Deck 7: The Executive Branch: Coping With Fragmented Authority

Question 1

Governors often use the initiative process to promote major public policy issues.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Close to 90 percent of the state's civil servants obtain their positions via patronage or appointment.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

California's executive branch is organized almost exactly like that of the national government.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

The governor's independent authority includes

A)budget recommendations.
B)appointments.
C)vetoes.
D)all of the above.

Question 5

Which of the following procedures allows the governor to delete portions of an authorizations bill or reduce the budget of a particular program without rejecting the entire bill or budget?

A)general veto
B)item veto
C)pocket veto
D)none of the above

Question 6

Most of the governor's appointments to top policy making positions must be approved by the state senate.

Question 7

The attorney general oversees law enforcement, acts as legal counsel for the state, and appoints judges.

Question 8

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

A)refused to use the veto.
B)vetoed line-items only.
C)had the lowest veto rate of any governor since Goodwin J.Knight.
D)had the highest veto rate of any governor in California history.

Question 9

Of the governor's formal powers, none is more important than budgetary responsibilities.

Question 10

The second most powerful member of the executive branch, according to most observers, is the

A)attorney general.
B)controller.
C)insurance commissioner.
D)chief justice of the supreme court.

Question 11

Most of the employees of the state of California are hired through

A)the civil service system.
B)committees and commissions.
C)a patronage or "spoils" system.
D)the governor.

Question 12

Which of these offices is responsible for supervising elections?

A)controller
B)lieutenant governor
C)secretary of state
D)superintendent of public records

Question 13

Governor Schwarzenegger had a higher veto rate than that of any of his recent predecessors.

Question 14

In 2003, Governor Gray Davis became the fourth governor in California history to be recalled from office.

Question 15

Which of the following officials becomes acting governor when the governor is out of state or disabled?

A)lieutenant governor
B)secretary of state
C)attorney general
D)chief justice

Question 16

The most important task of the bureaucracy is to make elected officials look good.

Question 17

Which of these positions is the only nonpartisan office in the executive branch?

A)attorney general
B)finance director
C)insurance commissioner
D)superintendent of public instruction

Question 18

Which of the following collectively comprise the state's "money offices"?

A)treasurer and director of finance
B)director of finance, treasurer, and controller
C)director of finance and Board of Equalization
D)controller, treasurer, and Board of Equalization

Question 19

The lieutenant governor has the job of

A)alternate supreme court justice.
B)chair, legislative conference committee.
C)president of the state senate.
D)federal government liaison.

Question 20

Jerry Brown's prestige played a major role in persuading the voters to pass Proposition 30."Temporary taxes to Fund Education," in 2012.

Question 21

Compare the powers of the governor and legislature with respect to budget making.Who is more powerful and why? Why has it been so difficult for the governor and legislature to cobble a budget in recent years?

Question 22

Discuss the various formal and informal powers of the governor.Under what conditions do they increase or decrease in scope and influence?

Question 23

"California does not have an executive branch; it has executive branches." Explain the significance of this statement.Given this description, what are the consequences for governance?