7. Governor expected to initiate legislation
How can governors work to set agenda?
1) Special Sessions
▪ Governor calls legislature back into session
2) Media Attention
▪ Press conferences and other public events
▪ Catalyst for public support
3) State of the State Address
▪ Report to legislature on state condition
▪ Tout policy agenda while reaching public / media
8.
9. Constitutions and “Take Care” Clause
Difficult role offering few political rewards
How can governors politicize bureaucracy?
10. #1: Appointment Power
Most powerful politicization tool
How do governors employ this power?
▪ Loyalty vs. Competence
▪ Benefits to Naming Loyalists; Challenges to Competence
#2: Budgetary Authority
Governor submits state budget to legislature
Can raise, lower funding for programs / initiatives
Consequences: Legislative Oversight and
Bureaucratic Resistance
11. #3: Reorganization
What can governors do?
▪ #1: Replacement: Replace bureaucratic appointees
with those more suited to governor’s liking
▪ #2: Layering: Add political appointees above career
personnel to centralize control
▪ #3: Informal Methods: Leave post open and never fill
it; Recess appointments
12.
13. Symbolic and
ceremonial role
Ribbon cuttings,
school openings,
state celebrations, etc.
Governors like b/c
non-controversial
and gain attention Kentucky governors can bestow
status of Kentucky Colonel
on notable individuals.
14.
15. Governor candidates run under party labels
How can governors strengthen party value?
Constituency Services
Aligning Agenda with Party Goals
Campaigning with Party Members
Majority party status helps governors get their
policy goals accomplished
16.
17.
18. Represent state interests inWashington, D.C.
NGA and regional organizations help
governors identify common policy issues
19.
20. Involves granting
pardons and commuting
sentences of criminals
Governors can have
exclusive pardon power
or authority given to
clemency board
Former Gov. Beverly Purdue
of North Carolina issues a group
of pardons while in office.
21.
22. During natural disasters and other crises,
governor may declare state of emergency
Powers include calling stateGuard into
service and directing evacuations as needed
New Jersey Governor
Chris Christie exemplified
this role in the wake
of Superstorm Sandy.
26. Joseph Schlesinger (1965)
Index of gubernatorial power
Schlesinger’s Four Criteria:
(1) Appointment Power
(2) Budgetary Power
(3)Tenure Potential
(4)Veto Power
27.
28. APPOINTMENT POWER
Governor may insert
ideology into state politics
Reward for campaign work
or used in exchange for
legislative support
Strength of KY Governor
BUDGETARY POWER
Set spending discussion
Governor’s policies
enforced through veto and
administering budget
through state agencies
29.
30. Non-traditional power
Power grows during governor’s tenure
Impact of re-election
Governor's tenure most important in Chief
Legislator Role
31.
32.
33. Single most important gubernatorial power
Veto override by legislature is rare
MainVetoTypes:
PackageVeto: Accept or reject legislation
Line-Item Veto:Veto particular proposals
AmendatoryVeto: Amend legislative bills
PocketVeto: Bills die at end of legislative session
34.
35. Called “the power to persuade”
#1: Personal and Professional Characteristics
Knowledge vs. Schmoozing
#2: Skill and Experience
Training for Governor’s Office is state office
▪ State Legislator; Lieutenant Governor
36. #3: Popularity
Varies over time: “Honeymoon” to “Lame Duck”
Findings of Cohen and King (2005)
▪ POTUS popularity Increases; Unemployment Decreases
#4: Popular Mandate
Only valid immediately after an election
Use this to convince legislature to go along
37. #5: The Media
Governors use technology to “go public”
Reinforces idea that governor is strong leader
Influences public debate and molds public opinion
Known as “Bully Pulpit” at national level
How doesThad Beyle analyze governors?
See Handout for Indicators
38.
39. 1) Executive Orders
Shape bureaucracy and other actors
Imnterpretation of law
2) States of Emergency
▪ Condition temporary granting executive wider
set of powers due to extraordinary
circumstances (e.g. emergencies)
▪ Seen with Crisis Manager Role
40. 1) Periodic Elections
Necessity of popular support to stay in office
2) Constitutional Limitations
Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances
Term Limits for ExecutiveTenure
41.
42. Represents executive’s leverage over same-
party legislators
Power balance with legislature depends on:
Individual: Controlling fortunes of legislators
Institutional: Having strong majority in chamber