Inquizitive exam 2
Texas governors serve four-year terms of office which are unlimited since a change to the state constitution in 1972.
Texas governors serve four-year terms of office which are unlimited since a change to the state constitution in 1972.
Which of the following is an example of the Sunset Advisory Commission promoting efficiency in government?
eliminating the office of Texas state treasurer
The governor can directly grant a pardon.
false
What is the first step a person can take if they want to begin to have an impact on what state legislators do?
identify who represents them and what they believe
Governor Greg Abbott largely owes his re-election as governor to which group of voters?
rural voters
In what way has Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick most significantly differed from his predecessors in the office of lieutenant governor?
party polarization
The appointment of legislators to committee chairmanships is most heavily influenced by which factor?
personal loyalty to the leader of the chamber
Match each characteristic of the Texas legislature with its best definition.
regular session: a 140-day period occurring only in odd-numbered years biennial: occurs every two years bicameral: composed of two chambers or houses special session: a 30-day legislative session focused on governor's agenda
The ____ members of the Texas legislature meet in regular session for ____ each odd-numbered year. In the 2019 legislative session, they successfully passed ____ of all proposed legislation.
181 140 calendar day less than 20 percent
Management and cleanup of pollution at public beaches in Galveston from the Deepwater Horizon accident in 2010 were the responsibility of the land commissioner, while the handling and quarantine of mysterious seeds that appeared in Texas mailboxes from China in 2020 were the responsibility of the agriculture commissioner.
Management and cleanup of pollution at public beaches in Galveston from the Deepwater Horizon accident in 2010 were the responsibility of the land commissioner, while the handling and quarantine of mysterious seeds that appeared in Texas mailboxes from China in 2020 were the responsibility of the agriculture commissioner.
Why can martial law be declared only in cases of uncontrolled rioting or disasters?
Martial law displaces the authority of local governments.
Suppose you were a critic of the plural executive model. Based on this infographic, which state seems to offer the best alternative?
New Jersey
Governors follow the practice of "senatorial courtesy" for which reason?
The practice allows the governor to accumulate goodwill with legislators by giving them influence over some of the governor's appointments
In studying a government that was established with a plural executive structure, a political scientist would likely assume what about the intentions of the creators of the government?
They were attempting to limit power by creating checks and balances
Which of the following is the best example of patronage?
using the appointment power to place ideological allies and donors in positions of influence
The governor of Texas can use the veto in various ways to reject acts by the legislature, and different types of vetoes have specific features. Label each description with the type of veto that it best and most closely describes.
veto rejection of legislation that can be overridden by a two thirds vote of the legislature line-item veto used on select portions of omnibus spending Bill's post-adjournment veto cannot be overridden by the legislature
Because the Railroad Commission and State Board of Education were not created by the Texas Constitution, their terms of office and size can be altered by passing a law, while changes affecting terms of office and other responsibilities in the plural executive would require constitutional amendment.
Because the Railroad Commission and State Board of Education were not created by the Texas Constitution, their terms of office and size can be altered by passing a law, while changes affecting terms of office and other responsibilities in the plural executive would require constitutional amendment.
After watching the behavior of Dan Patrick following his close re-election fight in 2018, a political observer might make which assumption about the impact of close elections on the leadership style of statewide officials who experienced unexpectedly close re-election battles?
Close election battles have. a moderating effect
Compared to the average of all states, the Texas governor is weaker. However, in comparison to the nation's most populous state, California, the Texas governor is stronger.
Compared to the average of all states, the Texas governor is weaker. However, in comparison to the nation's most populous state, California, the Texas governor is stronger.
Which of the following statements about the governor's appointive powers are accurate?
Correct Answer(s) Appointive powers offer the governor significant patronage opportunities. The governor's appointive powers allow for influence over agencies in the Texas government. Incorrect Answer(s) 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.
Study the following infographic on the 2018 governor's race, and then determine which of the following statements are accurate.
Correct Answer(s) Lupe Valdez's 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 Answer(s) Greg Abbott was badly beaten in Texas's urban areas.
Which of the following statements about the Texas governor's military and police power are accurate?
Correct Answer(s) Only the governor can declare martial law. The governor appoints members to the Public Safety Commission. The governor can use informal powers and the prestige of the office to compel law enforcement action. Incorrect Answer(s) The governor has control over local law enforcement.
Which of the following share in executive authority even though they are not technically part of the executive branch in the state constitution?
Correct Answer(s) Railroad Commission State Board of Education Incorrect Answer(s) lieutenant governor Speaker of the Texas House Department of Health and Human Services
Study the graph, and then decide which claims are accurate.
Correct Answer(s) Texas has a lower percentage of women in the legislature than the other states shown. Texas has a higher percentage of Latino representatives than any of the other states shown. Incorrect Answer(s) Texas has a higher percentage of African American representatives than any of the other states shown.
