Texas Government Exam IV
Which of the following statements about retention elections is correct?
A proposal for retention elections in the mid-1990s failed to pass
The Texas governor has all of the following legislative powers except the power to
Break tie vote in the senate
A large concern over transitioning to strict nonpartisan elections is that candidates owl deal with what problem?
Campaigning would require significantly higher amounts of money.
The attorney general in Texas is responsible for overseeing the registration of voters. True or False?
False
The structure of the Texas executive branch is centralized, with much formal authority allocated to the governor. True or False?
False
There are approximately twenty state boards and commissions within the Texas plural executive. True or False?
False
Currently, there are fifteen statutory probate court judges. True or False?
False; 18
The governor of Texas currently serves a two year term in Texas. True or False?
False; 4 year term
What is it called when a blue-ribbon committee selects judicial nominees who are then appointed by the governor and must finally run for retention in office?
Merit Selection
Often county courts in Texas have jurisdiction over which matters?
Probate cases, serious criminal misdemeanors, and civil cases where the amounts in dispute are relatively small, and appellate cases of municipal or justice of the peace courts.
All of the following have been a lieutenant governor of Texas except
Rodney Ellis
Authority over railroads throughout Texas was given to the ____ in 2005.
Texas Department of Transportation
Which judicial race is considered the most expensive, where candidates are likely to raise over $1 million?
Texas Supreme Court
Which office is charge with ensuring the accuracy of official weights and measures?
The Department of Agriculture
In Texas, if a sitting governor is unable to hold office due to impeachment and conviction, resignation, or death, who becomes governor?
The Lieutenant Governor
Which individual presides over the county courts?
The county judge
Which of the following is the best example of the Texas governor's military powers?
The governor can declare martial law during a natural disaster.
Which of the following is the best example of the Texas governor's exercise of senatorial courtesy?
The governor will not appoint someone to office unless that appointee's state senator agrees.
For a Texas governor, what is the benefit of a post-adjournment veto?
The legislature is prevented from overriding it.
Which of the following about the lieutenant governor in Texas is incorrect?
The lieutenant governor is elected in a statewide election.
In Texas, the lieutenant governor is also the president of the senate and may cast a vote to break a tie. True or False?
True
Judicial elections in Texas are nonpartisan.
True
Like the US Supreme Court, the Texas Supreme Court has nine justices, including one chief justice. True or False?
True
Texas Law restricts the amount of money a judicial candidate may receive from donors. True or False?
True
The US Supreme Court has ruled that the Voting Rights Act applies to state judicial elections. True or False?
True
The governor has the ability to declare martial law in Texas. True or False?
True
Who was the first Republican governor of Texas since Reconstruction and when was he or she elected?
William Clements, 1978
What is the Texas governor's greatest judicial power?
the power to appoint judges to vacancies in the courts
A common benefit in elections i s having a positive party label to support candidates through the elections and into victory. What is this benefit referred to as?
the top-of-the-ticket effect
According to the Texas Judicial Campaign Fairness Act, what dollar amount is a law firm limited to when donating in any statewide judicial candidate?
$30,000
Approximately how many justice of the peace courts exist in Texas?
800
A recent Texas poll found that _____ percent of judges felt that campaign contributions had at least some influence on judicial decisions.
86
The Department of Public Safety is responsible for all of the following except
Animal and insect control
The chief lawyer for Texas is the
Attorney General
What types of cases does the Texas Supreme Court hear?
Civil appeals
What was the argument brought forward int eh case of League of United Latin American Citizens v. Mattox in 1989?
Countywide election of judges in Texas diluted the strength of minority voters and violated the Voting Rights Act.
In Texas, tril lawyers tend to support
Democratic judicial candidates
In Texas, appellate court judges are elected, but the governor appoints trial judges to six-year terms. True or False?
False
In Texas, what is the primary effect of a plural executive?
It dilutes the power of the governor and fragments the executive branch.
Municipal courts in the Texas court system have jurisdiction over all of the following areas except
appeals
