Gov exam 2 quiz questions
The Consumer Protection Division is housed in the __________.
Correct Answer attorney general's office
Texas has more than __________ non-education employees.
Correct Answer: 145,000
When did the Republican Party take control of both Texas's governorship and its legislature for the first time since Reconstruction?
Correct Answer: 2002
In Texas, __________ top executive officials are elected independently of the governor.
Correct Answer: 5
Which statement best describes the governor's appointment powers?
Correct Answer: A governor can remove his appointees with approval of two-thirds of the senate.
Which of the following Texas governors had the most ethnically diverse group of appointees?
Correct Answer: Ann Richards
Which committee is the only one exempted from the rules governing membership appointments?
Correct Answer: Appropriations
Which parliamentary tradition influenced the establishment of the Texas legislative process?
Correct Answer: British
Which of the following countries did Governor Abbott visit, to the consternation of fellow Republicans?
Correct Answer: Cuba
As of 2019, which of the following statements best characterizes committee chairs in the Texas Legislature?
Correct Answer: Democrats have a strong presence in house chair positions but less so in the senate.
Which reconstructionist Texas governor was deemed too powerful and is largely responsible for the current weak law enforcement powers of the office?
Correct Answer: E. J. Davis
Jim, a Republican from Marble Falls, recently won the Texas governorship by narrowly defeating the incumbent, a Democrat from El Paso. What will be the biggest constraint on Jim's appointment powers at the beginning of his term?
Correct Answer: For at least the first two years, he will deal with Democratic appointees serving overlapping terms.
Governor _________ is known for having integrated himself/herself into the legislative process.
Correct Answer: George W. Bush
Which modern Texas governor would be most likely to meet frequently with members of the legislative branch, inviting them to lunch and encouraging a nonpartisan atmosphere?
Correct Answer: George W. Bush
Which of the following Texas governors allowed the largest number of bills to become law without his or her signature?
Correct Answer: Greg Abbott
Why is the committee system a key logistical piece of the legislative process?
Correct Answer: It provides a system to navigate the thousands of proposed bills each legislative session.
Which of the following statements best characterizes the usage of the gubernatorial special session since 1991?
Correct Answer: It was not used through 2001 but then became more popular.
Which of the following people narrowly won the nomination and reelection as Texas attorney general in 2018?
Correct Answer: Ken Paxton
How are members of house committees determined?
Correct Answer: Membership on committees is determined by seniority and the speaker.
With which of the following countries does Texas enjoy a special relationship?
Correct Answer: Mexico
Which of the following Texas governors introduced graft into the pardoning process, resulting in the removal of significant clemency powers from the governor?
Correct Answer: Miriam Ferguson
Which of the following statements best characterizes public knowledge of the plural executive system in Texas politics?
Correct Answer: Most citizens are not aware of the identity of many offices nor realize the talents needed to perform these jobs well.
Frank is upset that his local school board voted on a measure without public deliberation. He has asked the school district about the transcripts of any deliberations trustees of the board undertook but has not received a reply. Where would Frank go to seek an order that makes the school district produce the transcripts?
Correct Answer: Office of the Attorney General
Which statement best describes the Texas governor's use of the veto over the past 75 years?
Correct Answer: Only once has a governor's veto been overridden by the legislature.
Which of the following offices is responsible for ensuring that the Texas governor's policies are implemented?
Correct Answer: Policy Office
Why have Texas governors rarely invoked their clemency power in death penalty cases?
Correct Answer: Politicians running for re-election in Texas cannot afford to appear soft on crime.
Governor __________ ran for president in 2012.
Correct Answer: Rick Perry
Which governor was the first to establish an online presence?
Correct Answer: Rick Perry
__________ serves as an informal check on the Texas governor's appointment powers.
Correct Answer: Senatorial courtesy
As Geraldo was pumping gas one day, he noticed a seal on the pump from the agency that ensured the pumps were accurately measuring the dispensing of the gasoline. Which of the following agencies is responsible for weights and measurements?
Correct Answer: Texas Department of Agriculture
Which agency was established by statute?
Correct Answer: Texas Department of Agriculture
Which statement best describes the salary of the governor?
Correct Answer: The Texas governor is one of the highest paid governors in the nation.
How would the state of Texas ratify a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution?
Correct Answer: The Texas legislature would pass a joint resolution.
Which statement best describes the power of the governor to call a special session?
