The Executive Department and the Office of the Governor of Texas

The governor of Texas's salary is ________ per year. $90,000 $70,000 $179,000 $150,000

$150,000

How many states, including Texas, do not limit how long a person can serve as governor? 16 10 14 12

14

What office was created under the 1836 constitution to administer state-owned land? General Land Office Texas Department of Agriculture Texas Land Board Texas Bureau of Land Management

General Land Office

Why is it very difficult to hold a specific person in Texas government responsible for anything? The media in Texas do a very poor job at investigating wrongdoing in government. The state constitution shields all government employees from responsibility for public actions and policies. Government is fragmented and policy responsibility is divided. Most officials usually cite the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution and refuse to say anything that could incriminate them.

Government is fragmented and policy responsibility is divided.

In 2015, ________ took office as governor of Texas. Bill Clements Rick Perry Greg Abbott Wendy Davis

Greg Abbott

In Texas the trend in recent years has been to expand the staff of the governor's office. Who was the first Texas governor to use a professional staff of advisors? George W. Bush John Connally Bill Clements Dolph Briscoe

John Connally

Which state pays its governor the highest salary? Pennsylvania Nevada Texas Maine

Pennsylvania

Who was the first Texas governor to be elected to three consecutive four-year terms? Rick Perry Dolph Briscoe Bill Clements George W. Bush

Rick Perry

Unlike most other statewide governing offices, what governing body has varied greatly in form and structure over the years? Office of the Attorney General Texas Department of Agriculture State Board of Education General Land Office

State Board of Education

What tool is used to forecast state economic growth, keep track of business cycles, and generally provide information on the health of the economy of Texas? SMU Business Index State of Texas Econometric Model Dow Jones Economic Sentiment Indicator Index of State Economic Momentum

State of Texas Econometric Model

The secretary of state publishes the ________, which is the source of official notices or rules, meetings, executive orders, and opinions of the attorney general that are required to be filed by state agencies. Capitol Minutes Texas Weekly Bulletin Texas Register Executive Calendar

Texas Register

Based on the informal qualifications for office, which of the following types of individuals would be most successful in a Texas gubernatorial race? a political outsider with no previous experience a woman a member of a wealthy family an African American

a member of a wealthy family

Which of the following individuals would NOT be eligible to run for governor? a person who is not registered to vote a person who is only twenty-eight years of age a person who was born elsewhere but has become U.S. citizen a person who has only lived in Texas for seven years

a person who is only twenty-eight years of age

In most instances, the adoption of articles of impeachment results in a trial in the senate. the removal of an office holder. a statewide recall vote. a trial in a judicial court.

a trial in the senate.

Which executive-level office serves as legal counsel to the governor, the legislature, and state agencies? comptroller of public accounts commissioner of the General Land Office commissioner of agriculture attorney general

attorney general

The Texas governor gains strength from his or her ability to remove individuals appointed by the previous governor. appoint the other executive officers. exert powerful control over the budget. be continually reelected.

be continually reelected.

Which of the following defines tenure of office? the ability of elected officials to succeed themselves the term limit both the legal ability of elected officials to succeed themselves and the term length the term length

both the legal ability of elected officials to succeed themselves and the term length

By recommending policy initiatives to state legislators and coordinating with state agencies that administer programs and implement policies, the governor is demonstrating his or her role as chief legislator. party leader. intergovernmental coordinator. crisis manager.

chief legislator.

When a governor has and pursues an active policy agenda, he or she is fulfilling the role of chief legislator. party chief. intergovernmental coordinator. crisis manager.

chief legislator.

Most of the work of the attorney general involves ________ rather than ________. civil law; criminal law criminal law; civil law judicial review; prosecution ceremonial functions; executive functions

civil law; criminal law

Which executive-level officer promotes agricultural products and production? commissioner of the General Land Office commissioner of agriculture attorney general comptroller of public accounts

commissioner of agriculture

Which executive-level officer administers state-owned land and protects the environmental quality of coastal lands? comptroller of public accounts commissioner of agriculture commissioner of the General Land Office attorney general

commissioner of the General Land Office

Which executive-level officer collects taxes and invests state funds? commissioner of the General Land Office comptroller of public accounts commissioner of agriculture attorney general

comptroller of public accounts

When a governor takes action to respond to a natural disaster in the state, he or she is fulfilling the role of intergovernmental coordinator. chief legislator. party chief. crisis manager.

crisis manager.

Which of the following informal qualifications for governor is nearly universal in Texas? fraternal membership military service holding a law degree having previously held elected office

having previously held elected office

Which state government sector has the largest number of employees? business and economic development health and human services higher education public safety and criminal justice

higher education

When a governor coordinates activities with other state governments, he or she is fulfilling the role of crisis manager. party chief. chief legislator. intergovernmental coordinator.

intergovernmental coordinator.

The line-item veto applies to all bills except the budget. is possessed by only a small percentage of state governors. was declared unconstitutional in the 1980s. is a key power of the Texas governor.

is a key power of the Texas governor.

In Texas, the lieutenant governor is elected separately from the governor but succeeds the governor should the office be vacated. is appointed by the governor and thus cannot succeed the governor should the office be vacated. is appointed by the governor and succeeds the governor should the office be vacated. is elected jointly with the governor and therefore succeeds the governor should the office be vacated.

is elected separately from the governor but succeeds the governor should the office be vacated.

If the office of governor is vacated in Texas, the order of succession is lieutenant governor, land commissioner, president pro tempore. attorney general, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house. president pro tempore, land commissioner, attorney general. lieutenant governor, president pro tempore, speaker of the house.

lieutenant governor, president pro tempore, speaker of the house.

When a governor acts as head of his or her political party, he or she is fulfilling the role of intergovernmental coordinator. chief legislator. party chief. crisis manager.

party chief.

Why is the Texas governor's power exceptionally weak as compared to that of the governors of some other states? plural executive system lack of a line-item veto inability to appoint any administrative heads tenure limits

plural executive system

Texas is an example of a plural executive system because the governor also presides over the State House of Representatives. power is divided among several elected officials. the governor appoints the lieutenant governor. there are two governors.

power is divided among several elected officials.

What is currently the Texas Railroad Commission's primary function? regulatory authority over terminals, wharves, and heavy industries promoting rail and trucking while regulating the safety and environmental aspects of the industry safety oversight for rail, trucking, and river traffic regulation of the oil and gas industry

regulation of the oil and gas industry

The Sunset Advisory Commission has yet to abolish a state agency. reviews most state agencies every 12 years. is composed of members appointed by the governor. was discontinued in the mid-1970s.

reviews most state agencies every 12 years.

The chief record keeper and election official for the state of Texas is the secretary of state. state recorder. lieutenant governor. supervisor of elections.

secretary of state.

In the process known as ________, the governor must clear his or her appointments with the state senator from the appointee's home district. "good politics" the "southern custom" senatorial courtesy political reciprocity

senatorial courtesy

In Texas, the state budget is submitted by the senate budget committee. the governor. the Legislative Budget Board. the comptroller of public accounts.

the Legislative Budget Board.

Which office created in 1876 functions as the chief fiscal and revenue forecasting office and is responsible for investing state funds? the Texas Department of Treasury the general accounting office the comptroller of public accounts the office of treasurer

the comptroller of public accounts

The Texas legislature can override the governor's general veto with a ________ vote in each house. majority three-fifths two-thirds three-fourths

two-thirds