Instructor's Manual to Accompany:
The World of Texas Politics
Chapter 7: The Executive Branch
Outline:
I. A Tale of Helpful Bureaucratic Red Tape: Because the legislature is underpowered by the Constitution, bureaucrats often clean up the messes left over after the legislative session has expired.
II. The Elected Executives
A. Lieutenant Governor: In reality he/she is a legislative not executive officer.
B. Attorney General: Civil attorney for the state.
C. Comptroller of Public Accounts: Chief tax collector and manager of state funds.
D. Treasurer: This office was abolished by constitutional amendment in 1995.
E. Commissioner of the General Land Office: Manages all state lands.
III. Executive Branch Officials Appointed by the Governor
A. Secretary of State: Chief elections officer for the state.
B. Adjutant General: Commander of the Texas National Guard.
C. Executive Director, Department of Commerce: Chief economic development officer.
D. Commissioner of Insurance: Sets state regulated insurance rates.
IV. Texas Boards And Commissions
A. Constitutional Boards and Commissions: Railroad Commission, State Board of Education, and the State Ethics Commission.
B. Other Boards and Commissions: There are hundreds of them.
V. State Service Agencies
A. Office of State-Federal Relations: The Texas lobbyist in Washington, D.C.
B. Sunset Advisory Commission: Recommends retention or abolition of administrative agencies.
C. Bond Review Board: Approves state bonds for sale.
VI. The Bureaucracy: Texas has fewer bureaucrats per 10,000 than most other states.
VII. Summary and Conclusion: Most administrative agencies are beyond the control of the governor.
VIII. The End of the Tale: Bureaucrats can solve problems as well as create them.
Summary:
In most states, the commissions and boards for administration of the state’s business are concerned primarily with regulatory functions. In Texas, the numerous commissions and boards deal with a variety of functions in addition to regulation. The bureaucracy is diffused with varying methods of appointing boards and commissions, staggered terms of office, and varying requirements for board composition. Gubernatorial influence over the bureaucracy is extremely limited. Without significant informal skills, a governor cannot expect to have a significant effect on the state’s business or executive branch. The governor cannot appoint a majority of most boards and commissions until a second term, and once appointed, the officials cannot be removed without senate approval.
Discussion Topics:
1. How are the various boards and commissions accountable to the people of Texas? If they are not accountable to the people, to whom or what are they accountable?
2. Compare the strengths and weaknesses of a fragmented administrative structure like that of Texas to a state with a cabinet (integrated) type of administrative structure.
3. The introductory "Tale of …" and the "End of the Tale" tell stories about legislative mistakes that have been corrected by bureaucratic initiative. What else can bureaucratic initiative or inertia do?
Individual or Small Group Projects:
1. Prepare a list of advantages and disadvantages of the system of boards and commissions that Texas uses in place of single head agencies.
2. What remedies does Texas provide when a board or commission makes a decision or establishes a policy that violates individual rights or ignores legal and ethical principles?
3. Why is Sunset Review not effective in effecting substantial savings of state funds?
4. Develop an effective alternative for bureaucratic structure for large organizations.
Essay Questions:
1. Identify and discuss the formal and informal powers of the governor over the administrative branch of government.
2. What accountability problems are created by relying on so many administrative boards and commissions to administer the policies of the state?
3. What would be the advantages of having single head agencies for most boards and commissions and allowing the governor to appoint and remove those heads?
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