Deck 19: The Governor and Bureaucracy in Texas

Question 1

Texas governors always have been

A)constitutionally weaker than governors in most other states.
B)constitutionally stronger than governors in most other states.
C)more liberal than governors in most other states.
D)better paid than governors in most other states.
E)Democrats.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

If you are a member of the Public Utilities Commission,how did you obtain your office?

A)Election by a state-wide vote
B)Appointment by the governor
C)Appointment by the Texas Supreme Court (because the PUC is a quasi-judicial entity)
D)Nomination by the Texas House with approval by the Texas Senate
E)Appointment by a non-partisan board created by the legislature in 1995

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Of the following governors,who was most liberal?

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

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Governor Perry set a record for the 2001 legislative session by vetoing

A)no bills.
B)only one bill.
C)eighty-two bills and seventy-eight bills in one day.
D)every bill submitted to him by the legislature.
E)all but one bill.

Question 5

The principal role of the Attorney General of Texas is

A)to prosecute serious violations of state criminal laws in and for Texas, including but not limited to capital murder offenses and the assassination of state officials such as the governor.
B)to serve as the state's chief civil lawyer, litigating on behalf of state agencies whether the agency is in the role of plaintiff or defendant.
C)to serve as the chief election officer for the state.
D)to manage state owned land and mineral leases.
E)to issue legal rulings in cases when state courts have rendered differing opinions on an issue.

Question 6

Rick Perry's record number of vetoes following the 2001 legislative session was extensively criticized and became known as

A)Perry's Terminator Day.
B)the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
C)the Father's Day Massacre.
D)the Insult.
E)The Assault.

Question 7

Which of the following roles does the governor NOT play?

A)Chief of state
B)Chief executive officer
C)Commander in chief
D)Chief budget officer
E)Chief legislator

Question 8

Critics of the Texas Railroad Commission believe that it protects and represents the interests of the oil and gas industry rather than regulates it,making it a

A)quasi-judicial entity.
B)public advocacy council.
C)captured agency.
D)legislative rather than executive entity.
E)violation of the separation of powers doctrine.

Question 9

Which of the following does NOT apply to the "governor's messages?
"

A)They are delivered to the legislature
B)They pronounce policy goals
C)They set budget priorities
D)They recommend legislative authorizations
E)They have the force and effect of law

Question 10

Appointments by Texas governors tend to overly represent

A)Hispanic males.
B)Anglo females.
C)African Americans.
D)Anglos males.
E)labor union members.

Question 11

Before 1974,the term of office for the governor was two years.

Question 12

Which of the following roles belongs to the Texas governor?

A)To interpret the Texas Constitution
B)To redraw district lines
C)To appoint members of the cabinet
D)To serve as chief budget officer
E)To declare mistrials

Question 13

When considering tenure,appointment power,and other constitutional powers,the Texas governor is one of the strongest governors in the United States.

Question 14

Which elected state officeholder is informally called "governor-in-waiting" because so many have used the position in the past as a stepping stone to run successfully for the governorship?

A)Lieutenant governor
B)Secretary of state
C)Attorney general
D)Comptroller of public accounts
E)Land commissioner

Question 15

Who was the first governor to win back-to-back four year terms?

A)Ann Richards
B)George Bush
C)Rick Perry
D)Bill Clements
E)Coke Stevenson

Question 16

In Texas,the governor has used executive orders primarily for which of the following two purposes?

A)For emergency management purposes and to involve the governor's office in policy issues
B)To order executive actions by state agencies and to make appointments without Senate approval
C)To override decisions by state regulatory agencies and to fire executive department heads without Senate approval
D)To mandate the legislative enactments and to veto decisions during a legislative interim
E)To order investigations by the Attorney General of Texas and to order the Department of Public Safety to arrest individuals the governor considers a threat

Question 17

What is the only statewide elected office created by the legislature instead of the constitution?

A)Comptroller of public accounts
B)Railroad commissioner
C)Attorney general
D)Agriculture commissioner
E)Lieutenant governor

Question 18

In 2009,the Texas legislature refused to extend the life of the Residential Construction Commission because

A)it was deeply involved in the Sharpstown scandal.
B)it tended to favor home owners over home builders.
C)it infringed on property rights.
D)it refused to cover household appliances.
E)there were concerns that it has been captured by homebuilders.

