POLS 2312 1st Edition Lecture 13The Governor: Articles of Confederation: - Strong executive branch of government A Stepping Stone to the Presidency? Roles of a Governor: - Agenda-setting power- Legislative?- Pushing for proposals- Veto Power - Supermajority to override veto. - Budgetary Power - Ability to call special sessions. Head of Executive Branch: - Ability to hire and fire heads of state agencies. - Ability to appoint cabinet members. - Governors are viewed by most citizens as the individual ultimately accountable for how state government functions. - Ability to issue pardons. Elections: - 34 States hold gubernatorial elections in midterm years- Five hold their elections in the same year as presidential contests- Nine states hold their elections in presidential years- Mid-term elections voters can focus on state problems and not national problems that is the benefit of having mid-term elections. Fragmentation and Limitation:- Other elected officials often have their own bases of political support- Much of the Governor’s power is informal, and based upon his capacity to persuadeThe “Plural Executive” - Attorney General- Comptroller of Public Accounts- Commissioner of the General Land Office- Commissioner of Agriculture- Railroad Commission (3 Members)- State Board of EducationThe Lt. Governor: - President of the Senate- Appoints Senate Committees; assigns bills to specific committees- Joint Chairman of Legislative Budget BoardComptroller versus Governor: - Susan Combs was a Republican. - Made sure taxes where being used properly. The Railroad Commission: - Three members, elected to staggered six year terms- Regulates oil and natural gas exploration, drilling, storage, and transportation- Regulatory CaptureAppointment Powers: Major Offices- Adjutant General (head of TX Ntnl. Guard)- Secretary of State (record keeper/election official)- Director of Housing and Community Affairs (coordinates federal-state programs)- Director of the Office of State-Federal Relations (essentially the state’s lobbyist in Washington, D.C.)- Commissioners of Education, Insurance, and Health and Human ServicesAppointment Powers: - Governor appoints thousands of members of minor independent agencies, boards, and commissions- In most cases, may remove individuals they have appointed only with support of 2/3rds of the State SenateJudicial Powers: - Nearly all judges in Texas are elected- Governor can appoint people to vacancies, with support from 2/3 of Senate- A large number of judges initially gain their position through appointment- Governor can only grant clemency following a recommendation from the Texas Board of Pardons (appointed by Gov.)- Can only grant one thirty day reprieve in death penalty