GOVERNORS AS CHIEF ADMINISTRATORS: The Linkage Between Formal Powers and Informal Influence

Although formal gubernatorial powers have often been employed as a surrogate measure of actual gubernatorial influence, the linkage is more complex than that. This article builds and tests the argument that formal gubernatorial powers are translated into influence largely through the mechanism of the governor's informal political resources. That is, formal powers do relatively little to bolster a governor's influence where informal resources are lacking, but a combination of formal powers and informal resources contributes greatly to gubernatorial influence. Tests of an interactive model of the governor's influence over state administrative agencies strongly support this interpretation.