Texas Govt Chapter 8 – Flashcards
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Texas governors
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is one of the weakest chief executive in the United
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During which constitution was the Texas governor very powerful, and many regarded state government as oppressive and corrupt?
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How Governor Rick Perry exerted control over the state government
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-He has appointed every member of the boards and commissions that run Texas government
-He uses his veto power to punish political opponents in the legislature
-He successfully pushed a pro-business agenda
-He claims to have led Texas to weather the Great Recession better than other states
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Governors ca be quite powerful in spite of weaknesses of the office by
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-mobilizing interest groups and editorial boards of newspapers
-calling special sessions of the legislature
-pardoning criminals and permitting fugitives to be extradited to other states
-appointing people to the state government boards and commissions
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The Governor: Qualifications
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-Three constitutional qualifications:
.Be at least 30 years of age
.Be a U.S. citizen
.Live in Texas for five years
immediately before election
-Governors have tended to be male, white, conservative, Protestant, middle-aged, wealthy, and have considerable political experience
-Two women, Miriam Ferguson and Ann Richards, have served as governor of Texas
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Election and Term of Office
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-Governors serve four-year terms (changed from two years in 1974)
-Elections are held in off-years Campaigns
-Campaigns, first to win the party's primary and then to win the election in November, last at least 10 months
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In Texas, why are gubernatorial elections held in off-years?
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minimize the power of presidential elections on governors race
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Who was the 1st Republican governor of Texas since Reconstruction, and when was he or she elected
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William Clements; 1979
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Removal of a Governor
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-The only constitutional method of removal is via impeachment and conviction
-An impeachment charge in the House leads to trial in the Senate and possible removal from office
-A majority vote in the House is required to impeach
-A two-thirds vote of the senators present and voting is required to convict
-Governor James Ferguson was the only Texas governor to be impeached and convicted
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During succession who becomes governor
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The lieutenant governor becomes governor if the office is vacant
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Only Texas Governor to be impeached
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James Ferguson
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Two female Texas governor
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Miriam Ferguson and Ann Richards
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Legislative Powers of the Governor
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message power, the veto, and the ability to call special sessions
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Line-item veto
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allows the governor to veto individual parts of an appropriations bill
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Greatest judicial power of governor
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The power to appoint judges
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senatorial courtesy
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senator must approve the appointment if Governor people to office
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who appoints replacements judges when there are vacancies
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The governor
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Effect of plural executive
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it dilutes the power of the governor and fragments the executive branch
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Executive power is also dispersed through several officials called
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the plural executive
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Why did the Texas Constitution established a plural executive?
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there was suspicion of a strong chief executive
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Which officer in the plural executive is not elected by voters?
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secretary of state
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What is his or her primary task?
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The Lieutenant Governor is
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-chair of the Legislative Budget Board
-presides over the Senate
-elected in a statewide elections
-first in line for succession of the governor
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The Attorney general is
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-The chief lawyer for Texas
-Main responsibility is to collect child-support payments
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The oldest state agency in Texas
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The General Land Office (GLO)
