TX GOVT Ch. 8

The chief lawyer for Texas is the a. Chief justice of the state supreme court. b. Attorney general. c. Secretary of state. d. State comptroller. e. Lieutenant governor.

b. Attorney general.

George W. Bush was the first Republican governor of Texas since Reconstruction. a. True b. False

b. False

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

b. False

When the Texas governor strikes out particular spending provisions in an appropriations bill, it is called a. A line-item veto. b. A post-adjournment veto. c. A pocket veto. d. An unconstitutional action. e. Budget reconciliation.

a. A line-item veto.

In Texas, what is the most important power of the state comptroller? a. Estimating tax revenues for the legislature b. Overseeing the state police and the Texas Rangers c. Enforcing all state land-use and takings laws d. Regulating the oil industry in the state e. Certifying election results in the state

a. Estimating tax revenues for the legislature

The ______ is the oldest state agency in Texas. a. General Land Office b. Texas Ranger Division c. Railroad Commission d. Department of Public Safety e. Agriculture of Commission

a. General Land Office

Which office is charged with ensuring the accuracy of official weights and measures? a. The Department of Agriculture b. The Department of Weights and Measures c. The attorney general d. The comptroller e. The General Land Office

a. The Department of Agriculture

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

a. The secretary of state

Which of the following is the best example of the Texas governor's military powers? a. The governor can declare martial law during a natural disaster. b. The governor can use federal troops stationed in camps within Texas. c. The governor receives a National Guard pension when he or she retires. d. The governor automatically posses the rand of general in the U.S. Armed Forces. e. The governor can call in federal troops to assist the state if the governor deems it necessary.

a. The governor can declare martial law during a natural disaster.

Which state office was eliminated in 1996? a. Attorney general b. Animal commissioner c. State treasurer d. Sheriff e. Roads and highways commissioner

c. State treasurer

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

a. True

The Texas governor has many formal powers, making him or her one of the United State's strongest chief executives. a. True b. False

b. False

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

b. False

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

b. False

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

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

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

b. The lieutenant governor

What is the Texas governor's greatest judicial power? a. The power to appoint judges to appeals courts, with the senate's consent b. The power to appoint judges to vacancies in the courts c. The power to restrict the types of cases the appeals courts may decide d. The power to remove judges e. The power to appoint all judges in the state

b. The power to appoint judges to vacancies in the courts

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

b. To handle elections and voter registration

Almost one-half of the attorney general's employees are involved in what government task? a. Enforcing civil rights laws b. Investigating complaints about local police behavior c. Collecting child-support payments d. Defending state laws in federal court e. Providing advisory opinions to state agencies

c. Collecting child-support payments

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. Sing and veto bills. c. Call special sessions. d. Break tie votes in the senate. e. Lobby the legislature on important bills.

d. Break tie votes in the senate.