edit

List of Governors of Texas

The following is a list of the Governors of the State of Texas. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature. The governor may grant pardons in cases other than impeachment (but only when recommended by the Board of Pardons and Paroles) or in the case of treason, with permission by the legislature.

Compared to the governors of other US states, the Governorship of Texas is often cited as a fairly weak office.[1][2] Indeed, in some respects it is the Lieutenant Governor of Texas, who presides over the state legislature, who is a more powerful political figure able to exercise greater personal prerogatives. [1][2]

The state's first constitution in 1845 established the office of governor, to serve for two years, but no more than four years out of every six (essentially a limit of no more than two consecutive terms).[3]. The 1861 secessionist constitution set the term state date at the first Monday in the November following the election.[4] The 1866 constitution, adopted just after the American Civil War, increased terms to four years, but no more than eight years out of every twelve, and moved the start date to the first Thursday after the organization of the legislature, or "as soon thereafter as practicable."[5] The Reconstruction constitution of 1869 removed the limit on terms,[6] and to this day, Texas is one of 14 states[7] with no gubernatorial term limit. The present constitution of 1876 shortened terms back to two years,[8] but a 1972 amendment increased it back to four years.[9]

Despite the lack of term limits, no Texas governor in the 19th or 20th century ever served more than seven and a half consecutive years in office (Allan Shivers) or eight years total service (Bill Clements, in two non-consecutive four-year terms). Current Governor Rick Perry, who took office in December 2000, has now surpassed both these records. If Perry remains in office through the end of his current term, he will become the first Texas governor to serve two consecutive four-year terms. Perry won his party's nomination for a third term in 2010. Shivers, Price Daniel, and John Connally are currently the only three Texas governors to be elected to three terms.

In case of a vacancy in the office of governor, the lieutenant governor becomes governor.[10] This was added only in a 1999 amendment, prior to which the lieutenant governor only acted as governor, except during the time of the 1861 constitution, which said that the lieutenant governor would be "styled Governor of the State of Texas" in case of vacancy.[11]

Number of Governors of Texas by party affiliation
Party Governors
Democratic 39
Republican 6
Unionist 1
Independent 1

