Choices Chapter 9: The Texas Executive

Front 1

The Texas legislature _____ some of the powers of the State Board of Education due to

Back 1

reduced; philosophical and partisan bickering.

Front 2

The office of the commissioner of agriculture was created by the constitution rather than by statute.

Back 2

False

Front 3

The comptroller's powerful role in budgetary affairs was enhanced by auditing and oversight authority in 1990 and 1991, leading to the identification of billion's of dollars worth of potential savings

Back 3

True

Front 4

The most visible office in Texas is that of the governor.

Back 4

True

Front 5

Most Texas governors have NOT been

Back 5

affluent female Protestants.

Front 6

There are only two of the more than 200 state boards and commissions whose members are elected,

Back 6

the Railroad Commission and the State Board of Education.

Front 7

When Governor George W. Bush took office in 1995, he enjoyed the support of Republican Party leaders for his efforts to

Back 7

improve education.

Front 8

The Texas Railroad Commission

Back 8

has three elected members, regulates lignite mining, and has some oversight over rail safety.

Front 9

Successful governors are rarely skilled political animals who continually develop relationships throughout the political system

Back 9

True

Front 10

The governor can propose the transfer of funds between programs or agencies to meet emergencies, with the approval of the Legislative Budget Board.

Back 10

True

Front 11

How many women have been elected governor of Texas?

Back 11

2

Front 12

The only governor of Texas to be impeached and convicted was

Back 12

James E Ferguson

Front 13

In carrying out the duties of his office, the governor often uses the mass media to

Back 13

leak information or float trial balloons.

Front 14

Even though Ann Richards was a strong supporter of

Back 14

public education she opposed a state income tax that could have been used to raise education spending.

Front 15

To run for governor, the constitution says a candidate must be

Back 15

30 years old and a resident of Texas for 5 years.

Front 16

The state's chief legal officer is

Back 16

the attorney general.

Front 17

The governor's power in Texas compared to other states is categorized as

Back 17

moderate.

Front 18

According to the text, one indication of a strong governor is the power to

Back 18

hire and fire those responsible for implementing policy.

Front 19

Financially, Texas operates under

Back 19

a pay-as-you-go principle.

Front 20

In Texas, the power of lieutenant governor is primarily

Back 20

legislative.

Front 21

Under the plural executive, it is difficult to obtain

Back 21

a coordinated integrated policy.

Front 22

Effective use of the mass media in the policy-making process involves much more than getting on the evening news.

Back 22

True

Front 23

The Texas attorney general is

Back 23

mainly a civil lawyer.

Front 24

The top appointed official in the executive branch is the

Back 24

secretary of state.

Front 25

The lieutenant governor of Texas

Back 25

is elected separately from the governor and can be from a different party.

Front 26

Potentially, the governor has a vast number of formal resources that can be used to shape public policy.

Back 26

False

Front 27

The governor's main constitutional powers over the legislature include

Back 27

the veto and the authority to call and set the agenda for special sessions.

Front 28

Most members of state boards and commissions are appointed to

Back 28

six year staggered terms.

Front 29

The governor's budgetary power is limited because both he and the _____ submit a budget to the legislature.

Back 29

legislative budget board (LBB)

Front 30

Senatorial _____ is an unwritten norm that allows a senator to block the governor's nomination of an individual who lives in the senator's district.

Back 30

courtesy.

Front 31

In Texas, there is no single elected official ultimately responsible for the executive branch of state government.

Back 31

True

Front 32

A fragmented system of authority under which most statewide, executive officeholders are elected independently of the governor is known as a

Back 32

plural executive.

Front 33

The secretary of state

Back 33

administer state election laws.

Front 34

The governor has the authority to veto a bill for up to

Back 34

10 days during a session and 20 days after adjournment.

Front 35

Texas retains ownership, including mineral rights, to approximately 22 million acres of land, which are managed by the

Back 35

commissioner of the General Land Office.

Front 36

The governor is legally responsible for ordering state officials to carry out extradition requests.

Back 36

True

Front 37

Under the Constitution of 1876, the governor of Texas was given the ability to appoint the

Back 37

secretary of the state.

Front 38

A governor can be removed from office through impeachment proceedings initiated in the

Back 38

House and the conviction of the Senate.

Front 39

The powers of the governor do NOT include

Back 39

formally appointing a cabinet.

Front 40

The comptroller of public accounts is

Back 40

the state's primary tax administrator, accounting officer, and responsible for issuing revenue estimates.

Front 41

Governors have the opportunity to outline their legislative priorities at the opening of each regular legislative session through the

Back 41

"State of the State" address.

Front 42

To override a governor's veto requires a

Back 42

two-thirds vote in both chambers.

Front 43

The military authority given to the governor by the state constitution includes

Back 43

his role as commander-in-chief of the military forces of the state, the ability to appoint an adjutant general and to mobilize the Texas National Guard to protect lives and property in the state.

Front 44

The Texas governor has line-item veto power over all state bills.

Back 44

False

Front 45

How do the staggered terms of state boards and commissioners affect the governor?

Back 45

A governor has to wait at least two years to get majorities favoring his or her policies on most boards.

Front 46

When Governor Richards tried to revive interest in giving the governor cabinet-style appointive offices, she met with only limited success.

Back 46

True

Front 47

The day-to-day administration of the Texas Education Agency is under the direction of an elected commissioner of education.

Back 47

False

Front 48

Texas retains ownership, including mineral rights, to approximately 22 million acres of land, which are managed by the

Back 48

commissioner of the General Land Office.

Front 49

Governor Bush’s public style was low key during his first term as governor.

Back 49

True

Front 50

The lieutenant governor of Texas

Back 50

is elected separately from the governor and can be from a different party.

Front 51

The Texas governor has line-item veto power over all state bills.

Back 51

False

Front 52

What effect has the increasing cost of campaigns had on the gubernatorial election?

Back 52

It has prevented many good potential candidates from running because of the burden of raising funds.

Front 53

The governor’s main constitutional powers over the legislature include

Back 53

the veto and the authority to call and set the agenda for special sessions.

Front 54

Even though Ann Richards was a strong supporter of

Back 54

public education, she opposed a state income tax that could have been used to raise education spending.

Front 55

The governor has the authority to veto a bill for up to

Back 55

ten days during a session and twenty days after adjournment.

Front 56

What was the negative view of Bill Clements when he left office in 1991?

Back 56

He was an obstructionist who would rather fight the Democrats than provide leadership.

Front 57

The governor’s budgetary power is

Back 57

limited, as he or she has to submit a budget to the legislature along with the LLB.

Front 58

Until Republican Bill Clements won the election in 1978, almost every governor since 1874 had been a Democrat.

Back 58

False

Front 59

Rick Perry had to duck political fallout due to the downfall of Enron, a major contributor during his political career.

Back 59

True

Front 60

Rick Perry has had a contentious relationship with legislators starting with

Back 60

his record vetoing of 82 bills, including one to ban executions of mentally retarded convicts.

Front 61

What led Texans to work to limit the power of the governor with the Constitution of 1876?

Back 61

radical Reconstruction policies and the abuses of the Governor Davis administration

Front 62

A governor can be removed from office through impeachment proceedings initiated in the

Back 62

House and conviction by the Senate.

Front 63

The first woman elected governor in Texas was

Back 63

Miriam A. “Ma” Ferguson.

Front 64

During his administration, Bill Clements often found himself with poor public relations and at odds with ________ because of his outspokenness.

Back 64

other elected officials and interest groups