GOVT Exam 3
If the governor does not think that a piece of legislation that has been passed by both the House and Senate should become law, then he or she can _____ the legislation refuse to sign petition for reconsideration of do nothing to stop veto
veto
Members of the state board of education (SBOE) are elected in single-member districst. Therefore, there are the same number of members on the SBOES members of the Texas Senate only registered Democrats or Republicans can run for positions on the SBOE there will always be a balance between Democrats and Republicans on the SBOE voters in Texas have the ability to influence public education policy, such as high school graduation requirements and textbook adoptions
voters in Texas have the ability to influence public education policy, such as high school graduation requirements and textbook adoptions
In even numbered years, Texas representatives receive a salary of only _____ per year, not including a per diem $7,200 nothing $28,200 $12,000
$7,200
In 2018, approximately how many people work for the state bureaucracy in Texas? 152,000 297,000 325,000 410,000
325,000
While the governors term in office used to be two years, it was changed to ____ years with a constitutional amendment adopted in _____ 4; 2000 6; 1996 5; 1980 4; 1972
4; 1972
Each member of the Texas Senate represents about ____ people, while each member of the Texas house represents about ____ people 168,000; 811,000 811,000; 168,000 1,000,000; 100,000 350,000; 650,000
811,000; 168,000
If the legislature grants a particular corporation an exception from a state law its called a private resolution a special bill a filibuster logrolling
A special bill
Who was the first female governor of Texas Ann Richards Barbara Jordan Kay Bailey Hutchinson Miriam Ferguson
Miriam Ferguson
What is the purpose of the Sunset Advisory Commission in Texas? It administers state programs for the elderly It runs the Texas Chamber of Commerce oversees the retirement of state bureaucratic workers It reviews state agencies every twelve years to see if they are still needed
It reviews state agencies every twelve years to see if they are still needed
While bills must be introduced by a member of the legislature, ______ can write a bill. anyone only a member of the chamber where it is being introduced only special designated "authors" within each chamber any elected government official
anyone
The governor often uses his message power to support candidates for office from his or her political party to give instructions to members of the bureaucratic agencies to turn down legislation passed by the legislature to highlight important components of the executive budget
to turn down legislation passed by the legislature
Which type of districts are used in the Texas House and Senate? multiple-member districts districts that must be redistricted every four years districts based on proportional representation single-member districts
single-member districts
Which committee is a permanent committee that covers one particular subject area? joint conference standing select
standing
As the chief budget officer of Texas, the Governor submits an executive budget that outlines his or her spending priorities for the next biennium. the Treasurer is responsible for submitting an executive budget to the comptroller before the legislative session begins the Chief Accountant is responsible for submitting the executive budget to the governor and lieutenant governor for approval the Comptroller of Accounts submits an executive budget to the legislature that reflects spending limits that have been approved by the governor
the Governor submits an executive budget that outlines his or her spending priorities for the next biennium.
