Power of Governors in Public Policy - Research Paper

Introduction

The State of Texas is the second largest in America both by size and population. As a state, it has its own Constitution that provides the separation of powers within the three arms of government. This provision aims to ensure that there is a fair share of power within the state and that no single individual has the avenue to abuse his or her power while in office. The three arms of government, which is quite similar to that of the Federal State, are the legislature who makes laws; the executive who execute the laws passed by the legislature and includes the governor and other executives; and the judiciary who implement the laws.

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As the Governor of Texas, my duties lie within the Executive where I serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the state by serving as head of state and government. I also implement state laws and oversee the operations of the executive arm of the state government such as executive orders and budgets. During my successful campaign, I founded my leadership on promises that I would like to implement during my first term as Governor.

Controlling Illegal Immigration

Among the major issues, which I believe is what got me elected, is controlling the immigration from Mexico. According to a recent poll by the University of Texas, immigration and border patrol are among the top issues affecting the state of Texas (The University of Texas, 2018). Despite the concerns, there have been significant improvements over the years in improving border security and controlling immigration.

In 2018, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released its latest statistics which indicated that they had apprehended 396,579 undocumented people after they entered the country legally (Univertity of Texas, 2017). This figure has drastically gone down as in the year 2000, more than 1.6 million people were apprehended and in 2001, the figure stood at 1.3 million people.

Even with the reduction of illegal immigrants who come to Texas, the State still has the second-highest number of illegal immigrants after California. In 2009 the number was an estimated 1.68 million out of the total 10.8 million across the US (Univertity of Texas, 2017). This is, therefore, a real issue. There has been great pressure on not only the Texas Government but the Federal Government as well in dealing with the illegal immigration situation. Part of President Trump's plan is to build a wall; however, the implementation of strict immigration policies can be the solution we need.

It can be generally agreed that there is a need to increase efforts in controlling the number of people getting into Texas. This can be done through reducing or completely banning the number of 'sanctuary cities' that house and protect illegal immigrants as well as using legal reforms that will address the immigration issue (The University of Texas, 2018). It must be noted that Texas as a state does not reject immigrants, but it will also not tolerate illegal immigrants. Those coming through Texas must do so legally and must have the papers to vouch for themselves.

The Death Penalty

Another issue of great concern is the death penalty in Texas, which is legal for capital offenses such as murder. There have been concerns that those who are on death row or have been put under the lethal injection were wrongfully convicted (Univertity of Texas, 2017). A majority of Texans actually believe this to be true, however, despite these concerns the judicial system is almost 99 per cent correct when it comes to death row inmates.

To reassure the citizens of Texas, I as the Governor, will put in place reforms in the judicial system to ensure that verdicts in court are beyond reasonable doubt. The executive will work closely with the District Attorney as well as the entire judiciary to improve the services offered by this very critical arm of government. The system is not perfect, and this has been proven by the release of six innocent people who were on death row since 1987. However, there are provisions for appeals in case a member of the public is not satisfied with the verdict of the court.

Improving K-12 Education

Among my key campaign issues was to improve K-12 education in the state of Texas. Education in Texas, like the rest of the country, is compulsory for all children, thus, the reason why it was among the top agenda in my campaign. A large majority of people - 39 per cent to be exact - in Texas say that the education system is fairly good, with a considerable number, standing at 34 per cent also saying that it is not very good (Univertity of Texas, 2017). Eight per cent of Texans says the schools are terrible, and this ties with those saying that the schools are excellent.

A major concern, even for us as the executive, is the financing of K-12 schools which has posed a great challenge to the quality of the education offered. As I serve my term in office, I have made promises of improving education in Texas - a promise that I intend to fulfil. The first step is to find ways to increase the funding for these schools as well as engage with stakeholders such as parents in addressing other issues in the sector. The funding will not just go to academia but to extra-curriculum activities, which are essential for the development of a child.

Formal and Informal Powers of the Governor

As stated earlier, the governor is the head of a state and is in charge of the executive arm of government in the state. Among the formal powers that the governor possesses include the signing or rejection (also known as veto power) of bills passed by the legislature, performing the duty of the commander-in-chief of the state's military, granting reprieves and pardons, convening special sittings of the legislature, as well as giving a report on the condition of the state as well as the budget at the beginning of every regular session and the first Tuesday of every December, respectively.

Other formal functions include the approval of state budgets, the confirmation of appointments made in the executive and judiciary, as well as the oversight of executive branch functions. The informal powers are basically the personality of the governor such as a convincing nature, a strong leader, organised, has an ability to negotiate with other governments as well as appeal to media.

Using Formal and Informal Powers in Public Policy

A formal power that I can use to get each policy in my campaign strategy passed by the legislature is the power to sign or reject Bills passed in the legislature. With this responsibility, I can be able to guide the legislature on which Bills will go in line with my vision for Texas. For example, I will assent into law proper policies that regard to the control of immigration as well as ensuring that the death penalty is applied into finality. These were the core aspects of my campaign and, therefore, my core mission as Governor.

In regards to my informal powers, I would use my charisma and convincing abilities to persuade legislatures in my government to create Bills and policies that are in line with my mission as Governor for the state of Texas. I would convince them to prioritise Bills on immigration, border control, the death penalty and improving education in Texas. This, however, will not just be based on my charisma but also on the logic behind the importance of these reforms and regulations.

Conclusion

Overall, based on my agenda for my term in office, I anticipate very good results in all the key areas that I have highlighted as part of my goals as Governor. I intend to work closely with the legislature as well as the judiciary in ensuring that the people of Texas get what they bargained for while electing me as their governor. At the end of my term I expect to see massive changes in immigration policies, border control, the death penalty and the K-12 education system.

References

The University of Texas. (2018, February). Most Important Problem Facing Texas. Retrieved from http://www.texaspolitics.utexas.edu/set/most-important-problem-facing-texas-february-2018

Univertity of Texas. (2017, February). Quality of K-12 School Education in Texas. Retrieved from http://www.texaspolitics.utexas.edu/set/quality-k-12-school-education-texas-february-2017