Chapter 8 Inquizitive Texas Government

Once a special session of the legislature has been called, who determines the agenda?

the governor

Most of the work of the Texas attorney general involves - rather than -.

civil law, criminal law

How long is the governor's term in office, and how many terms are allowed?

four years per term, with no limit on the number of terms

The governor of Texas serves a --year term. Because of a 1972 constitutional amendment, the governor is - in the number of terms he or she can serve.

four, not limited

The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) is nonpartisan.

False

Study the infographic below, and determine which of the following statements are accurate.

Correct: - Wendy Davis beat Greg Abbott in counties along the Texas-Mexico border. - Greg Abbott overwhelmingly beat Wendy Davis. Incorrect: - Wendy Davis beat Greg Abbott in her home town of Fort Worth. - Wendy Davis beat Greg Abbott in small and rural counties.

Which of the following are the formal requirements necessary to become Texas governor?

Correct: - at least 30 years of age - U.S. citizen - resident of Texas Incorrect: - prior legislative experience

There are many different types of veto the governor of Texas can use. Match the following types of veto to their uses.

Line-item veto: - the governor's power to strike specific parts of appropriations bills Veto: - the governor's power to turn down legislation Post-adjournment veto: - a veto of a bill when the legislature is not in session

The governor can directly grant a pardon.

False

The land commissioner is responsible for the administration of animal quarantine laws, inspection of food, and enforcement of disease- and pest-control programs.

False

Match the following characteristics to the correct type of state agency.`

Multimember appointed boards: - In most cases, the governor selects their members. - The Senate confirms their members. Multimember elected boards: - These include the Railroad Commission of Texas and the State Board of Education. - Voters select their members.

Match the following characteristics to the correct type of state agency.

Multimember elected boards: - Voters select their members. - These include the Railroad Commission of Texas and the State Board of Education. Multimember appointed boards: - In most cases, the governor selects their members. - The Senate confirms their members.

Which commission is in charge of making recommendations as to the alterations, termination, and continuation of other boards, commissions, and agencies?

Sunset Advisory Commission

Who sets the governor's salary?

Texas legislature

Which elected state official is in charge of managing most of the publicly owned land in Texas?

land commissioner

Which office is the second highest elected office in Texas, whose duties include acting as president of the state Senate?

lieutenant governor

Who is the chief record keeper and election official for the state of Texas?

secretary of state

What is the Texas Senate's role in appointments made by the governor?

Correct: - The Texas Senate confirms the governor's nominees. - The governor gets the input of a nominee's home-district senator. - The Texas Senate can remove nominees from office. Incorrect: - The senate can block appointees before they take off

Which of the following statements about the governor's appointive powers are accurate?

Correct: - Appointive powers allow the governor to influence agencies in the Texas government. - Appointive powers offer the governor significant patronage opportunities. Incorrect: - All appointment powers in Texas are the responsibility of the governor or lieutenant governor. - The power of appointment is one of the governor's least significant executive powers.

Watch the animation on the powers of different state governors and determine which factors help make the office of governor powerful.

Correct: - Power to reorganize state government - line-item veto - Budget-making power Incorrect: - Term limits

Analyze the following infographic closely, and determine which statements are accurate.

Correct: - The Texas governor's powers are less centralized than those of the governor of California. - The Texas governor has the weakest appointive powers. Incorrect: - Like the governor of New York, the governor of Texas has the power to reorganize state government. - Compared with other states, the Texas governor has more control over the budget.

Which of the following statements are true about the executive budget?

Correct: - The executive budget indicates the governor's priorities. - The executive budget suggests a plan for revenue and expenditure. - The executive budget is prepared by the governor and his or her staff. Incorrect: - The executive budget is preferred over the legislative budget.

Which of the following statements about the Texas governor's military and police power are accurate?

Correct: - The governor appoints members to the Public Safety Commission. - Only the governor can declare martial law. - The governor can use informal powers and the prestige of the office to compel law enforcement action. Incorrect: - The governor has control over local law enforcement.

Which of the following are arguments made against the plural executive?

Correct: - The plural executive can lead to a counterproductive relationship among members of the executive branch. - The plural executive is often ineffective. Incorrect: - The plural executive is too strong. - The plural executive helps guard against abuses of power.

Which of the following are arguments made in support of the plural executive?

Correct: - The plural executive is more democratic than are other arrangements. - The plural executive protects against abuses of power by elected officials. Incorrect: - The plural executive helps the governor efficiently implement his or her agenda.

Watch the animation of the 2014 governor's race and determine which of the following statements are accurate.

Correct: - Wendy Davis' strongest support was found in urban areas and the border region - Greg Abbott's strongest support was found in rural areas and small towns Incorrect: - Greg Abbott was badly beaten in Texas' urban areas.

Which of the following statements about the plural executive are accurate?

Correct: - With one exception, members of the plural executive are independently elected. Incorrect: - The secretary of the state is not part of the plural executive. - The secretary of state is elected independently of the governor. - Members of the plural executive are always of the same political party.

The Texas attorney general is mostly involved in civil law matters. In which of the following ways does the attorney general's office become involved with criminal cases?

Correct: - appointing special prosecutors - representing criminal cases in federal courts Incorrect: - issuing an opinion on a state agency's lawsuit - collecting child support

Which of the following are the responsibilities of the comptroller of public accounts?

Correct: - certifying the approximate biennial revenue of the state - directing the collection of taxes - ensuring the safety of the state's money Incorrect: - awarding oil and gas exploration rights

Which of the following are offices of the plural executive?

Correct: - lieutenant governor - attorney general - secretary of state - commissioner of the General Land Office - commissioner of agriculture - governor - comptroller of public accounts Incorrect: - Speaker of the House

What are the duties of the governor's staff?

Correct: - recommending political appointees - scheduling the governor's time - keeping track of bills in the legislature Incorrect: - vetoing bills - act as the acting governor when the governor is out of state

Compared to the president of the United States and other state governors, the governor of Texas has less power. Which of the following are reasons for why the governor of Texas has less power than the U.S. president and governors of other states?

Correct: - the Constitution of 1876 - the plural executive - limited power of appointment Incorrect: - the Constitution of 1869 - lawsuits brought by Texas lieutenant governors that weakened the power of the office

Which of the following are legislative powers of the governor's office?

Correct: - the power of veto - the power of messaging - the power to call a special session Incorrect: - the power to impeach legislators accused of wrongdoing

Gubernatorial candidates must win their party's primary election in -. They then continue campaigning until the - general election.

March, November

The Legislative Budget Board's budget receives more consideration by the House and Senate than does the governor's executive budget.

True

According to the Texas Constitution, when must the governor make a State of the State message?

at the beginning of each legislative session