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THE CHAIRMAN: Is your question
finished?
DELEGATE MASON: My question is,
was it your testimony that the governor of
Maryland is a weak governor?
DELEGATE ADKINS: I prefer to use
the term "weak type governor" because I
do not think you can categorize a single
individual as being weak or strong. The
structure of Maryland's executive branch
at the moment is, I think generally con-
ceded by people who have studied it, to be
of the weak type. By that I mean, and I
think they mean, that the governor does
not have the power to choose his own major
appointees in the main; the only thing
which really keeps him from being a very
weak governor is the strong budget-making
power which he now has, and which is
crucial, of course, to the exercise of his
duties. I think it is fair to say that the
structure of the office of governor is gen-
erally considered to be a weak type, yes, in
comparison with some other states, such
as New York and others.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Mason.
DELEGATE MASON: Delegate Adkins,
in determining whether or not the struc-
ture of the office is weak or strong, what
are the indicia for making such a deter-
mination?
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Adkins.
DELEGATE ADKINS: I would suggest
there are three; first, whether or not he
has a strong budget-making power, which
he does in Maryland; secondly would be
the question of whether or not he has the
right to employ and discharge major policy-
making officials in his administration which
in Maryland in many instances he does
not Did I say there were three?
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Mason.
DELEGATE MASON: Yes.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Adkins.
DELEGATE ADKINS: It is suggested
to me from the floor that the power of re-
organization is certainly one with which
I would agree, and I would have to amend
it to four. I have one other in mind which
escapes me for the moment.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Mason.
DELEGATE MASON: How about the
right to veto?
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Adkins.
DELEGATE ADKINS: I would not
agree with that because I do not believe
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there is any governor in the fifty states
that does not have the right to veto; so I
do not think that that is a criterian of
whether he is a strong or weak governor,
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Mason.
DELEGATE MASON: I do not want to
get into an argument. North Carolina does
not have the right to veto.
I would suggest you disagree with the
National Municipal League which sets up
these particular standards.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Adkins.
DELEGATE ADKINS: It is perfectly
possible. I find myself in disagreement with
almost everyone on some issues at some
time.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Mason.
DELEGATE MASON: Another criterion
to determine whether the governor is strong
is the question of the length of his term,
is that not correct?
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Adkins.
DELEGATE ADKINS: I might say
that might be if you are talking about a
one- or two-year term, yes. However, I do
not consider that a critical condition.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Mason.
DELEGATE MASON: A Maryland gov-
ernor has a four-year term and can be re-
elected; so you would not consider that an
indicia.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Adkins.
DELEGATE ADKINS: I do not think
that makes him a strong governor. It would
make him strong if he were up for reelec-
tion each year, but I do not think that
makes him a strong governor or a strong
type.
THE CHAIRMAN: Are there any fur-
ther questions, Delegate Mason?
DELEGATE MASON: Do you know in
the State of Maryland the governor ap-
points sixty per cent or more of his de-
partment heads?
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Adkins.
DELEGATE ADKINS: I am curious to
know the source of your information. Do
you mean sixty per cent or more? What is
the source of that statistic? I have not
heard that used.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Mason.
DELEGATE MASON: If you will read
the booklet on states, they have all these
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