Final answer:
Actions governors take that aren't formally written but are exercised through their activities are known as informal powers. These include influencing legislation through persuasion, negotiating policy agendas, yearly addresses, and crisis management. Informal powers complement formal powers like the veto and amendment proposals, enhancing a governor's influence in policymaking.
Step-by-step explanation:
Actions governors might take that are not formally written but are exercised through the activities of the governor are known as informal powers. Informal powers allow governors to influence legislative outcomes and public policy through persuasion, negotiation, and the leverage that comes from being a state's chief executive. These powers are a crucial aspect of a governor's role and are evident in several areas of governance.
Governors hold formal powers that are specifically outlined in state constitutions or state law. These include the ability to veto legislation, line-item veto, amendatory veto, and reduction veto. The line-item veto gives governors the ability to reject specific portions of a bill, while the amendatory veto allows them to propose amendments to a bill. Some governors, like the governor of Texas, also wield a reduction veto to decrease the budget figures in legislature proposals.
However, beyond these formal powers, governors exercise informal powers such as crisis management during unforeseen natural disasters, setting policy agendas in cooperation with or opposition to the state legislature, and engaging in budget proposals to indicate funding priorities. The annual State of the State address showcases the governor's legislative priorities, pointing lawmakers towards high-priority goals. Governors work closely with state legislators to introduce and guide bills, often fostering relationships through various forms of outreach and communication.
The informal powers of governors increase their ability to respond to constituents, direct public attention to specific issues, and navigate the political landscape more effectively. This level of influence is a result of the year-round presence of the governor's role, the relative power against their state legislatures, and the significant media coverage they often command. These factors combine to give governors substantial sway over both public opinion and legislative processes. Ultimately, the informal powers of governors are as vital to successful governance as their formal powers.