TX Executive & Governor’s Office Test Bank Answers Ch.4

Chapter 4

The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. Which of the following is NOT among the formal qualifications for the office of governor in Texas?

a. 30 years of age

b. registered voter

c. resident of the state for five years

d. U.S. citizenship

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Qualifications

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Which of the following informal qualifications for governor is nearly universal in Texas?

a. fraternal membership

b. military service

c. holding a law degree

d. having previously held elected office

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Qualifications

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Which of the following individuals would NOT be eligible to run for governor?
   1. A person who is not registered to vote
   2. A person who is only twenty-eight years of age
   3. A person who was born elsewhere but has become U.S. citizen
   4. A person who has only lived in Texas for seven years

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Qualifications

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. In 2014, ____________ was elected governor of Texas.

a. Greg Abbot

b. Wendy Davis

c. Rick Perry

d. Bill Clements

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Qualifications

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Since the end of World War II, Texas has had one female governor:

a. Lurleen Wallace.

b. Miriam Ferguson.

c. Wendy Davis.

d. Ann Richards.

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Qualifications

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

Map 4.1 – Women Governors

1. According to Map 4.1, which of the following states has NOT had a woman governor?
   1. Texas
   2. South Carolina
   3. Georgia
   4. New Hampshire

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Qualifications

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

Map 4.1 – Women Governors

1. According to Map 4.1, about how may states have had a woman governor at one point?
   1. More than half
   2. One third
   3. Almost all
   4. Less than half

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Qualifications

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Based on the informal qualifications for office, which of the following types of individuals would be most successful in a Texas gubernatorial race:
   1. A political outsider with no previous experience
   2. An African American
   3. A member of a wealthy family
   4. A woman

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Qualifications

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Which state pays its governor the highest salary?

a. Maine

b. Pennsylvania

c. Nevada

d. Texas

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Salary

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. The governor of Texas’s salary is ________ per year.

a. $70,000

b. $90,000

c. $150,000

d. $179,000

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Salary

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. If the office of governor is vacated, the order of succession is:
   1. Lieutenant governor, land commissioner, president pro tempore
   2. Attorney general, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house
   3. Lieutenant governor, president pro tempore, speaker of the house
   4. President pro tempore, land commissioner, attorney general

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Succession to Office and Acting Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. In states without a lieutenant governor, who is usually next in succession to the governor’s office?

a. the leader of the state senate

b. the vice governor

c. the leader of the state house of representatives

d. the chief justice of the state supreme court

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Succession to Office and Acting Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. The office of lieutenant governor is different from the office of the vice president in that

a. the office of lieutenant governor has a two-year term versus the vice president’s four-year term.

b. when governors leave their states, lieutenant governors become acting governors.

c. lieutenant governors are usually from the opposition party, whereas vice presidents are not.

d. lieutenant governors have powers nearly coequal with governors, whereas the vice presidents have few formal powers.

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Succession to Office and Acting Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. What former governor was President George H. W. Bush’s chief of staff?

a. John Connally

b. Richard Riley

c. Bruce Babbitt

d. John Sununu

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Postgubernatorial Office

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Prior to the election of George W. Bush to the presidency, when was the last time a Texas governor had gone on to higher elected office?

a. 1941

b. 1962

c. 1977

d. 1992

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Postgubernatorial Office

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Which of the following states does not have a process for impeachment?
   1. Texas
   2. Georgia
   3. Oregon
   4. California

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Postgubernatorial Office

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. In most instances, the adoption of articles of impeachment results in

a. the removal of an office holder.

b. a trial in the senate.

c. a trial in a judicial court.

d. a statewide recall vote.

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Removal from Office

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. The voters of Wisconsin voted to not recall Governor Walker in 2011 because they

a. felt the governor was doing a good job.

b. did not like the idea of using a recall to remove a governor.

c. were expecting the governor to be impeached later that same year.

d. did not want the state’s lieutenant governor to become governor.

