Practice Exam 2 GOVT 2305

The president's delegated powers come from A. Congress. B. the Supreme Court. C. the Constitution. D. the president's party.

A. Congress

Who is currently Vice President of the United States? A. Kamala Harris B. Nancy Pelosi C. Joe Biden D. Bernie Sanders

A. Kamala Harris

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 possesses the rank of general in the U.S. Armed Forces.

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

What makes the White House staff different from the Executive Office of the President (EOP)? A. White House staff usually provides advice that is more explicitly political than that coming from the EOP. B. White House staff often come from both parties, whereas members of the EOP usually come from the president's party. C. White House staff serve for at most one year, whereas EOP staff serve for as long as they wish. D. White House staff appointments are subject to confirmation by the Senate, whereas EOP appointments are not.

A. White House staff usually provides advice that is more explicitly political than that coming from the EOP.

In the last few decades, executive orders have A. become routine instruments of presidential governance rather than emergency wartime measures. B. ended entirely due to a series of Supreme Court decisions outlawing most forms of unilateral presidential action. C. become focused almost exclusively on emergency wartime measures rather than on domestic policy matters. D. become increasingly rare due to the Congress imposing limits on them.

A. become routine instruments of presidential governance rather than emergency wartime measures.

Federal courts oversee the bureaucracy by A. creating an arena in which individuals or groups who are affected negatively by regulations can bring lawsuits. B. refusing to hear lawsuits which charge an agency acted in violation of federal laws or the U.S. Constitution. C. working with members of Congress to hold hearings about waste, fraud, and abuse in the executive branch. D. working with the president to ensure that each agency's annual budget is large enough for it to carry out its policy tasks.

A. creating an arena in which individuals or groups who are affected negatively by regulations can bring lawsuits.

In his attempt to manage the federal bureaucracy, the president can use all of the following tools EXCEPT A. firing low-level civil service employees for failure to express loyalty to the president. B. appointing top officials to lead government agencies. C. changing an agency's organizational scheme. D. altering an agency's budget.

A. firing low-level civil service employees for failure to express loyalty to the president.

The ____________________ is the only member of the plural executive to be appointed rather than elected to office. A. secretary of state B. attorney general C. lieutenant governor D. comptroller

A. secretary of state

One of the challenges of bureaucracy is to A. take advantage of the bureaucracy's strengths while making it more accountable to the demands of democratic politics and representative government. B. help an agency become an entrenched organization that serves its own interests while preventing it from becoming too specialized. C. enable the bureaucracy to develop expertise while limiting its interactions with politicians and the public. D. incentivize an agency to use federal contractors while Congress conducts oversight hearings.

A. take advantage of the bureaucracy's strengths while making it more accountable to the demands of democratic politics and representative government.

One type of appointment power often used by governors is called patronage, where A. the governor rewards supporters by appointing them to office. B. the governor determines which vendors will be given state contracts. C. the governor sets standing reservations at his or her favorite restaurants in Austin. D. the governor selects individuals for staff positions with members of the legislature.

A. the governor rewards supporters by appointing them to office.

What is the primary task of the Texas seretary of State? A. to handle elections and voter registration B. to collect child-support payments C. to coordinate and plan projects in conjunction with the federal government D. to oversee the state's foreign, economic, and diplomatic policy

A. to handle elections and voter registration

What is required for Congress to override a presidential veto? A. two-thirds of both houses of Congress B. a unanimous vote of both houses of Congress C. three-fourths of both houses of Congress D. a majority of both houses of Congress

A. two-thirds of both houses of Congress

As the number of urban areas grew in the state in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the management of local affairs became such a growing burden on the state legislature that it passed the A. County Charter Bill of 1958. B. Home-Rule Charter Amendment in 1912. C. City Charter Ordinance of 1898. D. General-Law City Charter Amendment in 1930.

B. Home-Rule Charter Amendment in 1912.

The resources available to higher officials, especially opportunities to make political appointments to offices and confer grants, licenses, or special favors to supporters is A. logrolling B. patronage C. civil service D. constituent service

B. Patronage

What is preemption? A. A form of county government that allows constables and sheriffs to expand their customary law enforcement duties. B. The legislature's power to overrule ordinances or actions of local home-rule cities. C. The power of special non-school districts to issue bonds to pay for construction and infrastructure improvements. D. A form of home rule that gives cities greater autonomy.