Correct Answer: The governor can call an unlimited number of special sessions.
Why does the governor have significant influence over the judiciary?
Correct Answer: The governor has the power to fill judicial vacancies at the district level and above.
Which of the following best describes the relationship between clemency power and the governor's office?
Correct Answer: The governor only has clemency power to issue a 30-day reprieve in death penalty cases.
How is the speaker of the house chosen?
Correct Answer: The members of the house choose the speaker.
Which Mexican president was angry that Texas executed a Mexican citizen?
Correct Answer: Vicente Fox
Which of the following is a factor in the strong trade relationship between Texas and Mexico?
Correct Answer: a free trade deal
How many appointees does the governor make to boards, commissions, and judicial vacancies?
Correct Answer: about 3,000
Texas's governor is considered the highest-ranking state military leader. The next in line of authority is the __________.
Correct Answer: adjutant general
Which of the following of Texas's elected executive officials is responsible for collecting child support payments?
Correct Answer: attorney general
Those members of the legislature who are appointed as committee chairs tend to __________.
Correct Answer: be loyal to the presiding officers of their committees
Which of the following reflects the informal power of the governor?
Correct Answer: building on the perception of the governor as the state leader
How can the comptroller help the state, with little or no additional effort, end up with considerably more federal financial support?
Correct Answer: by correctly filling out federal grant paperwork
The primary role of the executive branch of Texas government is to __________.
Correct Answer: carry out laws
Executive power is the power to __________.
Correct Answer: carry out the laws of the state
To kill a controversial bill that liberalizes gun regulations, several Democratic legislators line up to speak against a bill, one after the other, determined to delay by using their entire lot of time. What is this process called?
Correct Answer: chubbing
Jorge Sanchez just retired from the U.S. Army and is considered a Texas veteran. He wants to buy land and heard that there was a state loan program that helped veterans make such purchases. Which of the following agency heads oversees the board that would provide Jorge with the loan?
Correct Answer: commissioner of the General Land Office
Which of the following elected executives is responsible for the Permanent School Fund in Texas?
Correct Answer: commissioner of the General Land Office
Which agency generates economic data on Texas?
Correct Answer: comptroller of public accounts
The __________ is/are responsible for working out the differences in a bill.
Correct Answer: conference committee
The role of a __________ is to revise the differences between house and senate versions of a bill.
Correct Answer: conference committee
Most bills reach the governor's desk __________.
Correct Answer: during the end of the legislative session
A(n) _____ refers to a chain of command organized by rank and is one characteristic of bureaucracy.
Correct Answer: hierarchy
Several members from both the house and the senate are appointed to an education committee, scheduled to meet in between legislative sessions. Their job is to gather information and craft possible solutions to the problem of remote education during the COVID-19 pandemic. What type of committee is most likely being described?
Correct Answer: interim committee
Which of the following are elected officials who will not serve the following term, often because their successor has already been elected?
Correct Answer: lame ducks
Michael has high political aspirations and has set a goal of becoming the person in the state of Texas that exerts the most power over policy. Which political office should Michael set his sights on?
Correct Answer: lieutenant governor
Of the top elected officials in Texas, the office of __________ is viewed as the most powerful position in Texas.
Correct Answer: lieutenant governor
Frank is an alumnus of the University of Texas at Austin and has made a lot of money in the oil and gas industry. He always wanted to serve as a UT Board of Regent, a gubernatorial appointment. To improve his chances to receive the appointment, Frank can __________.
Correct Answer: make a significant campaign contribution to the candidate most likely to win the governor's race
The power of the governor to institute martial law in response to insurrection or natural disaster is based on the governor's constitutional __________ power.
Correct Answer: military
The framers of the Texas constitution envisioned that the governor would__________.
Correct Answer: not be involved in the day-to-day operations of the office
Which office collects business taxes in Texas?
Correct Answer: office of the comptroller of public accounts
Antonio has an assignment to report on five recent regulations instituted by any agency. From which agency can he obtain a publication of state regulations?
Correct Answer: secretary of state's office
Membership on senate committees is __________.
Correct Answer: set by the lieutenant governor
Which elected position did Ann Richards occupy before she became governor of Texas?
Correct Answer: state treasurer
In the Texas senate, what procedure must be used to get almost every bill to the floor?
Correct Answer: suspension of the rules
During economic hard times, governors have found it necessary to transfer or withhold funds from an agency. Whose approval must a governor obtain before this can happen?