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Removal from Office

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. A former governor would be most likely to hold which of the following jobs?
   1. U.S. Senator
   2. Secretary of Education
   3. Vice President of the U.S.
   4. Business executive

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Postgubernatorial Office

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. 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

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. The Texas governor gains strength from his or her ability to:
   1. Be continually reelected
   2. Appoint the other executive officers
   3. Remove individuals appointed by the previous governor
   4. Control the budget

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Texas is an example of a plural executive system because:
   1. There are two governors
   2. Power is divided among several elected officials
   3. The governor appoints the lieutenant governor
   4. The governor also presides over the State House of Representatives

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Most of the work of the attorney general involves ________ rather than ________.

a. civil law; criminal law

b. ceremonial functions; executive functions

c. judicial review; prosecution

d. criminal law; civil law

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Which office created in 1876 functions as the chief fiscal and revenue forecasting office and is responsible for investing state funds?

a. the Texas Department of Treasury

b. the comptroller of public accounts

c. the office of treasurer

d. the general accounting office

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Which executive-level office serves as chief counsel to the governor and state agencies?
   1. Attorney General
   2. Comptroller of Public Accounts
   3. Commissioner of the General Land Office
   4. Commissioner of Agriculture

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Which executive-level officer administers state-owned land and coastal lands?
   1. Attorney General
   2. Comptroller of Public Accounts
   3. Commissioner of the General Land Office
   4. Commissioner of Agriculture

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Which executive-level officer promotes agricultural products and production?
2. Attorney General
3. Comptroller of Public Accounts
4. Commissioner of the General Land Office
5. Commissioner of Agriculture

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Which executive-level officer collects taxes and invests state funds?
   1. Attorney General
   2. Comptroller of Public Accounts
   3. Commissioner of the General Land Office
   4. Commissioner of Agriculture

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. What tool is used to forecast state economic growth, keep track of business cycles, and generally provide information on the health of the economy of Texas?

a. SMU Business Index

b. Index of State Economic Momentum

c. Dow Jones Economic Sentiment Indicator

d. State of Texas Econometric Model

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. What office was created under the 1836 constitution to administer state-owned land?

a. Texas Bureau of Land Management

b. Texas Land Board

c. General Land Office

d. Texas Department of Agriculture

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. What is currently the Texas Railroad Commission’s primary function?

a. regulation of the oil and gas industry

b. safety oversight for rail, trucking, and river traffic

c. regulatory authority over terminals, wharves, and heavy industries

d. promoting rail and trucking while regulating the safety and environmental aspects of the industry

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Unlike most other statewide governing offices, what governing body has varied greatly in form and structure over the years?

a. Office of the Attorney General

b. State Board of Education

c. General Land Office

d. Texas Department of Agriculture

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Which of the following defines tenure of office?

a. the ability of elected officials to succeed themselves

b. the term length

c. the term limit

d. both the ability of elected officials to succeed themselves and the term length

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. How many states, including Texas, do not limit how long a person can serve as governor?
   1. 10
   2. 12
   3. 14
   4. 16

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Who was the first Texas governor to be elected to three consecutive four-year terms?

a. George W. Bush

b. Rick Perry

c. Bill Clements

d. Dolph Briscoe

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Which of the following best describes the effect the expansion of a governor’s ability to appoint and remove agency heads would have on executive authority?

a. It would diminish executive authority.

b. It would have little to no effect.

c. It would increase executive authority.

d. It would have a negative effect on executive authority.

Critical Thinking: Analysis

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. The chief record keeper and election official for the state of Texas is the

a. secretary of state.

b. state recorder.

c. supervisor of elections.

d. lieutenant governor.

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. In the process known as ________, the governor must clear his or her appointments with the state senator from the appointee’s home district.

a. political reciprocity

b. the “southern custom”

c. “good politics”

d. senatorial courtesy

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. The secretary of state publishes the ________, which is the source of official notices or rules, meetings, executive orders, and opinions of the attorney general that are required to be filed by state agencies.

a. Capitol Minutes

b. Executive Calendar

c. Texas Weekly Bulletin

d. Texas Register

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. The power of the Texas governor to remove government officials is

a. very strong.

b. moderately strong.

c. moderately weak.

d. very weak.