B. The legislature's power to overrule ordinances or actions of local home-rule cities.

When the Department of Health and Human Services determined that birth control should be covered under all plans as part of the Affordable Care Act, they were relying on which power to make this determination? A. expressed power B. delegated power C. veto power D. judicial power

B. delegated power

Executive power in Texas is A. divided among multiple officials, each appointed by the governor, to ensure that no one person has too much power. B. divided among multiple officials, each elected by the people, to ensure that no one person has too much power. C. modeled after executive power in the federal government, where the governor and lieutenant governor have powers similar to the president and vice president. D. set up so that Texas has one of the strongest governors in the United States.

B. divided among multiple officials, each elected by the people, to ensure that no one person has too much power.

An executive order A. is a command to Congress to take up certain legislation. B. has the effect and formal status of legislation. C. does not have the force of law; it is a recommendation, not a command. D. presents the president's interpretation of a law passed by Congress and how it will be enforced.

B. has the effect and formal status of legislation.

The efforts of departments and agencies to translate laws into specific bureaucratic rules and actions is called A. oversight. B. implementation. C. whistleblowing. D. appointment.

B. implementation.

The main difference between inherent and implied powers is that A. implied powers can be traced to the powers expressed in the actual language of the Constitution, while inherent powers derive from congressional laws and Supreme Court decisions. B. implied powers can be traced to the powers expressed in the actual language of the Constitution, while inherent powers derive from national sovereignty. C. inherent powers can be traced to the powers expressed in the actual language of the Constitution, while implied powers derive from national sovereignty. D. inherent powers can be traced to the powers expressed in the actual language of the Constitution, while implied powers derive from congressional laws and Supreme Court decisions.

B. implied powers can be traced to the powers expressed in the actual language of the Constitution, while inherent powers derive from national sovereignty.

What form of government does the city of Houston have? A. mayor-manager form of government B. mayor-council C. council-manager form of government D. commissioner form of government

B. mayor-council

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? A. the attorney general B. the agriculture commissioner C. the health commissioner D. the director of animal welfare

B. the agriculture commissioner

In the commissioner form of government, A. the elected city council performs the legislative functions, and also appoints a commissioner to perform the executive functions. B. the legislative and executive functions are performed by the elected commissioners. C. the elected mayor shares executive power with the appointed commissioner, while the city council has legislative power. D. the elected commission has legislative power, while the elected mayor has executive power.

B. the legislative and executive functions are performed by the elected commissioners.

The principal-agent problem occurs when one entity A. (the agent) remarks on another entity's (the principal) rulemaking through the notice-and-comment process. B. (the principal) remarks on another entity's (the agent) rulemaking through the notice-and-comment process. C. (the principal) gives decision making authority to another (the agent), but the agent makes decisions that are different than what the principal may have wanted. D. (the agent) gives decision making authority to another (the principal), but the agent makes decisions that are different than what the principal may have wanted.

C. (the principal) gives decision making authority to another (the agent), but the agent makes decisions that are different than what the principal may have wanted.

One difference between a veto and a pocket veto is that A. pocket vetoes are carried out by governors, whereas the president has a regular veto. B. the courts can rule a veto unconstitutional but cannot make the same ruling about a regular veto. C. Congress can override a regular veto but cannot override a pocket veto. D. the president can only use a pocket veto once per year.

C. Congress can override a regular veto but cannot override a pocket veto.

________ is the effort by Congress through hearings, investigations, and other techniques to exercise control over the activities of the bureaucracy. A. Appointment B. Party caucusing C. Congressional oversight D. Logrolling

C. Congressional oversight

Who was the first Black President of the United States? A. President Bill Clinton B. President Rutherford B. Hayes C. President Barack Obama D. President Grover Cleveland

C. President Barack Obama

Who is the current United States President? A. President George Bush B. President Kamala Harris C. President Joe Biden D. President Donald Trump

C. President Joe Biden

One of the major tools of bureaucratic control presidents possess is the A. State of the Union speech. B. ability to issue proclamations. C. appointment power over political appointees atop the career civil service. D. ability to hold hearings.

