National Study: RI ‘Legislature Too Powerful’
Saturday, December 04, 2010
A national study released exclusively to GoLocalProv shows that Rhode Island’s Office of Governor is tied with Texas for being the third weakest in the country—resulting in an unhealthy balance of power in state government.
Wendy Schiller, a professor of political science at Brown University, told GoLocalProv that the General Assembly has too much power relative to the Governor in Rhode Island. “I think the legislature is too powerful overall, and especially since it is so dominated by one party,” Schiller said.
Imbalance of power 'not good' for democracy
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe study, authored by retired University of North Carolina political scientist Thad Beyle ranks each state on a scale of one to five in five categories—the number of other state officers, how long a governor can stay in office, appointment power, control over the budget, and veto power, and whether their party controls the legislature. Rhode Island earned low marks in each category, receiving a total score of 16 out of a possible 25. (See below table.)
“Rhode Island has a weak governorship from the standpoint of legal authority,” said former Brown University political science professor Darrell West, who is now a vice president at the Brookings Institution. “Compared to other states, Rhode Island chief executives have relatively limited power.”
Beyle told GoLocalProv that state governments work better when both branches are strong. Having an imbalance between the two, he said, is harmful to democracy. “I think it is because people are voting for good leaders and if they can’t lead that’s not good for democracy,” Beyle said.
Chafee: 'Not daunted' by limited powers
A spokesman for Lincoln Chafee told GoLocalProv that the Governor-elect believes that his bipartisan approach to politics will overcome the constitutional limitations of the office. “Governor-elect Chafee is … very skilled at coalition building, consensus development and bringing people together,” said Mike Trainor, who is deputy director of his transition office. “While the Rhode Island Governor on paper may be weak, it doesn’t in any way daunt Governor-elect Chafee.”
In the first month into his transition Chafee has sought to project a tone of cooperation and communication with the General Assembly—drawing a contrast with his predecessor, Gov. Don Carcieri. The first appointment to his administration was former Lt. Governor Richard Licht, a Democrat and former state Senator who has reportedly good ties with the leaders of the General Assembly.
“Having Richard Licht in perhaps the most important position will be a significant asset to the Chafee agenda in the General Assembly,” Trainor said.
Consequences of limited powers
The limited powers of the office have created pitfalls for past governors, according to West. “The pitfalls that governors fall into is they become irrelevant to policymaking,” West said. “The General Assembly passes whatever it wants with little fear of gubernatorial interference.”
If Chafee wants to push his agenda, Schiller said he also will need to use the bully pulpit of his office more so than other governors. “Governors with weak institutional powers have to rely much more heavily on public opinion and generating pressure on the state legislature from constituents themselves,” Schiller said. “So if Chafee wants to get the Democratic controlled legislature to support his programs, he has to go out and drum up support among the voters and the local media who can then ask their state reps and senators to support the Governor.”
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