Ch8 Test Bank Answers The Executive Branch - Test Bank | Governing Texas 4e by Anthony Champagne by Anthony Champagne. DOCX document preview.
CHAPTER 8 The Executive Branch
Textbook Section (REF)
The Governor
The Plural Executive
Boards, Commissions, and Regulatory Agencies
Chapter Goal (OBJ)
Describe the powers of the Texas governor and the limits of the governor’s power.
Identify the other elected officials who make up Texas’s plural executive.
Explain the roles played by boards, commissions, and regulatory agencies.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Executive power in Texas is
a. | divided among multiple officials, each elected by the people, to ensure that no one person has too much power. |
b. | modeled after executive power in the federal government, where the governor and lieutenant governor have powers similar to the president and vice president. |
c. | set up so that Texas has one of the strongest governors in the United States. |
d. | divided among multiple officials, each appointed by the governor, to ensure that no one person has too much power. |
2. The Texas governor was very powerful, and many regarded state government as oppressive and corrupt, under which constitution?
a. | the Constitution of 1976 | c. | the Constitution of 1845 |
b. | the Reconstruction Constitution of 1869 | d. | the Constitution of 1861 |
3. The governor of Texas has
a. | strong formal powers granted by the Texas Constitution. |
b. | few formal powers, so the office is one of the weakest chief executives in the United States. |
c. | the power to appoint all officials in the executive branch. |
d. | the sole responsibility for budget-making. |
4. Why is the Texas governor’s power exceptionally weak as compared to that of the governors of some other states?
a. | lack of a line-item veto |
b. | inability to appoint any administrative heads |
c. | tenure limits |
d. | plural executive system |
5. What do some argue is the one advantage of a plural executive in Texas?
a. | It allows the governor to pursue innovative policymaking. |
b. | It decreases conflict between the executive and legislative branches. |
c. | It constrains the power of executive officials and makes them more accountable to the public. |
d. | It facilitates the coordination of public policy. |
6. In order to serve as governor in Texas, you must be ______ years old.
a. | 25 |
b. | 30 |
c. | 35 |
d. | There is no minimum age to serve as governor. |
7. If a governor is impeached and convicted, he or she
a. | must reimburse the state for the cost of the trial in the Senate. | c. | can appeal the conviction to the Texas Supreme Court. |
b. | cannot subsequently hold any other state office. | d. | can be pardoned by the lieutenant governor. |
8. One type of appointment power often used by governors is called patronage, where
a. | the governor rewards supporters by appointing them to office. | c. | the governor determines which vendors will be given state contracts. |
b. | the governor recommends individuals for staff positions with members of the legislature. | d. | the governor sets standing reservations at his or her favorite restaurants in Austin. |
9. The Texas Constitution of ________ placed strict limits on the governor’s ability to control the people appointed to office and almost eliminated the possibility that appointees to office could be removed.
a. | 1845 | c. | 1876 |
b. | 1836 | d. | 1869 |
10. Constitutionally, a state-of-the-state message must be given by the governor
a. | at the beginning of the governor’s term. |
b. | 30 days after the governor has been elected. |
c. | at the beginning of each regular session. |
d. | at the end of the governor’s term in office. |
11. In addition to meeting the age, citizenship, and residency requirements, which of the following would you need in order to be a viable candidate for governor in Texas?
a. | a law degree so that you can understand all aspects of the job | c. | access to wealth since campaigns have become very expensive |
b. | a degree from a Texas university so that you meet the minimum education requirements | d. | a background in business so that you will be able to manage the budget of the various state agencies |
12. The Texas governor only has the ________ on appropriations bills.
a. | line-item veto | c. | threat of a veto |
b. | pocket veto | d. | post veto |
13. Officially, who is the chief budget officer of Texas?
a. | the Chief Accountant |
b. | the Comptroller of Accounts |
c. | the Treasurer |
d. | the Governor |
14. Who was the first female governor of Texas?
a. | Kay Bailey Hutchison | c. | Ann Richards |
b. | Miriam Ferguson | d. | Barbara Jordan |
15. While the governor’s term in office used to be 2 years, it was changed to _____ years with a constitutional amendment adopted in _________.
a. | 4; 1972 | c. | 6; 1996 |
b. | 4; 2000 | d. | 5; 1980 |
16. Who was the first Republican governor of Texas following Reconstruction, and when was he or she elected?
a. | Allan Shivers in 1948 | c. | Ann Richards in 1990 |
b. | William Clements in 1978 | d. | George W. Bush in 1994 |
17. Who was the longest-serving governor in the history of Texas?
a. | William Clements | c. | Rick Perry |
b. | George W. Bush | d. | Dolph Briscoe |
18. In Texas, why are gubernatorial elections held in off-years?
a. | so that gubernatorial elections will not be influenced by a presidential election |
b. | so that candidates cannot run for governor and a federal office at the same time |
c. | so that voters will not become overwhelmed by too many candidates in one year |
d. | because Texas happened to become part of the United States during an off-year |
19. The governor may be removed from office only by impeachment with conviction by the
a. | House. | c. | Senate. |
b. | judiciary. | d. | attorney general. |
20. What is the ultimate check on the governor?
a. | impeachment | c. | the budgetary review process |
b. | the Sunset review process | d. | a campaign donation |
21. In Texas, if a sitting governor is unable to hold office due to impeachment and conviction, resignation, or death, who becomes governor?