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 The Senate will use the governor's budget plan as its blueprint for the upcoming session The governor will address the full Senate at the beginning of each legislative session The governor will not veto a bill without first giving the bill's Senate sponsor an opportunity to amend it
The governor will not appoint someone to office unless that appointee's state senator agrees
Which actor is most powerful or influential with respect to the use and content of special sessions of the legislature? the lieutenant governor because special sessions are one of the powers granted to the lieutenant governor through the plural executive the Speaker of the House because all legislation must originate in the House even if the governor calls a special session the governor because only the governor can call a special session and he or she gets to set the agenda for the session as well the Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, who decides what is on the agenda for the special session and must approve calling special sessions
Which actor is most powerful or influential with respect to the use and content of special sessions of the legislature? The lieutenant governor because special sessions are one of the powers granted to the lieutenant governor through the plural executive The Speaker of the House because all legislation.must originate in the House even if the governor calls a special session The governor because only the governor can call a special session and he or she gets to set the agenda for the session as well The Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, who decides what is on the agenda for the special session and must approve calling special sessions
Impeachment is _____ and is an example of the Texas legislature's is _____ power a formal charge by the house of representatives that leads to a trial in the Senate that could result in the removal of an official from office; judicial a trial about only non-criminal misconduct in the house; litigation a tool used to express displeasure with an action by another branch of government; censure a tool used to investigate only criminal behavior by elected officials; investigative
a formal charge by the house of representatives that leads to a trial in the Senate that could result in the removal of an official from office; judicial
Special sessions of the legislature are called infrequently because they are expensive can only be called to deal with issues related to passing a budget are called frequently because the legislature is unable to complete all of his required businesses in the allotted 140 days of its regular sessions can only be called by a joint resolution passed by both the House and Senate
are called frequently because the legislature is unable to complete all of his required businesses in the allotted 140 days of its regular sessions
Constituent service can play an important role in being able to successfully pigeonhole a bill being able to successfully filibuster a bill creating a personal relationship between legislators and constituents, and gives legislators an advantage when running for reelection the speakers ability to make sure the members are assigned to committees that match their interest and skills
creating a personal relationship between legislators and constituents, and gives legislators an advantage when running for reelection
The power of recognition allows the speaker of the house to set the legislative agenda, signaling which pieces of legislation he or she prefers and supports appoint people to serve on committees in return for loyalty to the speaker honor Texans who have served their stay in country with valor determine who will get to speak and how long a legislative debate will last
determine who will get to speak and how long a legislative debate will last
According to the Texas constitution, regular sessions of the Texas legislature for 140 days by biennially, occurring to the odd-numbered years for nine months every year throughout each year, with brakes for holidays and campaigning for nine months by annually, occurring in an even number of years
for 140 days by biennially, occurring to the odd-numbered years
Texas senators serve ____ year terms and House members serve ____year terms two; four four; six six; four four; two
four; two
Which is the most important bill that applies to all people and property throughout the state? local bill general bill special bill simple resolution
general bill
Which of the following are formal constitutional qualifications required to be governor? have lived in Texas for five years immediately before the election have been a U.S. permanent resident for at least years have held prior elected office for at least 10 years at least 25 years of age
have lived in Texas for five years immediately before the election
The first four steps in the process for a bill become a law are: introduction, pigeonholing, conferencing and voting introduction, public hearing, referral to assigned committee, and mandatory conferencing introduction, referral, consideration by standing committee, and floor action introduction, recitation on the floor, designation to specified committee, and initial vote
introduction, referral, consideration by standing committee, and floor action
The legislative budget is given full consideration by the house and senate once it is prepared and submitted by the legislative budget board is considered by the legislator to be used as a state budget and even numbered years, while the executive budget is to be used as the space budget in our number years is only considered by the legislator and there is no agreement incurring concerning the executive budget must, by law, take into consideration components and priorities included in the executive budget
is given full consideration by the house and senate once it is prepared and submitted by the legislative budget board
In Texas, why is a governors post adjournment veto so powerful? It could be over turned only by a 2/3 majority in both houses it cannot be overtime by the legislature it allows the governor to veto parts of a bill but not all of it it allows the governor to get maximum media coverage
it cannot be overtime by the legislature
the _____ is responsible for a variety of elements throughout the state, including environmental quality on public lands and waters such as the beaches on the gulf coast land commissioner agriculture commissioner commissioner of the environment Commissioner of the interior
land commissioner
The is the only member of the plural executive to be appointed rather than elected to office attorney general secretary of state comptroller lieutenant governor
