Governor of Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Governor of Texas
Standard of the governor
Seal of the governor
Incumbent Greg Abbott since January 20, 2015
Executive branch of the Texas government Office of the Governor of Texas
Style	Governor (informal) The Honorable (formal) His Excellency (courtesy)
Residence	Texas Governor's Mansion
Seat	Austin, Texas
Appointer	Popular vote
Term length	Four years, no term limit
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Texas
Precursor	President of the Republic of Texas
Formation	December 29, 1845 (179 years ago) (1845-12-29)
First holder	James Pinckney Henderson (1846)
Deputy	Lieutenant Governor of Texas
Salary	$153,750 (2019)

The governor of Texas is the top leader of the U.S. state of Texas. Think of the governor as the chief executive, like a principal for the entire state. This person leads the executive branch of the Texas government. The governor is also the commander-in-chief of the Texas Military Forces, which means they are in charge of the state's military groups.

The job of the governor is set out in the Constitution of Texas, which is like the state's main rulebook. The governor's duties include making sure state laws are followed. They can also approve or veto (reject) bills passed by the Texas Legislature. The governor oversees many state agencies and can issue special executive orders. They also help create and manage the state budget. Plus, the governor appoints people to important state jobs. With advice from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, the governor can even grant pardons.

The current governor of Texas is Republican Greg Abbott. He started his term in 2015.

Becoming Governor: Requirements

To become the governor of Texas, a person must meet certain rules. These rules are found in Article IV, Section 4 of the Texas Constitution.

• They must be at least 30 years old.
• They must be a citizen of the United States.
• They must have lived in Texas for at least five years right before the election.

How a Governor is Chosen and Removed

Governors of Texas are chosen by the people of Texas through an election. They serve for four years. There is no limit on how many terms a person can serve as governor. Before starting the job, the governor must say a special promise called an oath. This oath is written in Article XVI, Section 1 of the Texas Constitution:

I, _______________________, do solemnly swear (or affirm), that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of governor of the State of Texas, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and of this State, so help me God.

The new governor takes office on the third Tuesday of January after the election. This is also when the previous governor's term ends.

Removing a Governor from Office

A Texas governor can be removed from office if they commit serious offenses. This process is called impeachment. The State House of Representatives can vote to impeach the governor for things like treason (betraying the state), bribery (taking illegal payments), or other major crimes. If the House votes to impeach, the case goes to the State Senate for a trial. To remove the governor from office, two-thirds of the Senate members must agree. Unlike some other states, Texas does not allow voters to directly ask for a special election to remove the governor.

A Look at the Governor's History

The first Texas Constitution in 1845 created the governor's office. Back then, governors served for two years. They could serve no more than four years out of every six. This meant they could only serve two terms in a row.

After the American Civil War, the 1866 constitution changed the term to four years. It also limited governors to no more than eight years out of every twelve. However, the Reconstruction-era constitution of 1869 removed these term limits. Today, Texas is one of 16 places in the U.S. that does not have term limits for its governor. In 1876, the term went back to two years. But in 1972, an amendment changed it back to four years again.

Gubernatorial elections happen every four years. They are held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. These elections do not happen at the same time as the presidential elections. Since 1974, all Texas governor elections have been part of the midterm elections. The governor is sworn in on the third Tuesday of January every four years. The lieutenant governor is also sworn in on this day. For example, Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick both started their terms on January 20, 2015.

Even without term limits, no Texas governor in the 1800s or 1900s served more than seven and a half years in a row. Former governor Rick Perry served from 2000 to 2015. He became the first Texas governor to serve three four-year terms in a row. When Perry won the election on November 2, 2010, he joined Allan Shivers, Price Daniel, and John Connally as the only Texas governors elected to three terms. On November 8, 2022, current governor Greg Abbott was re-elected. He became the fifth Texas governor to serve three terms. If the governor's office becomes empty, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. This rule was added in 1999. Before that, the lieutenant governor only acted as governor.

Where the Governor Lives and Works

The Texas Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas.

The official home of the Texas governor is the Texas Governor's Mansion. It is located in Austin, the state capital. The mansion was built in 1854. Every governor since 1856 has lived there. It is also one of the places where the governor works.

The governor's main office is inside the Texas State Capitol building in Austin.

Timeline of Governors of Texas

This timeline shows the governors of Texas over time. It also shows their political party when they started their term.

Who Takes Over if the Governor Can't Serve?

The Texas Constitution explains who takes over if the governor cannot do their job. This is called the line of succession. It is found in Article IV, Sections 3a and 16–18 of the Constitution of Texas. It is also in Chapter 401.023 of Title 4 of the Texas Government Code.

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Gobernantes de Texas para niños

• List of governors of Texas
• List of Texas governors and presidents
• List of presidents of the Republic of Texas
• List of lieutenant governors of Texas
• List of Texas state agencies