Changes

===Executive===

===Executive===

The executive branch in Texas is handled on what is called a "plural executive" system, in that the major cabinet heads (excluding the Secretary of State) and some agency boards are elected by popular vote rather than appointed.  Because of this, the Governor is generally considered organizationally weak by comparison to other states (while the Lieutenant Governor, in his role as President of the Texas Senate, has consider power over legislation).  However, a Governor with a long tenure (such as [[Rick Perry]] and [[Greg Abbott]]) will eventually be able to appoint people to all open positions.

The executive branch in Texas is handled on what is called a "plural executive" system, in that the major cabinet heads (excluding the Secretary of State) and some agency boards are elected by popular vote rather than appointed.  Because of this, the Governor is generally considered organizationally weak by comparison to other states (while the Lieutenant Governor, in his role as President of the Texas Senate, has considerable power over legislation).  However, a Governor with a long tenure (such as [[Rick Perry]] and [[Greg Abbott]]) will eventually be able to appoint people to all open positions.

The Governor and Lieutenant Governor are elected on separate ballots, which has occasionally resulted in the officeholders being of different political parties.  The other positions which are popularly elected statewide are the Attorney General, the Comptroller of Public Accounts, the Agriculture Commissioner (this is the only position where the popular vote is based on statute as opposed to state Constitutional requirement), the Commissioner of the General Land Office, and the three members of the Railroad Commission (which, despite its name, no longer handles railroad matters; its main function is the regulation of fossil fuel production and transport).  In addition, the members of the State Board of Education are elected from 15 single-member districts.

The Governor and Lieutenant Governor are elected on separate ballots, which has occasionally resulted in the officeholders being of different political parties.  The other positions which are popularly elected statewide are the Attorney General, the Comptroller of Public Accounts, the Agriculture Commissioner (this is the only position where the popular vote is based on statute as opposed to state Constitutional requirement), the Commissioner of the General Land Office, and the three members of the Railroad Commission (which, despite its name, no longer handles railroad matters; its main function is the regulation of fossil fuel production and transport).  In addition, the members of the State Board of Education are elected from 15 single-member districts.