Chapter 8

The governor of Texas currently serves a two-year term in office. True False

False

Impeachment of a governor begins in the Texas House of Representatives. True False

True

In Texas, if a sitting governor is unable to hold office due to impeachment and conviction, resignation, or death, who becomes governor? a. the comptroller of public accounts b. the secretary of state c. the lieutenant governor d. the Speaker of the state House of Representatives e. a temporary replacement appointed by the lieutenant governor

c. the lieutenant governor

The chief lawyer for Texas is the a. state comptroller. b. secretary of state. c. chief justice of the state supreme court. d. lieutenant governor. e. attorney general.

e. attorney general.

Both the lieutenant governor and the secretary of state in Texas have the authority to call a special session of the legislature. True False

False

The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission has mandated that no government official may serve in any single office for more than 12 years: True False

False

The Texas governor has strong powers for granting clemency. True False

False

The governor makes approximately 3,000 appointments to executive boards and commissions during a single term in office. True False

True

Authority over railroads throughout Texas was given to the ________ in 2005. a. Texas Department of Transportation b. attorney general c. Railroad Commission of Texas d. General Land Office e. lieutenant governor

a. Texas Department of Transportation

Which of the following is NOT a qualification a person would need to be a viable candidate for governor of Texas? a. access to money b. born in Texas c. 30 years of age d. prior political experience e. U.S. citizenship

b. born in Texas

The attorney general in Texas is responsible for overseeing the registration of voters. True False

False

The governor has the ability to declare martial law in Texas. True False

True

In Texas, the lieutenant governor is also the president of the Senate and may cast a vote to break a tie. True False

True

Texas has a plural executive made up of multiple popularly elected offices. True False

True

Why did the Texas Constitution establish a plural executive? a. There was suspicion of a strong chief executive. b. Texas was following the structure of the federal executive. c. It is necessary to provide an important check on the state legislature. d. It was necessary in order for the executive branch to be as dominant as possible. e. The complications of running a state as large as Texas necessitate a plural executive.

a. There was suspicion of a strong chief executive.

In Texas, which officer in the plural executive is NOT elected by voters? a. the secretary of state b. the commissioner of agriculture c. the lieutenant governor d. the comptroller e. the attorney general

a. the secretary of state

Which of the following about the lieutenant governor in Texas is INCORRECT? a. The lieutenant governor is first in line for succession of the governor. b. The lieutenant governor's powers are primarily executive, not legislative. c. The lieutenant governor is elected in a statewide election. d. The lieutenant governor presides over the Senate. e. The lieutenant governor is chair of the Legislative Budget Board.

b. The lieutenant governor's powers are primarily executive, not legislative.

Governors can be quite powerful in spite of weaknesses of the office by doing all of the following EXCEPT a. mobilizing interest groups and editorial boards of newspapers. b. filing legislative bills at the beginning of every legislative session. c. calling special sessions of the legislature. d. pardoning criminals and permitting fugitives to be extradited to other states. e. appointing people to the state governing boards and commissions.

b. filing legislative bills at the beginning of every legislative session.

What makes the greatest difference between strong and weak governors of Texas? a. the frequency of vetoes b. the differences in personality c. the percentage of the total vote they receive in their election bids d. the willingness to use formal powers e. the partisan makeup of the legislature

b. the differences in personality

What is the primary task of the Texas secretary of state?: a. to collect child-support payments b. to handle elections and voter registration c. to coordinate and plan projects in conjunction with the federal government d. to oversee the state's foreign, economic, and diplomatic policy e. to oversee the state's economic interactions with other states

b. to handle elections and voter registration

In Texas, the plural executive is held accountable through all of the following EXCEPT a. elections. b. the budgetary process. c. appointment by the governor. d. the Sunset review. e. the impeachment process.

c. appointment by the governor.

The Texas governor has all of the following legislative powers EXCEPT the power to a. address the legislature in State of the State speeches. b. lobby the legislature on important bills. c. break tie votes in the Senate. d. sign and veto bills. e. call special sessions.

c. break tie votes in the Senate.

In Texas, why are gubernatorial elections held in off-years? a. so that voters will not become overwhelmed by too many candidates in one year b. so that candidates cannot run for governor and a federal office at the same time c. so that presidential elections will not be influenced by the gubernatorial election d. so that gubernatorial elections will not be influenced by a presidential election e. because Texas happened to become part of the United States during an off-year

d. so that gubernatorial elections will not be influenced by a presidential election

The governor of Texas has a. the power to appoint all state judges. b. an average amount of power compared to governors of other states. c. strong formal powers granted by the Texas Constitution. d. the power to appoint all officials in the executive branch. e. few formal powers, so the office is one of the weakest chief executives in the United States.

e. few formal powers, so the office is one of the weakest chief executives in the United States.

The governor has some control over the final appropriations bill through the use of the ________ veto. a. reduction b. amendatory c. post adjournment d. pocket e. line-item

e. line-item