8: The Executive Branch and the Governor in Texas
- Page ID
- 129126
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)After reading this chapter, you should be able to:
- Explain the structure of the governor’s office.
- Assess the roles, responsibilities, and powers of the governor.
- Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the plural executive in the Texas government.
- Describe the various actors who make up the executive branch.
Mo’ Minors, Mo’ Problems: Governor Abbott, concerned for the safety of unaccompanied minors entering Texas, tweet blasts President Joe Biden over conditions at the facilities housing these unaccompanied minors. (Figure 8.1). Although immigration law is primarily federal, deciding how to handle this type of surge can often also fall on the governor to address.
Texas is struggling to find a place for the vast numbers of unaccompanied minors that are crossing the Texas border (Figure 8.2). “These sites are a direct result of President Biden's reckless open border policies that are causing a surge in border crossings and cartel activity,” Abbott said on March 17, 2021, adding that 11,000 minors have been apprehended crossing the Texas-Mexico border this year alone and that border crossings are at its highest level in two years.”1 Children from many Latin American countries like Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras have long crossed the border through Mexico to the reach United States; however, the number of children making the perilous journey alone has recently increased. From concern that some of the children might have the COVID 19 virus, overcrowded facilities, and now the concern that the water in some places is contaminated, it is clear that this a complex policy issue that will likely be moving to the top of Governor Abbott’s agenda.
- 8.1: So, the Texas Governor Is Like the U.S. President, Right?
- This page discusses the Texas Constitution of 1876, which aimed to limit gubernatorial power and prevent past corruption. The governor shares authority with six elected officials, including the lieutenant governor, attorney general, and comptroller, each with specific roles. The page also highlights the contributions of Texas's two female governors, Miriam Ferguson and Ann Richards, who navigated personal challenges and political landscapes, paving the way for future women in politics.
- 8.2: Choose Me! What Does It Take To Be Governor?
- This page details the qualifications and election process for the Texas governor, emphasizing the influence of social and political factors on candidacy. The governor's term lasts four years, with no re-election limits, and impeachment is the sole removal method.
- 8.3: So, What Does the Governor Actually Do?
- This page outlines the role and powers of the Texas governor, highlighting their authority over military operations, disaster response, and supervision of state agencies through appointments. The governor has significant executive powers but faces limitations due to elected positions and legislative dominance in budgeting. Their influence is bolstered through informal mechanisms and participation in intergovernmental diplomacy.
- 8.4: The Texas Bureaucracy
- This page examines efficiency and accountability in Texas state government, highlighting a decentralized structure and the Texas Open Records and Meetings Acts aimed at transparency, though recent challenges limit public access. The Sunset Law promotes agency efficiency reviews, while reform proposals include capping employment growth and standardizing payroll.
- 8.5: Conclusion
- This page discusses Texas's fragmented executive branch, characterized by shared power among the governor and other elected officials. The governor, though constitutionally weak, plays essential roles and wields powers such as veto authority. Bureaucratic accountability is enhanced through Sunshine Laws and traditional controls.
- 8.6: Critical Thinking Questions
- This page examines the Texas Constitution's "plural executive" system, discussing its implications for efficiency and public representation. It debates the potential shift to a singular executive model and explores the governor's veto power, the need for legislative special session proposals, and the absence of term limits for state officials. Additionally, the page addresses the governor's emergency powers during the pandemic, advocating for increased legislative involvement in such decisions.
1. “Abbott: 11K Kids Crossed TX Border This Year; Wants Feds to Let State Interview Them,” NBCDFW, upd. March 17, 2021, https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/ab...sylum/2581198/.