Essay On The Texas Executive

Before the Constitution of 1869, the state’s governor had power similar to that of the President. In 1869, the governor’s powers were basically split among the governor and six additional elected officials. Thus, the Texas executive is referred to as fragmented because the governor’s powers were diluted by the election of other state officials. It is also called a plural executive. The governor’s power is considered moderate but he does have some ways of exerting influence.

Regarding formal powers, The Texas governor’s veto power is considered very strong relative to other states. Further, even though the governor does not have very strong budgetary control, he/she does have line-item veto over appropriation items. The governor can call

He/she also appoints (subject to Senate approval) members to serve on over 200 committees, can grant executive clemency, acts as commander and chief of state’s military forces, and can activate the National Guard. Compared to other states, the strength of the Texas governor’s office is considered to be moderate. One of the main reasons for this is that all the other offices are elected by voters as opposed to being appointed by the governor. The only officer the governor appoints is the Secretary of State. This means that he has to share power with the other elected officials, which weakens his power. However, as noted above, the governors power to issue executive orders and appoint thousands of committee member, allows him to have an impact on the implementation of policies. Informal powers of the governor depend on the individual’s leadership style, personality and ability to effectively voice their concerns and issues. The governor chooses his staff and how it should be structured. He usually chooses people who share his views and that will be loyal. Another

Currently, the main offices include the: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Comptroller of Public Accounts, Commissioner of the General land Office, Attorney General, Agriculture Commissioner, Railroad Commission (3 members), and State Board of Education (15 members). The Secretary of State is the only position appointed by the governor. A variety of duties are performed by the remaining officers. The Lieutenant Governor is considered one of the most powerful offices in Texas. He presides over the Senate and is the head of the Legislative Budget Board. The Lieutenant Governor also succeeds the governor. The Secretary of State is appointed by the governor and administers the state elections. He also is in charge of prisoner extradition and grants charters to corporations. In 1995, The Comptroller of Public Accounts took over the position of treasurer. He is the tax administrator, revenue estimator and accounting officer for the state. The estimation of revenue is an important part of the budget process. The Commissioner of the General Land Office is in charge of state owned lands and mineral rights. They also administer the Veteran’s Land Program. Another duty is the “Don’t Mess with Texas’ campaign and the development of environmental programs. The Attorney General is the state’s legal counsel. They represent the