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TEXAS GOVERNMENT 2306. Unit 9 The Bureaucracy. The Executive Branch. That part of government that administers the law and implements public policy. BUREAUCRACY: DUTIES & FUNCTIONS. 1. Implementation 2. Filling in the details 3. Provide information, research, advice
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TEXAS GOVERNMENT 2306 Unit 9 The Bureaucracy
The Executive Branch • That part of government that administers the law and implements public policy
BUREAUCRACY:DUTIES & FUNCTIONS • 1.Implementation • 2.Filling in the details • 3.Provide information, research, advice • 4.Disburse state funds
Bureaucratic ExpertiseThe Key to Their Power • Individual bureaucrats become experts in specialized area of administration • As experts, their advice (recommendations) carries weight with the Legislature & governor
Administration of the Law(filling in the details) • Administrative Law • when administrators interpret the law and write rules and regulations for its enforcement. Administrative law defines the meaning of the law and determines its effect on special interests and the public
HOW BUREAUCRATS ARE HIRED • ·Spoils System • oHired on basis of political connections, party loyalty, campaign donations, supporting winning candidate or party • oNo job security—can be fired for any reason • ·Merit System(Civil Service System) • oHired on the basis of knowledge, expertise, education, qualifications • oTake a competitive exam • o Cannot be fired for political reasons
The Texas Bureaucracy • There is no single official in the Texas government who bears ultimate responsibility for the actions of the Texas bureaucracy • 220 separate entities • 300,000+ – bureaucrats(below nat’l average) • Megastates- Texas ranks 10th out of 15
Structure of the Cabinet System:The Ideal Bureaucratic Structure
GOVERNOR • Hires department heads • Fires department heads • Issues executive orders Cabinet System-Strong Executive Structure Dept. Head Dept. Head Dept. Head Dept. Head Dept. Head
PLURAL EXECUTIVE(Weak Executive) • GOVERNOR • Hires only one department head • Most dept. heads elected by voters • No power to fire department heads • No power to issue executive orders Comptroller A. G. Land Comm. Ag. Comm. Sec. of State Voters
Elected Executives: The Attorney General • The lawyer for all officials, boards, and agencies in state government • Two major functions for the state: • To give advisory opinions which determines whether a law does or not violate the Texas or U.S. constitutions; • To represent the state and government in civil and criminal litigation
Elected Officials: the Comptroller • Chief tax collector and chief pre-audit accounting officer for Texas government(collects 31 different state taxes & sales tax for 1,239 local governments) • Revenue ForecasterCertifies the state’s approximate biennial revenue (state budget cannot exceed this amount) • Certifies the financial condition of the state at the end of each fiscal year
Elected Officials: The Commissioner of the General Land Office • Manages and collects rentals and leases (oil & gas $) for state-owned lands • Awards oil, gas, sulphur, and other hard mineral leases for exploration and production on state land • Leases mineral interests in state riverbeds and tidelands • Maintains environmental quality of open beaches along Gulf Coast
Elected Officials: Commissioner of Agriculture • Administration of all laws, research, educational and regulatory activities related to agriculture; • Checks the accuracy of scales in meat markets and gas pumps, determines labeling procedures for pesticides • Promotes Texas agricultural products • Pesticide regulation
Elected Officials: the Lieutenant Governor • The source of executive powers comes from the legislative branch • Succeeds governor if a vacancy occurs • President of the Texas Senate • Ex-officio chair of: • The Legislative Budget Board; • The Legislative Council; • The Legislative Audit Board; • May exercise influence over the Sunset Advisory Commission and the Legislative Criminal Justice Board
Appointed Executives(by the governor) • Secretary of State – chief election officer for Texas • Adjutant General – the state’s top-ranking military officer • Health and Human Services Commissioner – in charge of 4 major health and welfare depts. • Insurance Commissioner – monitors and regulates the insurance industry
Elective Boards • Texas Railroad Commission – 3 elected members who regulate gas utilities, oil and gas pipelines, oil and gas drilling and pumping activities, and intrastate railroad transportation, sets rates for local natural gas companies, (regulates safety & environmental aspects of oil & gas industry) • State Board of Education – 15 members elected to 4 yr. terms from districts) oversees and regulates the Texas public school system, and administers state and national education law, distributes federal & state $ to local school districts
APPOINTED BOARDS • ·Governor appoints 3,000+ individuals to hundreds of specialized boards & commissions (The board or commission usually appoint the head of the agency) • ·There are 38 professional licensing & examining boards • §(Ex.: accountants, architects, barbers, chiropractors, cosmetologists, dentists, funeral directors, land surveyors, medical doctors, nurses, exterminators, pharmacists, physical therapists, podiatrists, veterinarians) • ·Twelve College Governing Boards • Oversee state colleges & universities
The Iron Texas Star • The coalition and mutual support that exists between: • legislative committees, • administrative agencies, and • economic special interest groups
REFORMS ENACTED • 1. Open Meetings Act (1973) • 2. Open Records Act (1973) • 3.Sunset Advisory Commission (1977) • 4.Whistleblower Protection Act (1983)
REFORMS NEEDED • 1.Ombudsman • 2.Adoption of Cabinet-Style Government • 3. StatewideMerit/Civil Service System • 4. Texas Legislature (annual or longer sessions)