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. In Texas, the state budget is submitted by

a. the governor.

b. the Legislative Budget Board.

c. the senate budget committee.

d. the comptroller of public accounts.

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. The line-item veto

a. is a key power of the Texas governor.

b. was declared unconstitutional in the 1980s.

c. is possessed by only a small percentage of state governors.

d. applies to all bills except the budget.

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. The Texas legislature can override the governor’s general veto with a ______ vote in each house.

a. majority

b. three-fifths

c. two-thirds

d. three-fourths

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. The Texas legislature can override the governor’s line-item veto with a ______ vote in each house.

a. majority

b. three-fifths

c. two-thirds

d. three-fourths

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. In a large majority of the states, the legislature can override the governor’s veto with a ______ vote in each house.

a. majority

b. three-fifths

c. two-thirds

d. three-fourths

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. The largest expenditure of state funds is for

a. interest on the government debt.

b. infrastructure upkeep.

c. state buildings and vehicles.

d. personnel.

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Which state government sector has the largest number of employees?

a. business and economic development

b. public safety and criminal justice

c. health and human services

d. education

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. Why is it very difficult to hold a specific person in Texas government responsible for anything?

a. The state constitution shields all government employees from responsibility for public actions and policies.

b. Government is fragmented and policy responsibility is divided.

c. The media in Texas do a very poor job at investigating wrongdoing in government.

d. Most officials usually cite the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution and refuse to say anything that could incriminate them.

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. The Sunset Advisory Commission

a. is composed of members appointed by the governor.

b. reviews most state agencies every 12 years.

c. has yet to abolish a state agency.

d. was discontinued in the mid-1970s.

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Formal Powers of the Governor

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. By recommending policy initiatives to state legislators and coordinating with state agencies that administer programs and implement policies, the governor is demonstrating his or her role as

a. party leader.

b. intergovernmental coordinator.

c. chief legislator.

d. crisis manager.

Critical Thinking: Comprehension

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Informal Powers

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. In Texas the trend in recent years has been to expand the staff of the governor’s office. Who was the first Texas governor to use a professional staff of advisors?

a. George W. Bush

b. John Connally

c. Bill Clements

d. Dolph Briscoe

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 2

Text Answer Hint: Informal Powers

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. When a governor takes action to respond to a natural disaster in the state, he or she is fulfilling the role of:
   1. Intergovernmental coordinator
   2. Party chief
   3. Chief legislator
   4. Crisis manager

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Informal Powers

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. When a governor acts as head of his or her political party, he or she is fulfilling the role of:
   1. Intergovernmental coordinator
   2. Party chief
   3. Chief legislator
   4. Crisis manager

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Informal Powers

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. When a governor has an active policy agenda, he or she is fulfilling the role of:
   1. Intergovernmental coordinator
   2. Party chief
   3. Chief legislator
   4. Crisis manager

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Informal Powers

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

1. When a governor coordinates activities with other state government, he or she is fulfilling the role of:
   1. Intergovernmental coordinator
   2. Party chief
   3. Chief legislator
   4. Crisis manager

Critical Thinking: Knowledge

Difficulty: 1

Text Answer Hint: Informal Powers

Topic: The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

Texas LO-4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

ESSAY

1. What are the formal and informal qualifications for governor? Based on the informal qualifications, what groups of Texas citizens have been excluded from the governorship?
2. Do you think the informal qualifications for governor will be more or less important in the future? Explain.
3. Identify the six variables used to measure the formal powers of the office of governor.
4. How does the plural executive system function in Texas? In what ways does it diminish the power of the governor?
5. Explain how tenure is an important determinant of power. With this in mind, are you in favor of term limits for elected officials? Why or why not?
6. Define senatorial courtesy. How can senatorial courtesy be viewed in both a negative light and a positive light?
7. What are the key duties of the Texas secretary of state? Why is it an important position?
8. What are the budget and legislative powers of the Texas governor? Does this give the governor a strong position? Why or why not?
9. Explain how the office of the governor of Texas can be strong politically despite the fact that it is formally very weak.
10. What are the informal powers of the Texas governor?