Chapter 4 Texas politics and government

The governor of Texas is constitutionally allowed to serve a. 2 four-year terms. b. unlimited terms. c. a single four-year term. d. 3 two-year terms.

The Texas Constitution requires that the governor and all other elected officials acknowledge a. the supremacy of the U.S. Constitution. b. the existence of a Supreme Being. c. right of Texas to secede from the Union. d. the unrestricted right to bear arms.

Which of the following would be eligible to serve as Texas governor, according to the state constitution? a. A 30-year-old U.S. citizen who has resided in Texas for five years. b. A 25-year-old U.S. citizen who has resided in Texas for seven years. c. A 35-year-old U.S. citizen who has resided in Texas for two years. d. A 40-year-old Mexican citizen who has resided in Texas for twenty years.

In 1978, Texans elected ___________, their first Republican governor since Reconstruction. a. Rick Perry b. George W. Bush c. Ann Richards d. William Clements

. It is common for governors to repay major contributors to their election campaigns with a. appointments to key policymaking positions. b. direct cash payment from the state Treasury. c. nothing more than sincere thanks. d. ceremonies to name roads and bridges after them.

To gain support for their legislative agendas, Texas governors rely on all the following, except their a. skills in personal relations. b. strong constitutional powers. c. competent staff assistance. d. persuasion and arm-twisting.

In 2014, Rick Perry became the second Texas governor in history to be a. indicted on criminal charges. b. elected to a third term. c. elected President of the United States. d. inducted into the Texas Hall of Fame.

The governor of Texas is compensated with a. a salary of $150,000 per year, along with staff and maintenance for a personal residence. b. a salary of $75,000 per year, along with staff and maintenance for a personal residence. c. a salary of $100,000 per year, along with reimbursement for personal and political travel. d. a salary of $40,000 per year, along with a per diem for daily living expenses.

The governor's success in dealing with lobbyists, legislators, and the media depends primarily on a. ordinances. b. campaign contributions. c. executive orders. d. input and support of staff.

In political terms, the principal function of the governor's staff is to a. raise election campaign funds. b. protect their boss from adverse situations. c. discourage opponents in future elections. d. make the final decisions about appointments to important government offices.

. If the governor cannot finish his or her term, the officials who are in the line of succession include the a. lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general. b. lieutenant governor, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, attorney general. c. lieutenant governor, president pro tempore of the Senate, agriculture commissioner. d. lieutenant governor, president pro tempore of the Senate, Speaker of the House, attorney general, chief justices of the fourteen courts of appeals.

The governor of Texas may be removed from office through a procedure known as a. recall. b. impeachment. c. address. d. quo warranto.

. Should the governor and lieutenant governor both be out of the state at the same time, a. the president pro tempore of the Senate becomes acting governor. b. a special election is held, and the office is filled by direct popular vote. c. the Texas Senate selects one of its members to become governor. d. the senator with the most seniority becomes governor.

. Regarding the constitutional language relating to the removal of the governor, which statement is not correct? a. Impeachment is by simple majority vote of the House of Representatives. b. Conviction is by a two-thirds vote of the Texas Senate. c. A governor may be removed by legislative "address." d. Once removed, the governor may then be tried in criminal court.

Which of the following factors had most to do with the removal of Governor Ferguson? a. An allegation of moral turpitude b. A conflict with the University of Texas c. His opposition to statewide prohibition d. His improper deposit of $100,000 in state insurance funds

Which of the following is true of a governor's informal power? a. It stems from popularity with the public and is based on traditions, symbols, and ceremonies. b. It is rooted in the constitutional power to appoint officials. c. It is used only rarely and in extreme circumstances. d. It depends heavily on the support she or he gets from the lieutenant governor.

Which official is responsible for ensuring that gas pumps, grocery store scales, and other meters are accurate? a. Director of the National Bureau of Standards b. Texas commissioner of agriculture c. U.S. attorney general d. U.S. secretary of agriculture

The appointed state official responsible for elections and voter registration is the a. attorney general. b. lieutenant governor. c. secretary of state. d. comptroller of public accounts.

Which of the following executives is not appointed by the governor? a. Texas attorney general b. Adjutant general, Texas Military Forces c. Texas secretary of state d. Director, Office of State-Federal Relations

By law, gubernatorial appointees to a compensated office must a. be supported by the senator from their home district. b. be confirmed by a simple majority vote of both houses of the legislature. c. be confirmed by a two-thirds vote of the Texas Senate. d. resign any private employment they have at the time of their confirmation.

When the governor consults with a senator from an appointee's home district to obtain support for a nomination, the governor is respecting the tradition of a. legislative veto. b. recess appointment. c. vacancy appointment. d. senatorial courtesy.

