CHAPTER THE TEXAS EXECUTIVE BRANCH

THE GOVERNOR GOVERNOR – HEAD OF EXECUTIVE BRANCH, ENFORCES THE LAWS OF TEXAS EXECUTIVE BRANCH – LT. GOVERNOR, SECRETARY OF STATE, COMPTROLLER, COMMISSIONER AND ATTORNEY GENERAL ALL ARE ELECTED EXCEPT ATTORNEY GENERAL (APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR) ELECTED EVERY FOUR YEARS (NOT DURING PRESIDENTAL ELECTION YEARS) NO SET LIMITS – UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME A PERSON CAN BE ELECTED REQUIREMENTS – 30 YEARS OLD, CITIZEN OF US AND MUST HAVE LIVED IN TEXAS FOR 5 YEARS GOVERNOR SALARY - $150,000 PER YEAR AND LIVES IN A MANSION

THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF GOVERNOR GOVERNOR – CANNOT MAKE LAWS, CAN MAKE SUGGESTIONS STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH – OUTLINES THE POLICIES OF THE GOVERNOR HAS THE POWER TO VETO A BILL LINE-ITEM VETO – POWER TO DELETE PARTS OF BUDGET BILLS SPECIAL SESSIONS – CALL BY THE GOVERNOR TO GET LEGISLATURE BACK TO WORK (UNLIMITED)

THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF GOVERNOR GOVERNOR – OVERSEES STATE AGENCIES, BOARDS AND COMMISSSIONS (APPOINTS 3,000 OFFICIALS TO JOBS) PARDONS – FORGIVNESS OF CRIMES COMMANDER IN CHIEF – CAN MOBILIZE THE STATE’S MILITARY, TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD, DECLARE MARTIAL LAW “FIRST CITIZEN” – AWARDS SPECIAL OUTSTANDING TEXANS WEAKNESS??? – GOVERNOR IS A WEAK GOVERNOR, HAS NO REAL SAY SO ON BECAUSE OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION

EXECUTIVE OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR – ELECTED WITH GOVENOR, LEADER OF THE SENATE, OVERSEES THE LEGISLATURE BUDGET BOARD, ACTS AS GOVERNOR IF GOVERNOR CANNOT ATTORNEY GENERAL – REPRESENTS TEXAS IN COURT CASES COMPTROLLER – OVERSEES THE COLLECTION OF TAXES COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE – HELPS FARMERS, ENFORCES AG LAWS COMMISSIONER OF GENERAL LAND OFFICE – MANAGES STATE LAND AND MINERAL RIGHTS

EXECUTIVE OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE – LARGEST OF THE STATE AGENCIES, PROTECTS PUBLIC SAFETY TEXAS RAILROAD COMMISSION – REGULATED THE STATE’S RAILROADS, ALSO REGULATES OIL, NATURAL GAS, AND MINING INDUSTRIES