a. | the secretary of state |
b. | the lieutenant governor |
c. | the Speaker of the state House of Representatives |
d. | the comptroller of public accounts |
22. ________ is the only Texas governor to be both impeached and convicted.
a. | E.J. Davis | c. | Ann Richards |
b. | James Ferguson | d. | Miriam Ferguson |
23. What is the Texas governor’s most significant executive power?
a. | the power of appointment |
b. | the power to call special sessions |
c. | the power to submit a budget to the legislature |
d. | the line-item veto power |
24. The governor appoints people to office, but the Texas ________ must also confirm them.
a. | House of Representatives | c. | Senate |
b. | Ethics Commission | d. | Commission on Appointments |
25. Which of the following is the best example of the Texas governor’s exercise of senatorial courtesy?
a. | The governor will not appoint someone to office unless that appointee’s state senator agrees. |
b. | The governor will not veto a bill without first giving the bill’s Senate sponsor an opportunity to amend it. |
c. | The Senate will use the governor’s budget plan as its blueprint for the upcoming session. |
d. | The governor will address the full Senate at the beginning of each legislative session. |
26. The governor has some control over the final appropriations bill through the use of the ________ veto.
a. | c. | reduction | |
b. | amendatory | d. | line-item |
27. Which of the following is the best example of the Texas governor’s military powers?
a. | The governor can declare martial law during a natural disaster. |
b. | The governor can use federal troops stationed in camps within Texas. |
c. | The governor receives a National Guard pension when he or she retires. |
d. | The governor automatically possesses the rank of general in the U.S. Armed Forces. |
28. As part of his or her military and police power, the governor has responsibility for which of the following?
a. | the Texas Rangers and the Texas State Guard | c. | security at airports and seaports |
b. | sheriffs’ departments in counties with populations less than 50,000 | d. | animal and insect control |
29. Which of the following is one of the governor’s legislative powers?
a. | introducing legislation to the Texas House |
b. | amending bills before signing them |
c. | calling special sessions of the legislature |
d. | casting the tie-breaking vote in the Senate |
30. For a Texas governor, what is the benefit of a post-adjournment veto?
a. | It requires a two-thirds majority from both houses to override it. |
b. | The legislature is prevented from overriding it. |
c. | It allows the governor to veto specific provisions of a bill. |
d. | It is the only way to veto legislation without giving reasons. |
31. What is the Texas governor’s greatest judicial power?
a. | the power to appoint judges to appeals courts, with the Senate’s consent |
b. | the power to appoint judges to vacancies in the courts |
c. | the power to restrict the types of cases the appeals courts may decide |
d. | the power to remove judges |
32. In Texas, what is the primary effect of a plural executive?
a. | It dilutes the power of the governor and fragments the executive branch. |
b. | It grants the governor additional powers since it makes for a powerful executive branch. |
c. | It makes the executive branch less accountable to the voters. |
d. | It leads to excessive corruption within the executive branch. |
33. What makes the greatest difference between strong and weak governors of Texas?
a. | the willingness to use formal powers |
b. | the frequency of vetoes |
c. | personality differences |
d. | the partisan makeup of the legislature |
34. Why did the Texas Constitution establish a plural executive?
a. | Texas was following the structure of the federal executive. |
b. | There was suspicion of a strong chief executive. |
c. | The complications of running a state as large as Texas necessitate a plural executive. |
d. | It was necessary in order for the executive branch to be as dominant as possible. |
35. In Texas, which officer in the plural executive is NOT elected by voters?
a. | the secretary of state | c. | the comptroller |
b. | the attorney general | d. | the lieutenant governor |
36. What is the primary task of the Texas secretary of state?
a. | to oversee the state’s foreign, economic, and diplomatic policy |
b. | to handle elections and voter registration |
c. | to collect child-support payments |
d. | to coordinate and plan projects in conjunction with the federal government |
