GOVT unit 5
The power to impeach the governor is held by the __
Texas House of Representatives
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Texas agency that runs state parks and regulates hunting, fishing, and boating
What source gives Texas' governor his/her power?
The Texas Constitution
Which of the following indicates that the Texas governor's power may be weak?
The Texas governor does not have the power to appoint a cabinet
What is the governor's annual salary?
$150,000
What is the annual salary of the governor of Texas for fiscal years 2016-2017?
$153,750
Powers of the Texas governor
-state's commander-in-chief -can grant on 30-day stay of execution per prisoner -has the power to instate martial law
After the legislature adjourns, how long does the governor have to veto pending bills and concurrent resolutions?
20 days
What is the age prerequisite for becoming governor?
30
Proclamation
a governor's official public announcement (such as calling a special election or declaring a disaster area)
Pork-barrel politics
a legislator's tactic to obtain funding for a pet project, usually designed to be of special benefit for the legislator's district
State Board of Education SBOE
a popularly elected 15-member body with limited authority over Texas's K-12 education system
Railroad Commission of Texas RRC
a popularly elected three-member commission primarily engaged in regulating natural gas and petroleum production
Legislative power
a power of the governor exercised through messages delivered to the Texas legislature, vetoes of bills and concurrent resolutions, and calls for special legislative sessions
Texas Workforce Commission TWC
a state agency headed by three salaried commissioners that oversees job training and unemployment compensation programs
Which Texas governor appointed the highest percentage of African Americans?
Ann Richards
Public Utility Commission of Texas PUC
a three-member appointed body with regulatory power over electric and telephone companies
Line-item veto
action by the governor to eliminate an individual budget item while permitting enactment of other parts of an appropriation bill
Texas Education Agency TEA
administers the state's public school system of more than 1,200 school districts and charter schools
Reprieve
an act of executive clemency that temporarily suspends execution of a sentence
Full pardon
an act of executive clemency, on recommendation of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, that releases a convicted person from all consequences of a criminal act and restores the same rights enjoyed by others who have not been convicted of a crime
How does the lieutenant governor obtain the office?
He or she is elected by the people of Texas in a state-wide election
Military/Police gubernatorial action
In response to a catastrophic hurricane, the governor mobilizes the Texas State Guard to perform relief and rescue operations.
Conditional pardon
an act of executive clemency, on recommendation of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, that releases a convicted person from the consequences of his or her crime but does not restore all rights, as in the case of a full pardon
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
an agency that provides some coordination for the state's public community colleges and universities
Recess appointment
an appointment made by the governor when the Texas legislature is not in session
Comptroller of Public Accounts
an elected constitutional officer responsible for collecting taxes, keeping accounts, estimating revenue, and serving as treasurer for the state
Executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission
appointed by the governor with Senate approval, the executive commissioner administers the HHSC, develops policies, and makes rules
Commissioner of insurance
appointed by the governor, the commissioner heads the Texas Department of Insurance, which is responsible for ensuring the industry's financial soundness, protecting policyholders, and overseeing insurance rates
The Texas governor's ___ allows him or her to nominate friends and political supporters for political positions.
appointive power
Commissioner of the General Land Office
as head of Texas's General Land Office, this elected constitutional officer oversees the state's extensive landholdings and related mineral interests, especially oil and gas leasing, for the benefit of the Permanent School Fund
Clemency
On recommendation of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, the governor pardons a woman convicted of killing her husband after years of domestic violence.
Which Texas governor appointed the highest number of white males?
Rick Perry
When the governor delivers a State of the State address at the commencement of each regular session of the legislature, he or she is using___ to promote a harmonious relationship with the legislature.
message power
Executive authority in the state of Texas is divided among ___
multiple independently elected offices
Commutation of sentence
on the recommendation of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, the reduction of a sentence by the governor
The governor of Texas is inaugurated
on the third Tuesday in January of every fourth year
How many 30-day reprieves is the governor of Texas allowed to grant independently in a death sentence case?
one
Lieutenant Governor
popularly elected constitutional official who serves as president of the Senate and is first in the line of succession if the office of governor becomes vacant before the end of a term
Don is governor of Texas, and he decides to strike a bargain with a senator in which he promises not to deny funding for the senator's pet project. In return, the senator agrees to support a bill Don favors. This scenario is an example of
pork-barrel politics
Bureaucrats
public employees
The governor of Texas can only grant a full pardon or a conditional pardon for convicted criminals if it is
recommended by the Board of Pardons and Paroles
The Railroad Commission of Texas is responsible for
regulating the oil and gas industry
Postadjournment veto
rejection by the governor of a pending bill or concurrent resolution during the 20 days after a legislative session ends
The governor may call the legislature into one of these, limited to thirty days, as often as he or she chooses to do so
special session
Parole
supervised release from prison before completion of a sentence, on condition of good behavior
Martial Law
temporary rule by military authorities when civil authorities are unable to handle a riot or other civil disorder
Governor's Office
the administrative organization through which the governor of Texas makes appointments, prepares a biennial budget recommendation, administers federal and state grants for crime prevention and law enforcement, and confers full and conditional pardons on recommendation of the Board of Pardons and Paroles
Appointive power
the authority to name a person to a government office -most gubernatorial appointments require Senate approval by two-thirds of the members present
Which executive official's duties include awarding oil, gas, and sulfur leases for lands owned by the state?