Contents

Governors of Spanish Texas

See: List of Texas Governors and Presidents

Governors of Mexican Texas

See: List of Texas Governors and Presidents

Presidents of the Republic of Texas

See: List of Presidents of the Republic of Texas

Governors of Texas

# Name Picture Took office Left office Party Lt. Governor Notes[12]
1 James Pinckney Henderson February 19, 1846 December 21, 1847 Democratic Albert Clinton Horton
2 George T. Wood December 21, 1847 December 21, 1849 Democratic John Alexander Greer
3 Peter Hansborough Bell December 21, 1849 November 23, 1853 Democratic John Alexander Greer (1849-51) [13]
James W. Henderson (1851-53)
4 James W. Henderson November 23, 1853 December 21, 1853 Democratic Vacant [14]
5 Elisha M. Pease December 21, 1853 December 21, 1857 Unionist David Catchings Dickson (1853-55)
Hardin Richard Runnels (1855-57)
6 Hardin R. Runnels December 21, 1857 December 21, 1859 Democratic Francis R. Lubbock
7 Sam Houston December 21, 1859 March 18, 1861 Independent Edward Clark [15]
8 Edward Clark March 18, 1861 November 7, 1861 Democratic Vacant [14]
9 Francis R. Lubbock November 7, 1861 November 5, 1863 Democratic John McClannahan Crockett
10 Pendleton Murrah November 5, 1863 June 17, 1865 Democratic Fletcher Summerfield Stockdale [16]
Fletcher Summerfield Stockdale June 11, 1865 June 16, 1865 Military Vacant [17]
11 Andrew J. Hamilton June 17, 1865 August 9, 1866 Democratic-Military Vacant [18]
12 James W. Throckmorton August 9, 1866 August 8, 1867 Democratic George Washington Jones [19]
13 Elisha M. Pease June 8, 1867 September 30, 1869 Republican Vacant [19][20]
14 Edmund J. Davis January 8, 1870 January 15, 1874 Republican Vacant [21]
15 Richard Coke January 15, 1874 December 21, 1876 Democratic Richard Bennett Hubbard, Jr. [22]
16 Richard B. Hubbard December 21, 1876 January 21, 1879 Democratic Vacant [14]
17 Oran M. Roberts January 21, 1879 January 16, 1883 Democratic Joseph Draper Sayers (1879-81)
Leonidas Jefferson Storey (1881-83)
18 John Ireland January 16, 1883 January 20, 1887 Democratic Francis Marion Martin (1883-85)
Barnett Gibbs (1885-87)
19 Lawrence Sullivan Ross January 18, 1887 January 20, 1891 Democratic Thomas Benton Wheeler
20 James Stephen Hogg January 20, 1891 January 15, 1895 Democratic George Cassety Pendleton (1891-93)
Martin McNulty Crane (1893-95)
21 Charles A. Culberson January 15, 1895 January 17, 1899 Democratic George Taylor Jester
22 Joseph D. Sayers January 17, 1899 January 20, 1903 Democratic James Nathan Browning
23 S. W. T. Lanham January 20, 1903 January 15, 1907 Democratic George D. Neal
24 Thomas Mitchell Campbell January 15, 1907 January 17, 1911 Democratic Asbury Bascom Davidson
25 Oscar Branch Colquitt January 17, 1911 January 19, 1915 Democratic Asbury Bascom Davidson (1911-13)
William Harding Mayes (1913-15)
26 James E. "Pa" Ferguson January 19, 1915 August 25, 1917 Democratic William Pettus Hobby, Sr. [23]
27 William P. Hobby August 25, 1917 January 18, 1921 Democratic Vacant (1917-19) [24]
Willard Arnold Johnson (1919-21)
28 Pat Morris Neff January 18, 1921 January 20, 1925 Democratic Lynch Davidson (1921-23)
Thomas Whitfield Davidson (1923-25)
29 Miriam A. "Ma" Ferguson January 20, 1925 January 17, 1927 Democratic Barry Miller
30 Dan Moody January 17, 1927 January 20, 1931 Democratic
31 Ross S. Sterling January 20, 1931 January 17, 1933 Democratic Edgar E. Witt
32 Miriam A. "Ma" Ferguson January 17, 1933 January 15, 1935 Democratic
33 James V. Allred January 15, 1935 January 17, 1939 Democratic Walter Frank Woodul
34 W. Lee O'Daniel January 17, 1939 August 4, 1941 Democratic Coke R. Stevenson [25]
35 Coke R. Stevenson August 4, 1941 January 21, 1947 Democratic Vacant (1941-43) [24]
John Lee Smith (1943-47)
36 Beauford H. Jester January 21, 1947 July 11, 1949 Democratic Allan Shivers [26]
37 Allan Shivers July 11, 1949 January 15, 1957 Democratic Vacant (1949-51) [24]
Ben Ramsey (1951-53)
38 Price Daniel January 15, 1957 January 15, 1963 Democratic Ben Ramsey
39 John Connally January 15, 1963 January 21, 1969 Democratic Preston Smith
40 Preston Smith January 21, 1969 January 16, 1973 Democratic Ben Barnes
41 Dolph Briscoe January 16, 1973 January 16, 1979 Democratic William P. Hobby, Jr.
42 Bill Clements January 16, 1979 January 18, 1983 Republican
43 Mark White January 18, 1983 January 20, 1987 Democratic
44 Bill Clements January 20, 1987 January 15, 1991 Republican
45 Ann Richards January 15, 1991 January 17, 1995 Democratic Bob Bullock
46 George W. Bush January 17, 1995 December 21, 2000 Republican Bob Bullock (1995-99) [27]
Rick Perry (1999-2000)
47 Rick Perry December 21, 2000 Incumbent Republican Bill Ratliff (acting) (2000-03) [24][28]
David Dewhurst (2003-present)

Other high offices held

Name Gubernatorial Term Other High Offices Held
Price Daniel 1957 - 1961 U.S. Senator (1953 - 1957)
John Connally 1963 - 1969 U.S. Secretary of the Navy (1961) U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (1971 - 1972)
Bill Clements 1979 - 1983 1987 - 1991 U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense (1971 - 1977)
George W. Bush 1995 - 2000 43rd President of the United States (2001 - 2009)

Living former governors

As of June 2010[update], three former governors are currently living. The most recent death of a former governor was that of Dolph Briscoe (1973•1979), on June 27, 2010.

Name Gubernatorial term Date of birth
Bill Clements 1979•1983, 1987•1991 April 17, 1917 ) (age 93)
Mark White 1983•1987 March 17, 1940 ) (age 70)
George W. Bush 1995•2000 July 6, 1946 ) (age 64)