Question 19

The Republic of Texas had a weak president when it joined the Union.

Question 20

The first time a Texas governor served more than two terms was the

A)1910s.
B)1920s.
C)1930s.
D)1940s.
E)1950s.

Question 21

How do the constitutional executive powers of the governor of Texas compare with the constitutional executive powers of other state governors?

A)They are among the weakest in the nation.
B)They are among the strongest in the nation.
C)They are about average in comparison with other governors' constitutional executive powers.
D)They are somewhat above average in comparison with the other governors' constitutional powers.
E)They were weak under Democratic governors but strong under Republican governor.

Question 22

Dubbed the "Chief Persuader of Texas" by one scholar,the Texas governor must overcome constitutionally weak executive powers by the force of his or her personality in building alliances and coalitions,as well as using public relations techniques to attempt to lead the state government.

Question 23

It has been long recognized by courts that legislatures may not delegate decision-making authority to executive agencies.

Question 24

The only Texas governor to be impeached by the Texas House and convicted by the Texas Senate was

A)E)J. Davis.
B)James Ferguson.
C)Miriam Ferguson.
D)William Clements.
E)Andrew Johnson.

Question 25

It is the role of the legislature to make public policy and the executive branch to implement public policy.

Question 26

Which of the following gubernatorial roles includes being the primary elected official representing Texas in its relations with other states,the federal government,and foreign dignitaries?

A)Chief executive officer
B)Chief of state
C)Commander in chief
D)Chief budget officer
E)Ambassador plenipotentiary

Question 27

Which of the following was the strongest factor leading to the increased restrictions being placed on the power of the Texas governor in the 1876 Constitution?

A)A nationwide trust of government and governors in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries
B)A reaction to the weak state government established during Reconstruction
C)A reaction to the Reconstruction administration of Republican Governor E.J. Davis
D)Racial politics following the Civil War
E)A reaction to the administration of President Andrew Jackson

Question 28

If you are Hispanic,you have a greater chance of being one of the governors' executive appointees than someone from any other racial or ethnic group.

Question 29

If the governor's office is vacant and the lieutenant governor becomes the governor,what happens to the lieutenant governor's position?

A)It remains vacant.
B)The new governor also holds the position of lieutenant governor.
C)A new lieutenant governor is selected by the Texas Senate.
D)A new lieutenant governor is nominated by the governor, subject to Senate confirmation.
E)A new lieutenant governor is selected in a statewide election.

Question 30

The executive function of state government is spread out among a number of elected officials other than the governor,which is why Texas is said to have a plural executive branch.

Question 31

The governor of Texas may be elected to

A)two four-year terms.
B)one six-year term
C)an unlimited number of two-year terms.
D)three four-year terms.
E)four two-year terms.

Question 32

The first governor of Texas was

A)Sam Houston.
B)William B. Travis.
C)Mirabeau B. Lamar.
D)Anson Jones.
E)James Pinckney Henderson

Question 33

If an attorney general is appointed by the governor,reports to the governor,and serves at the discretion of the governor,the attorney general likely serves in

A)a Cabinet-style executive.
B)a plural executive.
C)a parliamentary democracy.
D)a dual executive.
E)Texas.

Question 34

Who is the longest serving governor in Texas history?

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

Question 35

The first governor to break tradition and serve more than three terms in office was

A)James Pinckney Henderson.
B)Sam Houston.
C)Dolph Briscoe.
D)Frankin Roosevelt.
E)Rick Perry.

Question 36

When the governor appoints an individual to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles,he or she is exercising the duties of the

A)chief executive officer of Texas.
B)chief of state of Texas.
C)chief law enforcement officer of Texas.
D)commander in chief of the Texas military and Texas Rangers.
E)chief budget officer of Texas.

Question 37

The only legislative power held by the governor is the veto.

Question 38

The Texas governor

A)lacks any significant independent removal power over his appointments.
B)determines the length of service for all gubernatorial appointments.
C)has the power to assign members of his or her party to House and Senate committees.
D)has extensive managerial power over most members of the executive branch.
E)is obligated by law to appoint people with whom he has no personal or political relationship.