The governor can avoid Senate confirmation of an appointee by a. issuing an executive order. b. making a recess appointment. c. appointing a current officeholder. d. submitting the nomination to the Texas House.

Failure of the Senate to confirm a gubernatorial recess appointment prevents the governor from a. reappointing that person to the same position. b. appointing anyone to that position in the future. c. reappointing that person to another position. d. calling a special session to appoint that person.

. Limitations to the governor's appointment powers includes all the following, except a. a lack of removal power. b. a requirement of Senate approval. c. many overlapping six-year terms. d. a lack of recess appointment power.

Which of the following is true regarding the Texas governor's removal power? a. It extends to all state executive offices. b. It may be exercised only as the legislature has directed. c. It is limited to the governor's own agency board appointees. d. It extends to all governor's appointments.

. The governor's "military power" extends to all the following organizations, except the a. Texas State Guard. b. Texas Army National Guard. c. Texas Air National Guard. d. Texas Maritime Commission.

In Texas, the primary responsibility for enforcing the law rests with the a. state troopers. b. municipal police and county sheriff's departments. c. Texas Rangers. d. constables in the various counties.

. In times when quick but limited action is needed, a direct law-enforcement power that may be exercised by the governor is a. conscripting county sheriffs into state service to enforce criminal law. b. assuming direct command of the state highway patrol. c. ordering district attorneys to prosecute persons engaging in criminal conduct. d. taking command of the Texas Rangers.

The governor's most significant constitutional budget power is a. transferring funds from one line item to another. b. reducing funds in one or more line items on his own initiative. c. vetoing all or part of the biennial legislative appropriations act. d. submitting a draft budget for legislative consideration.

A Texas governor can use "executive orders" to accomplish all the following, except a. set policies. b. create task forces. c. abolish boards and commissions. d. punish elected officeholders.

. The governor's legislative powers include all the following, except a. signing or vetoing bills passed by the legislature. b. appointing the chairs of legislative committees. c. proposing legislation in messages to legislators. d. calling special sessions and setting their agenda.

. The most direct legislative power of the governor is his or her a. "message power." b. veto authority. c. prorogation of bills. d. special session power.

In legislative matters, the governor of Texas a. has no veto power over appropriations bills. b. is solely responsible for submitting the state's budget. c. may call a limited number of special sessions. d. has absolute veto power without challenge once the legislature has adjourned.

The main judicial power of the governor of Texas is a. removing any judge on his own initiative for incompetence. b. appointing of the appellate divisions, with senate consent. c. filling vacancies arising in state, district, and appellate courts. d. recommending to the Commission on Judicial Conduct that a sitting judge be removed.

What distinguishes a full pardon from a conditional pardon? a. They are, in fact, identical. b. A full pardon restores civil rights. c. A conditional pardon requires community service. d. Only the Board of Pardons and Paroles may grant full pardons.

. In the case of a person facing a death sentence, the governor of Texas may independently a. grant a full pardon to a person convicted of a felony. b. remit a fine to a person who has been assessed one. c. grant one 30-day stay of execution of a death sentence. d. commute a death sentence to life imprisonment at hard labor.

. The term plural executive refers to the fact that in Texas a. there are two state budgets prepared. b. the governor appoints most all executive officers. c. most top executive officials are elected. d. the governor must share power with the lieutenant governor.

Which executive official primarily serves legislative functions? a. Lieutenant governor b. Attorney general c. Secretary of state d. Comptroller of public accounts

Which executive official represents the state in civil court, issues advisory opinions on legal questions, and enforces child support orders? a. The Texas attorney general b. The U.S. Department of Justice c. The Texas comptroller of public accounts d. The Texas Department of Transportation

As an attorney general, Greg Abbott frequently used the power of his office to a. support the right of cities to grant benefits to the same-sex partners of city employees. b. increase the public's awareness of issues like the location of dangerous chemicals. c. press for the impeachment of Governor Perry. d. sue the federal government.

Administering the state's tax system, and acting as its treasurer is the job of the Texas a. attorney general. b. land commissioner. c. secretary of state. d. comptroller of public accounts.

The comptroller of public accounts has the constitutional power to a. offer revenue bonds for sale when the state is out of money. b. reduce spending for all programs when funding gets within 30 percent of being empty. c. stop payments to those who have been on welfare support for two years. d. certify that appropriations bills passed by the legislature can be covered by expected revenue.

Promoting consistency in accounting across state agencies is the job of the Texas a. secretary of state. b. comptroller of public accounts. c. legislative council. d. Supreme Court.