are implemented