Texas Political Analysis
The constitution of Texas has some unique provisions that affect the state’s government in a unique way. One of these unique provisions affects the balance of power in the executive branch of Texas’ government. The Texas Constitution does not grant the governor power to appoint his cabinet as is so with the United States president. In Texas, cabinet members are elected to their seats, giving the governor nearly no control over them in theory. This executive separation of powers grants the governor nearly no power over the inner workings of the executive branch. The reasons surrounding the creation of this weak governor can be assumed through analysis of the historical condition present at the time of its creation. Texas Politics (2006) states,
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Texas Politics (2006) states that, “Scholars of the U.S. presidency often make the argument that the president's chief power is the power to persuade – to use the attention automatically paid the president to create what Teddy Roosevelt called a bully pulpit to build support for their priorities. It is even more crucial for the Texas Governor to exercise this kind of power. With limited real executive power placed directly in the governor's hands, those who occupy the governor's mansion in Austin must find indirect and informal ways to build on their limited formal powers. Governors must be able to utilize their public position as a figurehead – as the symbolic leader the public most readily identifies with state government – to influence politics and policy. Using personality and image in public media to build and maintain the loyalty of both voters and powerful political elites is the key to exercising this influence.” which, interestingly enough, displays a method of increasing the power of the governor. In the same way the United States president would garner support from citizens to get a favorable Congress elected, the governor must use the fame that comes with their position to persuade the public to vote for certain cabinet members that share their goals and will help them accomplish their agenda. The …show more content…
The impact of allowing the power to be separated as thinly as possible provides citizens with a larger say in what happens in their government, which in my opinion is the most positive outcome of government. I would keep the Texas government how it is, with the exception being that I would revoke the executive order power of the governor. I would revoke that power because it would be very dangerous in the hands of a governor who could theoretically secede from the United States if he worked his executive order at the right
Texas Politics (2006) states that, “Scholars of the U.S. presidency often make the argument that the president's chief power is the power to persuade – to use the attention automatically paid the president to create what Teddy Roosevelt called a bully pulpit to build support for their priorities. It is even more crucial for the Texas Governor to exercise this kind of power. With limited real executive power placed directly in the governor's hands, those who occupy the governor's mansion in Austin must find indirect and informal ways to build on their limited formal powers. Governors must be able to utilize their public position as a figurehead – as the symbolic leader the public most readily identifies with state government – to influence politics and policy. Using personality and image in public media to build and maintain the loyalty of both voters and powerful political elites is the key to exercising this influence.” which, interestingly enough, displays a method of increasing the power of the governor. In the same way the United States president would garner support from citizens to get a favorable Congress elected, the governor must use the fame that comes with their position to persuade the public to vote for certain cabinet members that share their goals and will help them accomplish their agenda. The …show more content…
The impact of allowing the power to be separated as thinly as possible provides citizens with a larger say in what happens in their government, which in my opinion is the most positive outcome of government. I would keep the Texas government how it is, with the exception being that I would revoke the executive order power of the governor. I would revoke that power because it would be very dangerous in the hands of a governor who could theoretically secede from the United States if he worked his executive order at the right