Texas Politics Chapter 4 : Executive/Governor Office Exam 2 Study guide

Goes over Overview of Plural Executive System, Office of governor, Plural Executive Officials, and Appointments, Impeachment and Oversight

Plural Executive System

Executive power is divided among several Elected officials (Limits Power of Governor)

Tenure of Office

Governor Serves 4 yr term with no Term limits.

Recall

Allows voters to remove an elected official. Tx does not have a provision for the recall of state officials like Governor or etc, Only local

Informal Qualifications

Unofficial factors that influence who gets elected (Wealth, experience, influence)

Acting Governor

Lieutenant Governor assumes role if governor leaves state or is incapacitated

Chief Legislator

Governors role in influencing law making process

Party Chief

Governors role as political head of their party 

Judicial Powers

Powers to grant reprieves, pardons, and commutations which is extremely limited and requires a recommendation from the Board of Pardons and Paroles

Military Powers

Governor is commander in cheif of TX NG and State Gaurd

Legislative power

Governors Ability to influence lawmaking

Lieutenant Governor

Presiding officer of senate. Most powerful state official. Sometimes has more power than governor 

Attorney General

States chief legal officer, Deals with Civil law

Comptroller of Public Accts

Chief Tax Collector. Controls Budget and Spending 

Land commissioner

Manages state owned land and mineral rights.

Texas Railroad Commisssion

Regulates states oil and gas industry

Secretary of State (SOS)

Only appointed official in plural executive. serves as chief election official

Boards and commission

The appointed bodies that run most of the states bureaucracy

Conviction

Senates final vote to remove an impeached official (Requires 2/3rds majority)