Deck 7: The Governor

Question 1

In the case of Texas v.White in 1869,the U.S.Supreme Court declared that the right of Texas to secede from the union was "absolutely null."

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Ann Richards is the only female Governor Texas has ever had.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

The Texas Governor's salary is the highest of any governor in the country.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

There is no constitutional limit on the number of terms that a governor may serve in Texas.

Question 5

The Governor's power with regard to acts of clemency is unrestricted for an individual sentenced to death.

Question 6

Elections for Texas Governor are held in the same year as presidential elections.

Question 7

Texas's short biennial legislative session permits the Governor to make many interim appointments when the legislature is not in session,subject only to the presentations of such appointments within twenty (20)days after the Senate reconvenes.

Question 8

Traditionally,the governor of Texas has dominated the budget process.

Question 9

Texas has a highly fragmented executive branch that results in a plural executive.

Question 10

The Texas Governor's strongest role is his or her role as chief executive.

Question 11

When Texas governors run for re-election,they are nearly always successful.

Question 12

The Texas Governor's salary is set by the constitution.

Question 13

The Texas Constitution lists malfeasance,misfeasance,and nonfeasance in office as grounds for the impeachment of the Governor.

Question 14

Texas Governors have nearly unlimited removal power.

Question 15

The practice of "senatorial courtesy" means that the Senate will ordinarily not confirm the appointment of an individual to whom the senator from the appointee's district objects.

Question 16

The secretary of state,the commissioner of education,and the commissioner of insurance are all appointed by the Governor.

Question 17

Governor Rick Perry built his gubernatorial popularity through his close relationship with the Texas mainstream media.

Question 18

All Texas Governors have been Anglos.

Question 19

In Texas,a Governor may be removed from office within his elected term only through an impeachment proceeding.

Question 20

When the Governor of Texas dies,resigns,or is removed from office by impeachment and conviction,the lieutenant Governor becomes Governor.

Question 21

The only Republican governor in Texas history until the election of Bill Clements in 1978 was

A) E. J. Davis.
B) Clayton Williams.
C) Ann Richards.
D) Bill White.
E) George W. Bush.

Question 22

The Governor's strongest legislative power is the veto.

Question 23

Which of the following Governors was an attorney?

A) Bill Clements
B) Mark White
C) Ann Richards
D) George Bush
E) Rick Perry

Question 24

The Governor must be at least _____ years old to be elected.

A) 21
B) 25
C) 30
D) 35
E) 40

Question 25

As the first modern Republican Governor of Texas,Bill Clements refused to make any Democratic appointments.

Question 26

What is the constitutional limit on the number of terms a Governor may serve in Texas?

A) One
B) Two
C) Three
D) Four
E) There is no term limit

Question 27

The length of the Texas Governor's term is ____ years.

A) three
B) four
C) five
D) six
E) eight

Question 28

Which of the following is not one of the personal characteristics shared by most Texas Governors?

A) Politically liberal
B) Wealthy
C) Protestant
D) Involved in civic affairs
E) Male

Question 29

The legislature significantly increased the formal powers of the Governor in 2003.

Question 30

Which governor was the only one ever removed through impeachment proceedings?

A) Bill Clements
B) Mark White
C) Miriam B. Ferguson
D) Jim Ferguson
E) John Connally

Question 31

Governor George W.Bush's legislative successes during his first year in office were largely the result of his highly partisan style of leadership.

Question 32

The Governor's power with regard to acts of clemency (mercy)is restricted to one thirty-day reprieve for an individual sentenced to death.

Question 33

Which of the following Governors of Texas could most accurately be described as a populist,particularly in regard to staffing the Governor's office?

A) Rick Perry
B) Bill Clements
C) Mark White
D) Ann Richards
E) George W. Bush

Question 34

The annual salary of the Texas Governor is approximately

A) $91,000.
B) $150,000.
C) $292,225.
D) $334,456.
E) $410,700.

Question 35

The primary responsibility for assisting the governor as chief budget officer lies with the

A) Legislative Budget Board.
B) Texas Legislative Council.
C) Budget, Planning and Policy Division.
D) Economic Development and Tourism Office.
E) the General Land Office.

Question 36

The Governor's role as chief intergovernmental diplomat has increased in importance in recent years as a result of federal statutes designating the Governor as the official who has the planning and grant-approval authority for the state.

Question 37

When the Governor of Texas dies,resigns,or is removed from office by impeachment and conviction,the ____ becomes Governor.

A) Lieutenant Governor
B) Speaker of the House
C) Attorney General
D) Secretary of state
E) Adjutant General

Question 38

As chief of party,the Governor usually leads his or her party's state delegation to national party conventions.