Gubernatorial Trivia

Background

Elections

Texas Governors in Popular Culture

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Suellentrop, Chip (2000-01-05). "Is George W. Bush a "Weak" Governor?". Slate Magazine - Explainer. http://www.slate.com/id/1004307/. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
  2. ^ a b Ivins, Molly; Lou Dubose (2000). Shrub: The Short But Happy Political Life of George W. Bush. New York: Vintage Books. pp. xii-xiii. ISBN 0375757147.
  3. ^ 1845 Const. Art V sec 4
  4. ^ 1861 Const. art V sec 12
  5. ^ 1866 Const. art V sec 4
  6. ^ 1869 Const. Art IV sec 4)
  7. ^ Executive Branch retrieved 23-October-2008
  8. ^ TX Const. Art IV sec 4
  9. ^ http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/1_3_1.html
  10. ^ TX Const. art IV sec 16 graf d
  11. ^ 1861 Const art V sec 12
  12. ^ The fractional terms of some governors are not to be absolutely literally; rather, they are meant to show single terms during which multiple governors served, due to resignations, deaths and the like.
  13. ^ Resigned to take an elected seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
  14. ^ a b c As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term.
  15. ^ Evicted from office due to his refusal to swear an oath to the Confederate States of America.
  16. ^ Fled Austin as it fell to Union forces.
  17. ^ NGA says he was Lt. Gov who served after Murrah fled.
  18. ^ Provisional military governor
  19. ^ a b James Throckmorton was removed from office by General Philip Sheridan, and Elisha Pease installed in his place.
  20. ^ Resigned due to disagreements with General Joseph Reynolds.
  21. ^ Elected in a special election held under military direction.
  22. ^ Resigned to take an elected seat in the U.S. Senate.
  23. ^ Resigned due to the legislature bringing impeachment proceedings against him.
  24. ^ a b c d As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term, and was subsequently in their own right.
  25. ^ Resigned after winning the Democratic primary for a U.S. Senate seat; he won the election.
  26. ^ Died in office.
  27. ^ Resigned to be President of the United States.
  28. ^ Governor Perry's second term expires January 18, 2011; he is not term limited.

References

General
Constitutions
Specific
v • d • Lists of chief executives of the United States
President President of the United States
State governors Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming
Territorial executives American Samoa • District of Columbia • Guam • Northern Mariana Islands • Puerto Rico • United States Virgin Islands
Defunct Pre-state territories • Panama Canal Zone • Philippine Commonwealth • Philippine Islands • Cuba • Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
v • d • Governors and Lieutenant Governors of Texas
Governors J. P. Henderson • Wood • Bell • J. W. Henderson • Pease • Runnels • Houston • Clark • Lubbock • Murrah • Hamilton • Throckmorton • Pease • Davis • Coke • Hubbard • Roberts • Ireland • Ross • Hogg • Culberson • Sayers • Lanham • Campbell • Colquitt • J. Ferguson • Hobby • Neff • M. Ferguson • Moody • Sterling • M. Ferguson • Allred • O'Daniel • Stevenson • Jester • Shivers • Daniel • Connally • Smith • Briscoe • Clements • White • Clements • Richards • Bush • Perry
Lieutenant Governors Horton • Greer • Henderson • Dickson • Runnels • Lubbock • Clark • Crockett • Stockdale • Jones • J.W. Flanagan • Campbell • D.W. Flanagan • Fountain • Pickett • Hubbard • Sayers • Storey • Martin • Gibbs • Wheeler • Pendleton • Crane • Jester • Browning • Neal • A.B. Davidson • Mayes • Hobby, Sr. • Johnson • L. Davidson • T.W. Davidson • Miller • Witt • Woodul • Stevenson • J.L. Smith • Shivers • Ramsey • P. Smith • Barnes • Hobby, Jr. • Bullock • Perry • Ratliff • Dewhurst
v • d • State of Texas
Austin (capital)
Topics

Architecture | Climate | Culture | Demographics | Economy | Education | Geography | Government | History | Languages | Literature | Politics | Sports | Texans | Transportation | Symbols | Visitor Attractions
Regions

Ark‑La‑Tex | Big Bend | Blackland Prairies | Brazos Valley | Central Texas | Coastal Bend | Cross Timbers | Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex | Deep East Texas | East Texas | Edwards Plateau | Galveston Bay | Golden Triangle | Greater Houston | Hill Country | Llano Estacado | Longview•Marshall | Northeast Texas | North Texas | Osage Plains | Panhandle | Permian Basin | Piney Woods | Rio Grande Valley | Southeast Texas | South Plains | South Texas | Trans-Pecos | West Texas
Metropolitan areas

Abilene | Amarillo | Austin•Round Rock•San Marcos | Beaumont•Port Arthur | Brownsville•Harlingen | College Station•Bryan | Corpus Christi | Dallas•Fort Worth•Arlington | El Paso | Houston•Sugar Land•Baytown | Killeen•Temple•Fort Hood | Laredo | Longview | Lubbock | McAllen•Edinburg•Mission | Midland | Odessa | San Angelo | San Antonio•New Braunfels | Sherman•Denison | Texarkana | Tyler | Victoria | Waco | Wichita Falls
Counties

See: Table of Texas counties or List

Categories: Governors of Texas | Lists of United States governors | Texas-related lists

The above information uses material from Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Some facts may not have been fully verified for accuracy. [Disclaimers]
This page was last archived by our server on Mon Nov 15 16:55:31 2010.
Displaying this page or its contents does not use any Wikimedia Foundation's resources.
The owners of this site proudly support the Wikimedia Foundation.