The following infographic shows which executive branch offices are elected by voters and which are appointed by the governor in six major states. Based on the information presented here, which of the following statements are accurate?
Correct Answer(s) Texas has the most elected members of the executive branch among these six states. In most of these states, the attorney general and comptroller are elected positions. Incorrect Answer(s) Large-population states rely more on appointed officials than on elected officials. Members of the California and Texas executive branches gain office through the exact same methods.
What are the roles of the Texas Senate in appointments made by the governor?
Correct Answer(s) The Texas Senate confirms the governor's nominees. The governor gets input from the nominee's senator prior to appointment. The Texas Senate can remove nominees from office. Incorrect Answer(s) The Senate can block appointees before they take office.
Study the following infographic on the educational levels and common occupations of members of the Texas legislature to determine which of the following statements are accurate.
Correct Answer(s) The majority of lawmakers have at least a college education. The majority of lawmakers are either lawyers or people with a business background. Incorrect Answer(s) The educational levels of lawmakers are pretty similar to the general education level of Texans.
Which of the following statements about the plural executive are accurate?
Correct Answer(s) With one exception, members of the plural executive are independently elected. The plural executive was created as a reaction to Reconstruction. Incorrect Answer(s) The secretary of state is elected independently of the governor. Members of the plural executive must always be of the same political party.
Select all of the following ways in which legislators can attempt to force negotiation on a bill by slowing down the legislative process.
Correct Answer(s) chubbing filibuster objecting to a local and consent bill Incorrect Answer(s) vetoing legislation amending legislation
Which of the following scenarios are good examples of constituent services?
Correct Answer(s) delivering the keynote address for the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet intervening with the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife to get an appointment for a constituent writing a letter of recommendation for entry into a state university introducing a special resolution to honor the service of a citizen in the district Incorrect Answer(s) steering state contracts to companies in their district
Which of the following are offices of the plural executive?
Correct Answer(s) governor lieutenant governor attorney general comptroller of public accounts commissioner of agriculture commissioner of the General Land Office secretary of state Incorrect Answer(s) Speaker of the House
What are the duties of the governor's staff?
Correct Answer(s) keeping track of bills in the legislature scheduling the governor's time recommending political appointees notifying the governor of potential issues Incorrect Answer(s) vetoing bills act as the acting governor when the governor is out of state
Which of the following are the two most critical responsibilities of the Texas secretary of state?
Correct Answer(s) maintaining official election night returns conducting voter registration drives Incorrect Answer(s) retaining campaign finance records of candidates in Texas conducting party primary elections
Which of the following does the line-item veto allow governors of Texas to do?
Correct Answer(s) reduce expenditures to punish agencies reduce expenditures for programs that are disfavored by the governor allows an opportunity for governors to make political statements Incorrect Answer(s) veto provisions of general bills
When running for office, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick relied on religious right conservatives and Tea Party-affiliated voters to win his primary election. How are his campaign promises reflected in the way he governs as the lieutenant governor?
Correct Answer(s) refusal to appoint Democratic committee chairs intense promotion of socially conservative legislation Incorrect Answer(s) cooperation with Republican House Speakers support of an increase in bipartisanship
Compared to the president of the United States and other state governors, the governor of Texas has less power. Which of the following create limitations on the governor of Texas that are not present on the president or other governors?
Correct Answer(s) the plural executive the Constitution of 1876 limited power of appointment Incorrect Answer(s) limitations placed in statute by the state legislature restrictions put in place by Congress
In what ways can a member of the public act as a lobbyist?
Correct Answer(s) writing letters or emails making phone calls scheduling a meeting Incorrect Answer(s) introducing legislation
Study the information in the following table on the results of the 2018 Texas governor's race to complete the following statement.
Democratic candidate Lupe Valdez was more successful in urban areas but badly beaten in rural areas. Republican incumbent Greg Abbott won overwhelmingly in rural areas and kept it pretty close in urban areas.
How does an increase in education level affect political participation?
Increase in education create significantly more political participation
The successful campaign of Republican candidate Bill Clements, who become Texas's governor in 1978, signaled what about Texas politics?
Republicans were becoming more competitive statewide
Starting in the 2015 legislative session, committee chair appointment decisions became more partisan. Lieutenant Governor Patrick ended his predecessor's practice of awarding committee chairs to Democrats in equal proportion to their numbers in the Senate.
Starting in the 2015 legislative session, committee chair appointment decisions became more partisan. Lieutenant Governor Patrick ended his predecessor's practice of awarding committee chairs to Democrats in equal proportion to their numbers in the Senate.
Match each step of the impeachment process with the entity that oversees it.
Texas Senate -two-thirds vote to convict and remove -considers evidence in trial Chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court -oversees trial of official Texas House of Representatives -approve articles of impeachment -investigation of official
The Texas Ethics Commission must recommend any changes to the salary or retirement benefits of the members of the state legislature, which must then be approved by the voters.