the commissioner of the General Land Office
Who is the state's chief accounting officer and tax collector?
the comptroller of public accounts
Attorney general
the constitutional official elected to head the Office of the Attorney General, which represents the state government in lawsuits and provides legal advice to state and local officials
Commissioner of agriculture
the elected official, whose position is created by statute, who heads Texas's Department of Agriculture, which promotes the sale of agricultural commodities and regulates pesticides, aquaculture, egg quality, weights and measures, and grain warehouses
Which of the following is a weaknesses of the office of governor in the State of Texas?
the fact that the majority of the plural executive is elected and not appointed
With more than 4,000 employees, the Office of the ____ gives advice concerning the constitutionality of many pending bills.
attorney general
Veto power
authority of the governor to reject a bill or concurrent resolution passed by the legislature
Removal power
authority to remove an official from office. In Texas, the governor's removal power is limited to staff members, some agency heads, and his or her appointees with the consent of the Senate
Contingency rider
authorization for spending state money to finance provisions of a bill if the bill becomes law
What is one way the legislature limits the governor's control over the state bureaucracy?
by limiting to governor's independent removal power
Who is primarily responsible for law enforcement in the state of Texas?
city police departments and county sheriffs' departments
Under a ___ the governor may withhold certain rights, such as being licensed to practice a selected occupation or profession.
conditional pardon
Sunset review process
during a cycle of 12 years, each state agency is studied at least once to see if it is needed and efficient, and then the legislature decides whether to abolish, merge, reorganize, or retain that agency
The text describes which of the following as an important source of support for governors, particularly when it comes to influencing public opinion?
family members
Article 4, Section 7 of the Texas constitution states that the ___ is the Commander-in-Chief of the state's military forces.
governor
Texas law grants the power to veto an item selectively from the state budget to this elected official
governor
Executive order
governor issues executive orders to set policy within the executive branch and to create task forces, councils, and other bodies
When a state judge dies, resigns, or is removed from office, the vacancy is filled through
gubernatorial appointment
Texas Department of Transportation TxDOT
headed by a five-member appointed commission, the department maintains almost 80,000 miles of roads and highways and promotes highway safety
Patronage system
hiring friends and supporters of elected officials as government employees without regard to their abilities
Merit system
hiring, promoting, and firing on the basis of objective criteria, such as tests, degrees, experience, and performance
What is the only constitutionally prescribed method of forcing a Texas governor from office before the end of a term?
impeachment by the House of Representatives and conviction by the Senate
Governor Rick Perry recognized and made full use of social media to connect with constituents, including providing links to podcasts of his speeches and to flattering news stories. Governor Perry was using social media to enhance his
informal powers
Budgetary power
the governor is supposed to submit a state budget to the legislature at the beginning of each regular session -when an appropriation bill is enacted by the legislature and certified by the comptroller of public accounts, the governor may veto the whole document or individual items
Budget
the governor uses the line item veto to slash state spending by more than $200 million
Message power
the governor's effectiveness in communicating with legislators via the State of the State address at the commencement of a legislative session and other gubernatorial messages delivered in person or in writing
Where does the Texas governor's principal control over state spending come from?
the governor's power to veto an entire appropriations bill
Plural executive
the governor, elected department heads, and the secretary of state, as provided by the Texas Constitution and statutes
Governors in Texas often wait until this happens before vetoing legislation, as doing so leaves little possibility of an override
the legislature adjourns
What restriction is placed on the Texas governor's special session power?
the length of a special session is limited to 30 days
Should a governor die, resign, or be removed from office, or should a governor-elect refuse to take office or be permanently unable to fill the office, who would be the first to succeed him or her?
the lieutenant governor
Commissioner of education
the official who heads the TEA
Which power does the Texas Governor have?
the power to call the legislature into special session and specify the subject matter of that session
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality TCEQ
the state agency that coordinates Texas's environmental regulation efforts
Secretary of State
the state's chief elections officer, with other administrative duties, who is appointed by the governor for a term concurrent with that of the governor
How does the secretary of state of Texas obtain the office?
He or she is appointed by the governor
Which of the following would be a military power of the governor?
Declaring an area under martial law
Message Power
The constitutionally required State of the State address provides the governor of Texas with an opportunity to use this
Appointment
The governor selects an old friend to serve on a prestigious board.
Which action represents a function within the authority of the Texas Comptroller?
Use of discretion by Comptroller, in the distribution of grant requests made to his/her office
Who became the first Republican governor in Texas since E. J. Davis?
William P. Clements Jr. "Bill"
In order to serve as governor of Texas, one must be ___
a U.S. citizen