lieutenant governor
In Texas, the governor's State of the State address is an example of _____ power special session message veto impeachment
message
In Texas, the governor's state of the state address is an example of the ____ power special session message veto impeachment
message
_______ must begin in the house of representatives school finance bills transportation bills revenue bills all bills
revenue bills
The legislature has "directive and supervisory powers" that include the ability to require members to hire a certain number of interns each year review each state agency every twelve years confirm judicial nominations impeach government officials for improper behavior
review each state agency every twelve years
Since each member of the plural executive except the _____ is independently elected, they are ultimately accountable to comptroller; the governor secretary of state; the voters lieutenant governor; the cabinet attorney general; the legislature
secretary of state; the voters
As part of his or her military and police power, the governor has responsibility for which of the following? the Texas rangers in a Texas National Guard under certain circumstances animal and insect control sheriffs departments in counties with populations less than 50,000 security at airports and seaports
the Texas rangers in a Texas National Guard under certain circumstances
You are an owner of a family farm that raises chickens, and you're concerned about changes that the state recently made to animal quarantine laws. You want to talk to the person who is in charge of actually enforcing these laws. Who do you contact ? the attorney general the agriculture commissioner the director of animal welfare the health commissioner
the agriculture commissioner
In the Texas legislature, when the committee chair "pigeonholes" a bill, what happens? the bill is set aside before it is ever discussed in committee the chair Vetoes a bill after it has already received an affirmative committee vote the chair refers a bill to only one subcommittee rather than two or more the bill is referred to a special session
the bill is set aside before it is ever discussed in committee
Why is the Comptroller of Public accounts so important to the legislator? the comptroller is responsible for setting the salary and compensation packages for legislators whoever is comptroller is also the speaker of the house the comptroller investigates suspected illegal campaign contributions the comptroller informs the legislator how much money he has to spend on the budget
the comptroller informs the legislator how much money he has to spend on the budget
If the governor decides that he or she will not want a bill passed by the legislature to become law, here she must do what? the governor must send the bill back to the legislator to make revisions the governor must veto the bill the governor can simply refuse to sign the bill, since it can't become law without the governor's signature the governor forms a conference committee with members of the legislature to reach a compromise on the legislation
the governor must veto the bill
The Texas General land office is accused of mishandling funds your marketed for hurricane relief and recovery. Who is responsible for investigating? the house, Senate, or both chambers jointly, using the legislators investigative power both chambers must work together to investigate using a conference committee's corporate powers the Senate using his oversight power the Texas Department of investigations, using the investigation power granted by the Texas constitution
the house, Senate, or both chambers jointly, using the legislators investigative power
In a representative democracy, such as the one established by the Texas constitution, members of the legislature are elected to represent their own best interests, since they are the elected official the interests of their constituents the interests of the whole state the interests of those who voted for them
the interests of their constituents
For a Texas governor, what is the benefit of a post-adjournment veto? it allows the governor to veto specific provisions of a bill it is the only way to veto legislation without giving reasons it requires a two-thirds majority from both houses to override the legislature is prevented from overriding it
the legislature is prevented from overriding it
In Texas, if a sitting governor is unable to hold office due to impeachment and conviction , resignation , or death, who becomes governor ? the secretary of state the lieutenant governor the Speaker of the state House of Representatives the comptroller of public accounts
the lieutenant governor
When the governor strikes out specific spending provisions in large appropriations bills it is called the pocket veto the post adjustment veto the line-item veto pigeonholing
the line-item veto
Which of the following rules applies to the filibuster in the Texas Senate? the filibuster can only be used during a special session the senators speaking can expand the topic of the beta related subjects the senator who has control of the floor must always speak in an audible voice, so that he or she can be heard and understood the senator who is speaking can one five-minute break and leave the chamber every eight hours why he or she is talking
the senator who has control of the floor must always speak in an audible voice, so that he or she can be heard and understood
What is the importance of the Supreme Court's decision in Reynolds v Sims and Baker v Carr? they declared poll taxes unconstitutional they declared that preclearance was an unconstitutional abridgment of state power they declared the constitutional principle of "one person, one vote" they declared the voting rights act of 1965 unconstitutional
they declared the constitutional principle of "one person, one vote"
Which of the following statements about simple resolutions is correct? they do not require the signature of the governor they can only concern the internal rules of the Texas legislature they can only be initiated by the governor they are limited to the matters of concern for no more than two House districts
they do not require the signature of the governor
The speaker of the House and the lieutenant governor are viewed as among the most powerful actors in Texas government because they have enough institutional power to be able to influence which legislation passes in which legislation is killed they usually move on to higher levels of office, such as governor they have the ability to set the initial legislative budget they call special sessions of the legislature
they have enough institutional power to be able to influence which legislation passes in which legislation is killed