Question 39

Which is NOT one of the variables which determine gubernatorial power?

A)Tenure (length and limit of term)
B)Percentage of Electoral College vote
C)Budget control
D)Signing/vetoing of bills
E)Appointment power

Question 40

Which of the following weakened the power of the governor by implementing a plural executive?

A)A constitutional amendment in 1850
B)The state's 1861 Confederate Constitution
C)The 1886 Constitution of Texas
D)The 1869 Constitution of Texas
E)The 1876 Constitution of Texas

Question 41

The ability of the governor to reject one or more items of an appropriations bill is the

A)post-adjournment veto.
B)pocket veto.
C)line-item veto.
D)appropriations veto.
E)partial veto.

Question 42

The state official in charge of supervising the oil revenues from state-owned land is the

A)attorney general.
B)comptroller of public accounts .
C)executive director of the Texas Education Agency.
D)land commissioner.
E)secretary of state

Question 43

The Attorney General of Texas is LEAST involved in which of the following activities?

A)Defending the state against lawsuits
B)Issuing legal opinions interpreting state laws
C)Enforcing compliance with consumer protection laws such as the Deceptive Trade Practices
Act
D)Prosecuting individuals accused of serious crimes
E)Enforcing open records requirements

Question 44

In which of the following areas does the Texas governor have the strongest legal footing to issue executive orders?

A)Budgetary transfers between agencies
B)Emergency management
C)Public health
D)Public education
E)Police and public safety

Question 45

Which of the following is NOT a duty of the comptroller of public accounts?

A)Collecting state taxes
B)Managing the state's money
C)Forecasting state revenue
D)Leasing state property
E)Conducting performance evaluations of state agencies

Question 46

Which group is most overrepresented in gubernatorial appointments?

A)Women
B)African Americans
C)Hispanics
D)Anglo men
E)Rural residents

Question 47

The chief legal counsel for the State of Texas is the

A)district attorney.
B)attorney general.
C)criminal district attorney.
D)county attorney.
E)secretary of state.

Question 48

While campaigning,________ promised that his/her administration would "look like Texas" to increase diversity in government.

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

Question 49

The governor's ability to control the agenda of special sessions does NOT extend to

A)impeachments.
B)environmental legislation.
C)tax bills.
D)appropriation bills.
E)school finance legislation.

Question 50

Why is the comptroller of public accounts considered a powerful state official and significant legislative player?

A)The legislature is constitutionally required to pass a balanced biennial budget each regular session and must use the comptroller's estimate of state revenue to make that budget.
B)The legislature relies on state agency performance reviews for appropriating funds for state agencies which depend on those allocations for their biennial operations.
C)The comptroller's office subsumed the duties of the state treasurer's office after that office was abolished, and thus, is responsible for issuing warrants for state expenditures.
D)The comptroller is often a former state legislator and the office is traditionally a stepping stone to higher office in Texas government.
E)As the state's primary accounting officer, the comptroller audits the expenditures of all state departments and agencies.

Question 51

Which of the following is NOT an effective element in the governor's success in office?

A)Ability to persuade
B)Possession of strong personal skills
C)Previous political experience and electoral linkages
D)Exercise of the extensive executive powers constitutionally vested in governor's office
E)Projection of an image of strength and success through public and media relations

Question 52

The lieutenant governor and the heads of six state agencies are

A)appointed by the governor.
B)appointed by the legislature.
C)elected independently of the governor by the voters of Texas.
D)subject to removal by the governor.
E)supervised by the governor.

Question 53

According to the executive order issued by Rick Perry,under what authority was the HPV vaccination order issued?

A)"Under the authority vested in the governor by the People of Texas"
B)"Under the authority granted by the Constitution to protect the General Welfare of the people"
C)"By virtue of the governor's power as chief legislator and president of the Senate"
D)"By virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of
Texas as the Chief Executive Officer"
E)"Pursuant to the individual liberties guaranteed to the people of Texas by the Bill of Rights"

Question 54

Which of the following is NOT a function of the governor's staff?

A)Working with local, state, and federal official
B)Working with the legislature and political party officials
C)Working with lobbyists and the public
D)Working with reporters and performing public relations
E)Preparing a state budget proposal that will be adopted by the legislature.

