governor powers Flashcards
Legislative Professionalism
When a legislature is established to be largely a full-time body, with members who paid a living wage, have plenty of staff, and believe that legislating is their primary job
Impeachment
A process by which the legislature can remove executive branch officials, such as the governor, or judges from office for corruption or other reasons
Gubernatorial Powers
Institutional and informal tools that a governor can use to develop and promote public policy, manage the state bureaucracy, and act as intergovernmental relations manager among other duties
Formal Powers
The powers explicitly granted to a governor according to state law, such as being able to veto legislation and to appoint heads of state agencies
Line-item Veto
The power of some governors to block only parts of passed appropriations bills from becoming law, subject to override by a supermajority vote of the legislature
Appropriations Bill
A bill that authorizes a state agency to spend money in specific ways
Reduction Veto
The power of some state governors to reduce the level of spending authorized in an appropriations bill passed by the legislature, subject to an override by a supermajority vote of the legislature
Amendatory Veto
The power of some state governors to send a passed bill back to the legislature asking for specific changes in it before he or she will sign it
State of the State Address
In most states, the annual address by the governor to the state legislature at the beginning of its session in which he or she describes the condition of the state and presents a policy agenda for the coming legislative session
Special Session
An extraordinary meeting of the legislature after its regular session has adjourned, usually called by the governor to consider a very limited policy agenda
Informal powers
The things a governor can do, such as command media attention and persuade party members, based on personality or position, not on formal authority
Merit System
A system used in public agencies in which employment and promotions are based on qualifications and demonstrated ability, such a system blends very well with the organizational characteristics of bureaucracy
Policy Implementation
The process of translating the express wishes of government into action
Street-Level Bureaucrat
A lower-level public agency employee who takes the actions outlined in law or policy
Rule-making
The process of translating laws into written instructions on what public agencies will or will not do