Correct Answer: the Legislative Budget Board
After the 2021 power crisis, the Texas National Guard was deployed to perform welfare checks and assist citizens to get to heating centers. Who oversees their duties?
Correct Answer: the adjutant general
Marisol has recently been elected Texas governor, though she has limited experience in formulating or evaluating public policy initiatives. Who should she consult on how to get the most out of the legislative process, including when to bring proposals forward when they are most likely to pass?
Correct Answer: the governor's staff
If the governor of Texas decides to run for the United States presidency, who fills the vacated seat?
Correct Answer: the lieutenant governor
Most people who work in Texas government acquire their positions because of __________.
Correct Answer: the merit system
The lieutenant governor's salary is __________.
Correct Answer: the same as that of a member of the legislature
Which of the following is the most significant restriction on the military powers of the Texas governor?
Correct Answer: the significant military powers of the national government
The Legislative Budget Board is co-chaired by the lieutenant governor and __________.
Correct Answer: the speaker of the house
It is most difficult to amend a piece of legislation during __________.
Correct Answer: the third reading
About half of the gubernatorial aide staff works directly for the governor; the other half works for_____ offices such as the Texas Film Commission and the Texas Enterprise Fund.
Correct Answer: trusteed
The budget cycle for Texas covers a _________-year cycle.
Correct Answer: two
The powers of the Texas governor are __________.
Correct Answer: weak compared to the powers of other state governors
If a governor does not sign or veto a bill within 10 days of receiving it, the bill __________.
Correct Answer: will become law if the 10 days fall within the session or will become law after an additional 20 days if the bill was received by the governor within the last 10 days of the session
Most candidates for attorney general run for office promising to be tough on crime. Why does that misrepresent the true nature of the office?
Correct Answer: The state's chief litigant has little to do with criminal prosecutions.
Which of the following executive officials is not elected by voters?
Correct Answer: secretary of state
Kevin is 29 years old and has resided (and been registered to vote) in Texas for ten years. He is a U.S. citizen. At the current time, could he run for governor of Texas?
Correct Answer: No, he doesn't meet the age requirements.
Why is redistricting one of the most political endeavors in the Texas legislature?
correct answer: District lines can be drawn to advantage one party over another.
How many times may the governor call a special session?
correct answer: as often as necessary
After a Census, Republicans are the majority party of both houses of the Texas legislature. To ensure that they keep their majority status after the next election cycle, they should __________.
correct answer: first, do partisan gerrymandering to give their party an advantage in all districts, and, second, protect their incumbents
The lieutenant governor's power is primarily due to __________.
correct answer: his or her leadership role in the senate
What is the primary consideration when redrawing district lines?
correct answer: one person, one vote
The terms of office for members of the Texas legislature is __________.
correct answer: two years for house members and four years for members of the senate
You are a lobbyist for an interest group, and you are asked to get a bill passed within a 10-year period. How many sessions of the Texas legislature will occur in that ten-year period?
correct answer: 5 sessions
George is 25 years old and wants to become a legislator. Under the Texas constitution, __________.
correct answer: George can run for the house based on his age and must have lived in his district for one year
Which statement best describes the salary of a Texas legislator?
correct answer: Legislators earn a salary of $7,200 per year.
Which statement best describes who can serve as a member of the legislature?
correct answer: Many members of the legislature are well off and don't need the legislative salary or work for a business that will continue to pay their salary while they are away on state business.
Andres wants to run for the open house seat in his area. He is 20 years old, is a U.S. citizen, has lived in his district for 3 years, and is a registered voter. As of today, could he run?
correct answer: No, he can't because he does not meet the age requirement.
Which statement best explains why the Texas legislature redraws district lines every 10 years?
correct answer: Redistricting is required by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Assume that the legislature is not going to have enough time to pass an important bill before the end of a session. Which of the following is one way of ensuring that a bill does get passed?
correct answer: The governor calls the legislature into special session with instructions to pass the bill.
Which statement best describes the redrawing of district lines for the Texas legislature?
correct answer: The house draws the lines for house districts, and the senate draws the lines for senate districts.
Which statement best explains why so few bills are passed during a legislative session?
correct answer: The legislative sessions are limited in time.
How are lieutenant governors able to steer the nature of the discussion over bills being debated in the Texas Senate?
correct answer: They are responsible for recognizing senators during the debate.
Which of the following is the most important function of the legislature?
correct answer: creating a budget