Claim: George W. Bush was a president.

The Governor of Texas is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Texas , the presiding officer over the executive branch of the Government of Texas , and the commander-in-chief of the Texas National Guard , the State 's militia . The governor has the power to consider bills passed by the Texas Legislature , by signing them into law , or vetoing them , and in bills relating to appropriations , the power of a line-item veto . He may convene the legislature , and grant pardons and reprieves , except in cases of impeachment , and upon the permission of the legislature , in cases of treason . The State provides an official residence , the Governor 's Mansion in Austin . The incumbent , Greg Abbott , is the forty-eighth governor , of whom two have been women , to serve in the office since Texas ' statehood in 1845 .   When compared to those of other states , the Governorship of Texas has been described as one of relative weakness . In some respects , it is the Lieutenant Governor of Texas , who presides over the Texas Senate , who possesses greater influence to exercise their prerogatives .   The governor is inaugurated on the third Tuesday of January every four years along with the Lieutenant Governor , and serves a term of four years . Prior to the present laws , in 1845 , the state 's first constitution established the office of governor , serving a term of two years , but no more than four years of every six . The 1861 constitution , following secession from the Union , established the first Monday of November following election as the term 's start . Following the end of the American Civil War , the 1866 constitution increased term length to four years , limiting overall service to no more than eight years of every twelve , moving the term 's start to the first Thursday following organization of the legislature , or `` as soon thereafter as practicable . '' The constitution of 1869 , enacted during Reconstruction , removed term limitations , to this day making Texas one of fourteen states with no limit on gubernatorial terms . The present constitution of 1876 returned terms to two years , but a 1972 amendment again returned them to four .   Since its establishment , only one man has served in excess of eight years as governor : Rick Perry . Perry , the longest-serving governor in state history , assumed the governorship in 2000 upon the exit of George W. Bush , who resigned to take office as the 43rd President of the United States . Perry was re-elected in 2002 , 2006 , and 2010 .   Allan Shivers assumed the governorship upon the death of Beauford Jester in July 1949 and was re-elected in 1950 , 1952 and 1954 , serving for 7 1/2 years , making him the second longest serving Texas governor . Price Daniel was elected to the governorship in 1956 and re-elected in 1958 and 1960 before losing his re-election for an unprecedented fourth term in the 1962 Democratic primary , missing the runoff . John Connally was elected in 1962 and re-elected in 1964 and 1966 before choosing to retire in 1968 .   In the case of a vacancy in the office , the lieutenant governor becomes governor . Prior to a 1999 amendment , the lieutenant governor only acted as governor until the expiration of the term to which he succeeded .