Texas Governor Powers Essay

The formal powers of the governor can be measured by the six variables listed above. We can start off by describing the election of other statewide executives. The Texas governor has actually very little power when it comes to formal appointive and removal powers. Voters actually elect many important states administrates. Texas has a plural executive system. In simple terms, Texas limits the power of the governor by distributing power usually associated with a chief executive among many elected political leaders. The only executive official appointed by the Governor is the Secretary of State.

Another factor is tenure of office which is the legal ability of governors to succeed themselves in office and the term of length. In Texas, the governor

has a four-year term with no limit on the number of terms. A longer tenure is an important factor in the governor’s role. With this ability, the governor can build up relationships with officials in other states. Tenure is a very important and strong power the governor has by continually staying in office and getting reelected can have a huge influence in government over the years.
In addition, the governor’s appointment powers are very weak.

Because Texas is a traditionalist culture it limits the governor’s appointment powers. However, the most significant position appointed by the governor is the secretary of state. Texas plural executive system limits this power and many state agency’s heads are elected by the voters rather than being appointed by the governor. Of the 172 agencies in Texas, the governor appoints a few agency heads. He/she will most likely appoint board members with whom he or she aligns with politically. For removal power the governor is also not strong. To remove an appointee, it requires 2/3 majority vote in the senate. Besides the Agency heads and Boards and Commissions agency’s the governor has the ability to appoint a number of people for non-policy-making and governing boards that make recommendations to the governor or other state officials. Most often, these non-policies making boards do not require senate approval. However, some generational appointments are subject to the approval by a two-thirds vote of the senate. This is called senatorial courtesy, meaning if the senator from an appointee’s home district disapprovers of the appointment, the senate might not confirm the

appointee.
In Texas, the governor’s budgetary powers are exceptionally weak, except in the area of the line-item veto.

He/she can line-item veto part of the bill without vetoing the entire bill. The legislature can override this veto by 2/3 however appropriations bills are generally pass in the last days of session, so the legislature has adjourned by the time the governor vetoes items. In Texas, the governor is not constitutionally mandated to submit a budget. The power is given to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), which is controlled by the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house. State agencies must present budget requests to the LBB, and the LBB produces a budget that is submitted to the legislature. The governor has very limited authority over the budget execution unless of a fiscal crisis can the governor exercise any influence.

Governors are expected to be leaders of their political party, but they do not control the party. Governors can surely influence their party but cannot have the upper hand in all decisions. In the one-party era in Texas often control was based on a personal following rather than a well-organized party structure. There can be tension between the party and the governor especially during a primary election with a tough

appointment.
I can conclude based on reading the six factors that influence the strength of the power of the governor that it is well balanced. It seems the governor has a lot of power but are pulled back with equal restrictions. The first factor limits the governor by appointing all officials and leaves it to the people to choose. By doing so, this creates more of a democracy for us. One of the biggest powers to the Texas governor will have to be tenure. The governor has a four-year-tern with no limit in the number of terms. The governor can take advantage of this by influencing many of his political views as well as appointing people with similar interests in the groups he can. Again, he is limited to the agency’s he can elect. When it comes to the budgetary powers he has line-item-veto but not complete control over the budget but a strong veto but is not given the pocket veto. Again, we address balance of powers. In addition, when it comes to control over the party they have very little. They can surely make a huge influence but do not have power to control the party and make all decisions he/she believes is politically correct.