Question 39

To be a strong chief legislator,a Texas Governor must rely on his message power,his session power,and his veto power.

Question 40

In impeachment proceedings,the ____ must first impeach and then the ____ acts as a trial court.

A) Senate; House of Representatives
B) House of Representatives; Senate
C) House of Representatives; Supreme Court
D) Senate; Court of Criminal Appeals

Question 41

Discuss the informal roles that the Governor of Texas is expected to play.Since these roles are not constitutionally mandated,discuss how they came about.Explain the value of these roles to the Governor in the exercise of power.

Question 42

Using the media or public appearances to gain support for programs and visiting disaster victims are aspects of the Governor's role as

A) chief executive.
B) commander in chief/top cop.
C) chief intergovernmental diplomat.
D) chief of party.
E) leader of the people.

Question 43

Discuss the legislative powers held by the Governor of Texas.Compare these powers with those of the president of the United States.Would you agree that the Governor's role as chief legislator is the most significant role the Texas Constitution permits him or her to play? Explain why or why not.

Question 44

When the Texas Governor calls for a special session of the legislature,the agenda for the session is set by the

A) legislature.
B) Governor.
C) Lieutenant Governor.
D) Speaker of the House.
E) Supreme Court.

Question 45

Based on the lessons that can be drawn from the text's biographical sketches of recent Governors,describe an "ideal" Texas Governor.In your response address what prior experiences would be advantageous and what personality characteristics and leadership style seem best suited for gubernatorial success.

Question 46

Governor George W.Bush was successful in office due to his

A) bipartisan approach to office and strict ideological conservatism.
B) ardent support of the Republican agenda in Texas and "compassionate conservatism."
C) ardent support of the Republican agenda in Texas and strict ideological conservatism.
D) bipartisan approach to office and "compassionate conservatism."
E) bipartisan approach to office, ardent support of the Republican agenda in Texas, and strict ideological conservatism.

Question 47

Address and quo warranto proceedings are both methods of

A) evading limits on the Governor's power to make appointments.
B) removing an official from office.
C) promoting the representation of minorities on state boards and commissions.
D) preparing the executive budget.
E) preparing for prosecution of those charged with capital crimes.

Question 48

The power to declare martial law in the state is one of the Texas Governor's powers as

A) chief executive.
B) chief legislator.
C) commander in chief.
D) chief of state.
E) chief intergovernmental diplomat.

Question 49

Gubernatorial appointments in Texas must be confirmed by the state's

A) Supreme Court.
B) Senate.
C) House of Representatives.
D) Secretary of State.
E) Attorney General.

Question 50

The Texas Governor's veto power is absolute when

A) the bill being vetoed is produced during a special (called) session.
B) the bill being vetoed is an itemized appropriations bill.
C) the veto occurs within ten days of the time the bill is sent to the Governor.
D) the legislature adjourns prior to the exercise of the veto.
E) it is accompanied by an Attorney General's opinion declaring the law unconstitutional.

Question 51

The Governor has a major effect on state policy through his or her

A) domination of the budget process.
B) appointment of the attorney general.
C) ability to control the courts.
D) power to make approximately 3,000 appointments to boards and commissions.
E) dominance of the Texas Senate when it is in session.

Question 52

Which of the following Governors was often labeled the "thorny rose of Texas?"

A) Miriam "Ma" Ferguson
B) Dolph Briscoe
C) Ann Richards
D) George Bush
E) Rick Perry

Question 53

Exercising the message power and the session power are among the Texas Governor's responsibilities in his or her role as

A) chief executive.
B) chief legislator.
C) chief of state.
D) chief intergovernmental diplomat.
E) leader of the people.

Question 54

Which of the following officials is appointed by the Governor in Texas?

A) Lieutenant Governor
B) Attorney General
C) Railroad commissioner
D) Agriculture Commissioner
E) Secretary of State

Question 55

Describe the Governor's powers in the area of budgeting and planning.Compare and contrast the governor's powers in comparison to that of the legislature.

Question 56

Which of the following is the longest serving Governor in Texas history?

A) Ann Richards
B) John Connally
C) Mark White
D) Bill Clements
E) Rick Perry

Question 57

The power of the Governor in Texas to delete individual items from an appropriations bill without having to veto it in its entirety is known as the

A) veto.
B) item veto.
C) pocket veto.
D) post-adjournment veto.
E) executive order.

Question 58

Discuss the major factors that limit the Texas Governor's ability to function effectively as chief executive.Despite the limits,Governors can be effective in supervising the executive branch.Explain how.