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The governor of Texas holds authority over parts of the executive branch and the military forces of the State of Texas.
Together with the Office of Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House, the Office of Governor is one of the most powerful political offices in the state, and those three office holders are colloquially called ‘the Big Three.’
The current governor is Greg Abbott, who took office in 2015.
Powers and Duties
The governor of Texas has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene special sessions of the legislature. The governor’s veto is subject to being overridden by a two-thirds vote of each chamber of the legislature.
The governor has the power to fill vacancies in state or district offices, except members of the legislature. For example, he appoints district attorneys and judges when vacancies arise.
The governor has no judicial powers, expect that he may grant pardons when recommended by the Board of Pardons and Paroles.
The governor appoints the Secretary of State and the heads of many other departments and commissions. These appointments are subject to approval by the Texas Senate, which places a check on the governor’s power.
Additionally, the heads of several Texas departments are elected directly and hence are not accountable to the governor, including the Attorney General, Land Commissioner, and Comptroller of Public Accounts. This system of a plural executive differs from the unitary executive system of the U.S. federal government, in which the U.S. president has more direct control of the entire executive branch.
The governor is also the commander-in-chief of the military forces of the state, including the National Guard, which the state constitution refers to as “the militia.” If the U.S. President calls the Guard into national service, then the governor’s authority over those forces is suspended.
Other powers and duties of the Texas governor include:
- delivering a biennial “State of the State” address to the Legislature;
- declaring special elections to fill vacancies in certain elected offices;
- estimating the amounts of money required to be raised by taxation;
- recommending a state budget every two years.
Term of Office
The Texas governor holds a four-year term. Elections for the position are held in even-numbered years (2022, 2024, etc), two years before and after presidential elections.
The governor’s term runs from the “first Tuesday after the organization of the Legislature, or as soon thereafter as practicable,” according to the state constitution. That usually means the governor is sworn in on the third Tuesday of January of odd-numbered years.
There is no limit to the number of terms a Texas governor can hold.
Qualifications
The minimum age to serve as governor is 30 years at the time of the election.
The governor must also be a citizen of the United States and must have resided in Texas for at least five years preceding his election.
Additionally, the state constitution prohibits the governor from holding any other job or office during his tenure, and from receiving compensation for “any service rendered or performed during the time he is Governor, or to be thereafter rendered or performed.”
Salary
The governor had a salary of $153,750 in 2020.
Official Residence
The Texas constitution requires the governor to reside “at the seat of Government,” which is Austin. The state provides the governor with a residence near to the Texas Capitol.
Known as the Governor’s Mansion, the building serves as both an office, a place of official reception, and a residence. Parts of it are open to the public for scheduled tours.
Staff and Divisions
The Texas governor is assisted by a chief of staff, two deputy chiefs of staff, communications and policy advisors, legislative liaisons, and other aides.
The governor’s staff are organized into several units, including a Budget and Policy Division, Appointments Office, Office of the First Lady, General Counsel, and Governor’s Mansion Operations. In all, the Office of the Governor employs up to 120.1 staff, according to the Appropriations Act for the 2022-2023 biennium.
Additionally, the Office of the Governor houses a variety of state functions referred to as “trusteed programs,” which may employ an additional 191.3 employees. These programs generally were previously part of other departments, such as the now abolished Texas Department of Commerce, or were created as priority initiatives directly under the governor’s purview. The trusteed programs include:
- Economic Development and Tourism Office
- Economic Development Bank
- Disaster Funding
- Women’s Commission
- Film Commission
- Music Office
- Texas Workforce Investment Council
- Office of State-Federal Relations
- Criminal Justice Division
- Homeland Security Grants Division
- Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit
- Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities.
Budget
The Office of the Governor had a budget of $11.8 million in fiscal year 2022.
Recent Governors
Greg Abbot (2015 – present)
Rick Perry (2000 – 2015)
George W. Bush (1995 – 2000)
Ann Richards (1991 – 1995)
Vacancies
Vacancies in the Office of the Governor are filled by the lieutenant governor.
Under the Texas Constitution, a governor who is subject to impeachment by the Texas House of Representatives is suspended from exercising his duties until after the outcome of a trial in the senate. In such a circumstance, the lieutenant governor would serve as both acting governor and as presiding officer at the suspended governor’s impeachment trial.
The lieutenant governor may also assume the powers of the governor in cases of “the temporary inability or disqualification of the governor to serve” or “the absence of the Governor from the State,” according to Article 4, Section 16 of the Texas Constitution.
Address and Contact
- P.O. Box 12428, Austin, TX 78711
- https://gov.texas.gov/
- (512) 463-2000