The Texas Ethics Commission must recommend any changes to the salary or retirement benefits of the members of the state legislature, which must then be approved by the voters.
Through appointments to the Public Safety Commission of Texas, the governor controls the priorities and policies of the Department of Public Safety, which oversees enforcement of significant portions of state transportation and the elite law enforcement and investigating officers, the Texas Rangers.
Through appointments to the Public Safety Commission of Texas, the governor controls the priorities and policies of the Department of Public Safety, which oversees enforcement of significant portions of state transportation and the elite law enforcement and investigating officers, the Texas Rangers.
Analyze the passage to answer the question below it. The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.—Article IV, Section 4, U.S. Constitution In this passage, the term Republican most likely has which of the following meanings?
a system in which individuals are elected to make decisions on behalf of constituents
In a state with a single executive structure, how do members of the executive branch such as the land commissioner, the agriculture commissioner, the secretary of state, and the comptroller get into office?
appointed by the governor
The Texas Constitution creates a republican form of government with a bicameral legislature made up of officials elected in November of even-numbered years to serve during regular legislative sessions that last for 140 calendar days.
bicameral November of even-numbered years 140
If allocation of resources is an indicator of the most important task an office performs, the single most important task of the Texas attorney general involves which of the following?
child support
A ____ is a temporary committee that has ten members, with five representatives appointed by the ____ and five senators appointed by the ____.
conference committee Speaker of the House lieutenant governor
If a review of a legislator's record shows that they sponsor over 400 bills during any given legislative session, it may be a sign that the legislator is engaged in what activity to help their chances for re-election?
credit claiming
The land commissioner is responsible for the administration of animal quarantine laws, inspection of food, and enforcement of disease- and pest-control programs.
false
Read the following excerpt from Governor Abbott's 2019 State of the State address and answer the question below. The primary goal of government is to keep its citizens safe and secure. That goal is even more important when it comes to our children. You will cast thousands of votes this session. Few will involve life or death decisions. Your vote on CPS is one of them. Last year, more than 100 children died in our Child Protective System. You can vote to end that. We can reform the system so that no more children die in it. We were right to inject emergency funding. But that's not a lasting solution. We need more workers, with better training, smarter strategies and real accountability to safeguard our children. —Governor Greg Abbott, 2019 State of the State Address This passage from Governor Abbott's address, in which he encourages legislators to reform the Texas Child Protective System, is an example of which political activity?
lobbying
While the ____ is normally a way to save time by fast-tracking noncontroversial bills, legislators may also use it to retaliate for perceived or real slights from other legislators by challenging bills that have been fast-tracked.
local and consent calendar
Which of the following is a result of having gubernatorial elections in off-years from presidential elections?
lower voter turnout
Match each characteristic to the correct type of state agency.
multimember appointed boards Correct label:In most cases, the governor selects their members. Correct label:The Senate confirms their members. Correct label:These are used to promote the ideological agenda of the governor. multimember elected boards Correct label:These include the Railroad Commission of Texas and the State Board of Education. Correct label:Voters select their members. Correct label:A separate voter base allows them to pursue different policy priorities.
Governor Greg Abbott altered many of his COVID-19 mandates in light of which of the following factors?
negative public opinion
Supporters of the plural executive structure make which argument in favor of it?
officials are more responsive to voters
The vast powers of the lieutenant governor's office derive from what source, other than the Texas Constitution?
rules of the texas senate
Based on your understanding of the functions of the bureaucratic agencies that take care of the business of state government, which of the following is the best definition of bureaucrats?
skilled professionals who carry out the daily tasks of implementing government policy
Read the excerpt, and answer the question below.Schools are not required to teach sexual education, but those that do must stress abstinence as the preferred choice for unmarried young people and spend more time on it than any other sexual behavior. Parents can opt their children out of any lesson they want.Source: Aliyya Swaby, "Texas Is Revising Its Sex Education Standards, but They'll Likely Remain Silent on LGBTQ Issues," Texas Tribune, September 8, 2020The policy decision described in the article excerpted above is the responsibility of which state institution?
state board of education
Why is the Texas legislature dependent on the state comptroller of public accounts?
the comptroller must verify funding for the legislative budget
A large portion of the revenues from grazing and drilling leases on public lands issued by the land commissioner go to fund which important programs?
the permanent school fund and the permanent university fund
What is an important consequence of partisan elections of members of the State Board of Education?
they encourage ideological battles in creating education policy
By creating a bicameral legislature, what outcome did the framers of the Texas Constitution hope to achieve?
to force compromise between competing ideas
The Texas Constitution sets the election of the governor in off-years from presidential elections for what purpose?
to limit the influence of presidential candidates
How many votes are needed in the Texas Senate to convict a governor under articles of impeachment?
two-thirds majority
____ Texans are overrepresented in both the House and the Senate. ____ Texans are somewhat underrepresented in the Senate but proportionately represented in the House. ____ Texans are underrepresented in both the House and the Senate.
white african american latino
