Day 4: The Executive Branch

Daniel J. Mallinson, Ph.D.

School of Public AffairsPenn State Harrisburgmallinson@psu.edu

PADM 556

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Road map

Governors in Comparison

Institutionalization and Administrative Challenges

Challenges in Controlling the Bureaucracy

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Why Study Governors?

Single most powerful and visible person in state gov’t

Major role in formulating, enacting, and implementingpolicy

Govern bureaucracies that rival many other countries

Budgets size of major corporations

Prestige and stepping stone

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Why Study Governors?

Single most powerful and visible person in state gov’t

Major role in formulating, enacting, and implementingpolicy

Govern bureaucracies that rival many other countries

Budgets size of major corporations

Prestige and stepping stone

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Election

High profile

34 mid-term, 9 POTUS year,5 odd year

37 states with term limits

More informed voters

Relatively high cross-overvoting

Independents have a shot

Self-financing possible2014 PA Governor’s Race Results

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Four Jobs of the Governor

1. Chief Executive

Manages the bureaucracy; a growing role as citizens demand more

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Four Jobs of the Governor

2. Policymaker

Takes broader and longer view; agenda setting power

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Four Jobs of the Governor

3. Intergovernmental Liaison

Natural connection point for local gov’ts, federal gov’t, otherstates, other countries, Native American tribes

Disperse federal funds

Deal with cross-state problems (Video)

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Four Jobs of the Governor

4. Crisis Manager

Public point person

Mobilizes National Guard

Declares state of emergency

FEMA must be requested bygovernor

Gov. Thornburg, 1979

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And then there is this...

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Governor’s Formal Powers

Veto

Appointments

Term lengths and limits

Setting legislative agenda

Budget

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Governor’s Informal Powers

Skills vary

Head of state

Public opinion

Mass media attention

Staff

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Rivals for Power

Legislature (Video)

Independently elected executives

Mayors of large cities

CEOs

Federal government

Principal-agent problems

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Institutionalization

Bowman et al. (2010)

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Managing the Bureaucracy

Working, Shirking, and Sabotage (Brehm and Gates1999)

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