Deck 6: The Governor and the Executive Branch

Question 1

Which of the following is an informal power of the governor?

A) vetoing legislation
B) granting clemency
C) using the public to make his case
D) drawing up the budget

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The governor's cabinet, which he can use as he sees fit, is

A) mandated by the state legislature.
B) empowered largely by decisions of the state appellate courts.
C) mostly viewed as a symbolic body.
D) unable to formulate policy.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

In California, large organizations similar to federal departments that contain a number of related bureaus are called

A) franchise tax boards.
B) real estate tax collectors.
C) superagencies.
D) political action committees.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The most important formal power that the California governor has is

A) the role of commander-in-chief.
B) negotiating treaties.
C) the line-item veto.
D) proposing legislation.

Question 5

This agency was stripped of its powers in 2014 due to the inappropriate handling of tax assessment appeals.

A) Bureau of Real Estate
B) Department of Motor Vehicles
C) Board of Equalization
D) Franchise Tax Board

Question 6

Since 1967, governors of California have vetoed on average about ________ of the bills passed by the legislature.

A) 5 percent
B) 13 percent
C) 25 percent
D) 51 percent

Question 7

When the governor acts in his or her role as head of state

A) the media is more likely to provide extensive coverage.
B) he or she needs to be very photogenic.
C) few people care because the events are not highly significant.
D) large crowds usually attend.

Question 8

The lieutenant governor serves as acting governor when the governor is

A) out of the state.
B) running for president.
C) in a major dispute with the legislature.
D) the candidate of a third party.

Question 9

The treasurer is charged with the responsibility of

A) following up on pardons issued by the governor.
B) calculating county real estate taxes.
C) investigating corruption in the legislature.
D) managing the investment of state money and the sale of bonds.

Question 10

A major misperception of California's governor is

A) that he or she never uses the line-item veto.
B) that he or she appoints the members of the plural executive.
C) that the governor has more power than he or she actually does.
D) that he or she has the power to invade other countries.

Question 11

All of the following are among the formal powers of the governor EXCEPT

A) vetoing legislation.
B) drawing up the budget.
C) developing a vision for the state.
D) organizing the executive branch.

Question 12

The governor can generally win legislative cooperation by

A) bribing legislators.
B) threatening lawsuits.
C) persuasion.
D) building strong third party support.

Question 13

The California governor can use the line-item veto

A) for federal appropriations only.
B) to reduce or delete any appropriation in a spending bill.
C) to reduce county real estate taxes.
D) to control excessive spending by the state board of equalization.

Question 14

What are the major factors causing the California governor to be invisible?

A) Media coverage of Sacramento and the governor is limited.
B) California laws forbid the governor to interact with the media and attend social events.
C) The governor's day-to-day responsibilities do not provide much time for public appearances.
D) The media provides more coverage of members of the Assembly and Senate than of the governor.

Question 15

The official who enforces state laws and oversees district attorneys in California is the

A) secretary of state.
B) controller.
C) attorney general.
D) superintendent of public instruction.

Question 16

The governor's most significant powers are

A) acting as the commander-in-chief and making legislative recommendations.
B) preparing the state budget and using the line-item veto.
C) developing a vision for the state and managing executive actions.
D) campaigning and managing the daily tasks of the governor's office.

Question 17

The California Constitution gives the power of preparing the budget to the

A) legislature.
B) governor.
C) treasurer.
D) controller.

Question 18

The superintendent of public instruction

A) is a member of the state board of equalization.
B) is the only member of the plural executive elected on a nonpartisan basis.
C) is appointed by the governor.
D) oversees higher education in the state of California.

Question 19

Including personnel in the state universities, California has more than ________ employees.

A) 1,000
B) 30,000
C) 500,000
D) 1,100,000

Question 20

The governor is the commander-in-chief of

A) all military forces stationed in California.
B) the California National Guard.
C) all county sheriffs' departments.
D) only the police department in Sacramento.

Question 21

Why does the public view the California bureaucracy in a somewhat negative light?

Question 22

The state controller oversees

A) the Bureau of Real Estate.
B) the disbursement of the state's financial resources.
C) county taxing authority.
D) all city revenue measures.

Question 23

California has more than ________ state boards and commissions.

A) 15
B) 77
C) 212
D) 325

Question 24

What factors determine a governor's ability to be successful when dealing with the state legislature?

Question 25

What is the responsibility of the secretary of state?

A) enforcing California laws
B) managing California elections
C) overseeing the collection of taxes in California
D) managing California's money and investments

Question 26

What factors suggest that the governor of California is "invisible"?

Question 27

The ________, a member of the plural executive, is a major political competitor for the governor and can set his or her own political agenda.

A) secretary of state
B) attorney general
C) superintendent of public instruction
D) lieutenant governor

Question 28

Which proposition made insurance commissioner an elected position?

A) Proposition 8
B) Proposition 58
C) Proposition 75
D) Proposition 103

Question 29

What is the plural executive and what impact does it have on the governor of California?

Question 30

Why are the governor's role in the budget process and his line-item veto power considered among his or her strongest powers?