C. appointment power over political appointees atop the career civil service.

Which of these positions in the Texas executive branch is appointed? A. railroad commissioner. B. land commissioner. C. secretary of state. D. attorney general.

C. secretary of state.

As part of his or her military and police power, the governor has responsibility for which of the following? A. animal and insect control B. sheriffs' departments in counties with populations less than 50,000 C. the Texas Rangers and the Texas National Guard under certain circumstances D. security at airports and seaports

C. the Texas Rangers and the Texas National Guard under certain circumstances

If you want to get married and need to get a marriage license, or need to get a copy of a birth or death certificate, which office do you need to contact? A. the Secretary of State's office B. the county auditor where you are getting married, or where the death or birth occurred C. the county clerk where you are getting married, or where the death or birth occurred D. the district clerk where you are getting married, or where the death or birth occurred

C. the county clerk where you are getting married, or where the death or birth occured

Mayors are elected using at-large elections because A. local elections must be conducted using at-large elections. B. it is an unpaid position and must use a special kind of election. C. they represent the entire geographical area of the city rather than one specific district. D. non-partisan elections must be at-large elections.

C. they represent the entire geographical area of the city rather than one specific district.

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. A. petition for reconsideration of B. refuse to sign C. veto D. do nothing to stop

C. veto

Many argue that the power of appointment is the governor's "most significant executive power." Which of the following accurately describes why that is? A. The governor has the ability to appoint the chairs to all legislative committees. B. The governor has the ability to appoint all judges in the state with the advice and consent of the Senate. C. The governor has the ability to appoint local leadership and officials in home rule municipalities. D. The governor has the ability to make appointments to over 400 multimember state boards or single-member commissioners who direct the operation of various state agencies.

D. The governor has the ability to make appointments to over 400 multimember state boards or single-member commissioners who direct the operation of various state agencies.

Which of the following statements about the presidential veto is most accurate? A. Presidents have used the veto only twice in American history. B. Use of the veto has remained constant across presidential administrations, and vetoes are frequently overridden. C. Use of the veto has remained constant across presidential administrations, and vetoes are seldom overridden. D. Use of the veto varies considerably across presidential administrations, and vetoes are seldom overridden.

D. Use of the veto varies considerably across presidential administrations, and vetoes are seldom overridden.

The president has the power to appoint which of the following positions? A. state governors who resign before their terms have expired B. members of the House of Representatives who resign before their terms have expired C. state Supreme Court justices D. cabinet secretaries

D. cabinet secretaries

The president's power to "grant Reprieves and Pardons" is an example of an ________ power, while the president's power to remove executive branch appointees is an example of an ________ power. A. inherent; expressed B. expressed; inherent C. inherent; implied D. expressed; implied

D. expressed; implied

To whom are most county officials most responsible, and how? A. the legislature, through the process of checks and balances B. county commissioners, through the commissioners' court C. the attorney general, through the recall process D. the voters, through the electoral process

D. the voters, through the electoral process

Agencies like the Departments of State, Department of Defense, and Homeland Security A. work for Congress as a "watchdog" over executive branch functions. B. work to adjust the supply of money and credit to the needs of commerce and industry. C. promote the public's health and welfare by administering the federal school lunch program. D. work to maintain national security and protect American interests at home and abroad.

D. work to maintain national security and protect American interests at home and abroad.

All cities in Texas with pension funds have sufficient funding to meet their obligations to be able to pay retirees. True or False

False

Since most county officials are appointed, they are only accountable to the members of the county commissioners' court. True or False

False

Texas governors are weak because they lack the ability to appoint officials within the Texas bureaucracy. True or False

False

The Texas Lieutenant Governor has the power to call special sessions of the Texas legislature. True or False

False

The attorney general, as a member of the plural executive charged with enforcing the laws, has the ability to declare martial law. True or False

False

The county commissioners' court has original jurisdiction for cases involving violation of county laws. True or False

False

There are no limitations or restrictions on when the governor can use the line-item veto. True or False

False

In terms of formal/institutional powers of governors, the Texas governor is weaker than most other governors. True or False

True

The Texas Lieutenant Governor is president of the state senate. True or False

True

The Texas governor serves terms of four years, and the office does not have term limits. True or False

True