The Executive Branch of Texas Government

The governor's power of appointment is considered the most significant executive power.
The governor makes appointments to over 400 multimember state boards or single-member commissioners that direct the operation of a broad array of state agencies.
The appointment power allows the governor to exercise patronage, which is the ability to reward supporters by appointing them to office.
A governor with a long tenure, such as Rick Perry, can exert significant control over the state bureaucracy by having the opportunity to appoint virtually every board and commission member.

The governor uses the traditional State of the State address delivered at the beginning of every legislative session to outline priorities for the state.
This address is a platform to convince others of the importance of the governor’s priorities.
For example, Governor Abbott's 2023 address centered on the economy, schools, public safety, and called for property tax relief and expanding school choice through vouchers.

Senatorial courtesy is the practice whereby the governor seeks the indication that the senator from the candidate’s home district supports the nomination before formally nominating a person for office.
This is an informal constraint on the governor's power of appointment.

One controversial and criticized aspect of the AG’s office is the collection of child support.

The bureaucracy is defined as the complex structure of offices, tasks, rules, and principles of organization employed by all large-scale institutions to coordinate work.
The Texas bureaucracy, consisting of many boards, commissions, and agencies, has a central role in implementing the myriad programs and services provided by state government.
It exercises considerable influence in rulemaking and enforcing the law.

The governor's staff consists of nearly 300 people organized into several divisions.
The Executive Office, led by the chief of staff, manages the staff and is the primary contact with the governor.
Staff offices handle scheduling, legislative matters, budget, policy, appointments to offices, and constituent communications.
Recent governors use their staff to make themselves more accessible to the public through the Office of Constituent Communications.

The governor has the power to veto legislation passed by the House and Senate.
A veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate.
Line-Item Veto: The governor has the line-item veto for the amounts in appropriations bills. Texas governors cannot line-item veto the language of appropriations bills.
Post-Adjournment Veto: The governor can issue a veto after the legislature adjourns, which prevents the legislature from overriding it.
In 2023, Governor Abbott vetoed 77 bills, many at the end of the session and in retaliation for the legislature not passing his key policy priorities.

James "Jim" Ferguson (served 1915–1917) is the only Texas governor to be impeached and convicted.
He was impeached after he vetoed practically the entire legislative appropriation for the University of Texas when he failed to remove several faculty members he opposed.
The Texas House voted 21 articles of impeachment, and the Texas Senate convicted him on 10.
His wife, Miriam Ferguson, later ran for and won the governorship with the slogan "Two governors for the price of one".

Texas government is run through many boards and commissions (agencies) that the governor appoints members to.
These include well-known bodies like the Public Utility Commission and obscure ones like the Texas Funeral Service Commission.
Because of the plural executive structure, these agencies are often independent entities and do not serve as a cabinet to the governor.

The Sunset Advisory Commission (SAC) is a commission created in 1977 for the purpose of reviewing the effectiveness of state agencies.
It is a process designed to ensure that the Texas bureaucracy is accountable to policymakers.

Only two women have served as governor of Texas:
- Miriam Ferguson (Democrat): Served two non-consecutive terms (1925–27 and 1933–35).
- Ann Richards (Democrat): Served one term (1991–95).

The Comptroller is an elected state official.
The office is responsible for directing the collection of taxes and other revenues.
The comptroller plays a key role in the budgeting process by estimating revenues for the legislature.
Since the elimination of the state treasurer's office in 1996, the comptroller has also been the official custodian of state funds, responsible for their safety and investment.

The governor's power to grant pardons requires a recommendation from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
The members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles are appointed by the Governor.
Governor Abbott's pardon of Daniel Perry, a former sergeant convicted of murder, was controversial, as the governor requested the Board to review the case shortly after the conviction.