37. The lieutenant governor is the only member of the plural executive, other than the governor,
a. | to have both executive and legislative powers. |
b. | to have state-provided housing. |
c. | to be elected in a statewide election. |
d. | to have judicial powers. |
38. The chief lawyer for Texas is the
a. | chief justice of the state supreme court. | c. | secretary of state. |
b. | attorney general. | d. | state comptroller. |
39. Which entity has the main responsibility for collecting child-support payments?
a. | Texas governor’s office | c. | Texas attorney general |
b. | Texas comptroller | d. | Texas secretary of state |
40. The ________ is the oldest state agency in Texas.
a. | General Land Office | c. | Railroad Commission |
b. | Texas Ranger Division | d. | Department of Public Safety |
41. Which office is charged with ensuring the accuracy of official weights and measures?
a. | the Department of Agriculture |
b. | the Department of Weights and Measures |
c. | the attorney general |
d. | the comptroller |
42. In Texas, what is the most important power of the state comptroller?
a. | estimating state revenues for the legislature |
b. | overseeing the state police and the Texas Rangers |
c. | enforcing all state land-use and -takings laws |
d. | regulating the oil industry in the state |
43. Which state office was eliminated in 1996?
a. | attorney general | c. | state treasurer |
b. | animal commissioner | d. | sheriff |
44. The elected members of the plural executive are ultimately accountable to
a. | the governor. | c. | the voters. |
b. | the legislature. | d. | the cabinet. |
45. In 2017, approximately how many people worked for the state bureaucracy in Texas?
a. | 330,000 | c. | 150,000 |
b. | 290,000 | d. | 410,000 |
46. The Texas Department of Insurance
a. | regulates the insurance market in Texas under the guidance of an appointed commissioner who serves a two-year term. |
b. | is responsible for ensuring that all Texans have health insurance as required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. |
c. | is responsible for administering state-funded insurance programs such as Medicaid and CHIP. |
d. | is an elected multimember board that has responsibility for all insurance markets within Texas. |
47. Authority over railroads throughout Texas was given to the ________ in 2005.
a. | Railroad Commission of Texas | c. | lieutenant governor |
b. | Texas Department of Transportation | d. | attorney general |
48. Members of the State Board of Education (SBOE) are elected in single-member districts. Therefore,
a. | voters in Texas have the ability to influence public education policy, such as high school graduation requirements and textbook adoptions. |
b. | there will always be a balance between Democrats and Republicans on the SBOE. |
c. | there are the same number of members on the SBOE as members of the Texas Senate. |
d. | only registered Democrats or Republicans can run for positions on the SBOE. |
49. What is the purpose of the Sunset Advisory Commission in Texas?
a. | It reviews state agencies every twelve years to see if they are still needed. |
b. | It administers state programs for the elderly. |
c. | It oversees the retirement of state bureaucratic workers. |
d. | It runs the Texas Chamber of Commerce. |
50. The Railroad Commission of Texas’s strategy of limited oil production to maintain prices was adopted by which organization?
a. | APEC | c. | OPEC |
b. | TPP | d. | BP |
1. There are no limitations or restrictions on when the governor can use the line-item veto.
2. The Texas governor has many formal powers, making him or her one of the United States’ strongest chief executives.
3. The Texas Constitution of 1876 placed strict limits on the governor’s ability to control the people appointed to office and almost eliminated the possibility that appointees to office could be removed.
4. The governor of Texas currently serves a two-year term in office.
5. The legislature has the ability to declare martial law.
6. Ann Richards was the first woman to serve as governor in Texas.
7. Impeachment of a governor begins in the Texas Senate.
8. The governor makes approximately 3,000 appointments to various state posts during a single term in office.
9. The Secretary of State in Texas works with organizations to increase the number of registered voters.
10. Only the Comptroller of Public Accounts has the ability to submit a budget to the legislature.
11. The Texas governor has strong powers for granting clemency.
12. The structure of the Texas executive branch is centralized, with much formal authority allocated to the governor.
13. Texas has a plural executive, meaning that the governor has the ability to appoint many different people to fill executive positions.
14. The attorney general in Texas focuses primarily on criminal matters.
15. In Texas, the lieutenant governor is also the president of the Senate and may cast a vote to break a tie.
16. The attorney general’s office offers advisory opinions to state agencies concerning the legality of actions.
17. The comptroller of public accounts directs the collection of taxes for the state of Texas.
18. The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission has mandated that no government official may serve in any single office for more than twelve years.
1. Describe the most important formal powers of the Texas governor under the state constitution. How do these powers reflect a commitment to the principle of checks and balances?
2. The office of Texas governor is one of the weakest offices in the nation. Why is this the case? What are some of the limitations that the Texas Constitution places on the governor? What are some of the informal powers the governor may use to bolster the power of the office?
3. Explain the legislative powers of the Texas governor. How can the special session be a powerful tool for the governor?
4. What are the key duties of the Texas secretary of state? Why is it an important position?
5. What is the plural executive? Describe the offices that constitute the plural executive in Texas. How does the plural executive compare with the executive branch of government under the U.S. Constitution? What are the political principles behind the creation of the plural executive?
6. Why is Texas’s lieutenant governor arguably considered the most powerful politician in the state?
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Test Bank | Governing Texas 4e by Anthony Champagne
By Anthony Champagne