This study will analyze the efficacy of the Governors' Formal Power Indices as predictors of budget outcomes in the states. Governors have had a history of weakness in the American states that has only recently been reversed. In 1965, political scientist Joseph Schlessinger devised a method for measuring these formal powers. Other political scientists, Dometrius and Beyle, have created variations of his method. / The appropriations process is the most important policy-making process in any government. This study will measure the ability of the governors to influence the appropriations process and determine if that influence is related to any of the indices of formal powers. / Thirty states have responded to requests for detailed information on their Governor's Recommended Budget and Legislative Appropriations in three periods: late 1970s, early 1980s, and most recent. The percentage of the governor's recommendations that were appropriated is computed for each of five program areas and total appropriations. These six items are the dependent variables. The independent variables are the indices of Governors' Formal Powers reported above. / Three major conclusions emerge from this research. First, the various state legislatures have become more powerful vis-a-vis the governors over the time of this study. Second, the formal gubernatorial powers do not influence the ability of the Governor to have budgetary successes. Third, the influence of the gubernatorial powers is more evident in program areas where the Governor has exhibited personal interest. / Other findings include the determination that the four indices vary in their predictive and statistical power. The components of the indices also vary in their ability to explain budget outcomes. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 51-11, Section: A, page: 3897. / Major Professor: Thomas R. Dye. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1990.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_78326 |
| Contributors | Easterling, Claude Nelson., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 149 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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