Question 55

Which of the following regulates the oil and gas industry in Texas?

A)Texas Railroad Commission
B)Texas Land Commissioner
C)Public Utility Commission
D)Texas Agriculture Commissioner
E)Texas Department of Energy

Question 56

In terms of personal ideology,most Texas governors have been

A)libertarian.
B)conservative.
C)moderately liberal.
D)populist.
E)socialist.

Question 57

One of a governor's strongest legislative tools is the ability to nullify legislative action by

A)using the veto power.
B)calling a special session.
C)exercising control over the agenda in a special session.
D)issuing an executive order overriding a bill.
E)declaring a bill unconstitutional.

Question 58

Which of the following is NOT a power the governor can use to influence the Texas legislature?

A)Calling a special session and setting its agenda
B)Making emergency proclamations
C)Appointing a political ally as lieutenant governor to control the Senate on the governor's
Behalf
D)Threatening a veto
E)Making a direct appeal to voters

Question 59

Which of the following is a traditional program in the Department of Agriculture?

A)Monitoring the accuracy of weights and measures
B)Regulating the safety of grain warehouses
C)Ensuring compliance with pest-control regulations
D)Ensuring compliance with seed-labeling requirements
E)All of the above

Question 60

The term "senatorial courtesy" refers to the practice where

A)the governor invites membership of the Texas Senate to dine with him in small groups at the governor's mansion during a regular session as a courtesy and to promote his policy agenda.
B)the governor will only make an appointment if given the go-ahead from the Senator in whose district the nominee resides.
C)state senators use courteous language when addressing the governor during meetings and with one another on the floor or in committee meetings.
D)the governor consults with a state senator before the governor vetoes a bill sponsored by that senator.
E)the governor directs most of his communications during a session with members of the Senate rather than the House because of the traditional greater stature of the upper chamber.

Question 61

Which of the following best describes how the legislature has approached the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in recent years?

A)It has sought to dramatically expand the authority of the commission to regulate air pollution.
B)It has worked to protect the environment by keeping oil and gas production at a minimum.
C)It has allowed the commission to regulate the rates utility companies in Texas charge for
Generating and selling power in the state.
D)It has frequently attempted to scale back environmental regulations.
E)It has frequently increased the income tax rate in order to protect the environment.

Question 62

Which of the following has sole and complete responsibility for regulating railroad freight and railroad passenger service in the state of Texas?

A)Texas Railroad Commission
B)General Land Commission
C)Texas Secretary of State
D)Texas Agriculture Commissioner
E)No commission, agency, or department in Texas government has this power

Question 63

What appointment usually is the first made by an incoming governor?

A)speaker of the House
B)Senate president
C)secretary of state
D)attorney general
E)commissioner on environmental quality

Question 64

Which state agency changed to appointing members in the 1980s to ensure the adoption of education reform measures,and then reverted to electing members once the reforms were enacted?

A)Texas Education Agency
B)State Board of Education
C)Commissioner of Education
D)Texas Higher Education Coordinating Committee
E)Texas Parent Teacher Association

Question 65

The statute that contains Texas's rule-making process is known as the

A)Texas Constitution.
B)Administrative Procedures Act.
C)Texas Digest.
D)Texas Order Act.
E)Texas Government Code.

Question 66

In 2003,twelve health and human service agencies were reorganized by the Texas legislature into four new agencies headed by an executive commissioner of health and human services appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.Which of the following is NOT one of these four new departments?

A)Department of Family and Protective Services
B)Department of Assistive and Rehab Services
C)Department of Aging and Disability Services
D)Department of State Health Insurance Services
E)Department of State Health Services

Question 67

Public counsels in Texas are appointed by the governor to protect

A)the interests of corporations before regulatory agencies.
B)the interests of poor people who have been charged with a crime but cannot afford an attorney.
C)the interests of regulatory agencies from public criticism.
D)the interests of the public before regulatory agencies.
E)state bureaucrats from lawsuits by interest groups.

Question 68

A government regulatory agency or commission that consistently makes decisions favorable to the interests of the private sector interests that it regulates is considered

A)a captured agency.
B)an iron triangle.
C)essential to the growth of the economy in the state.
D)highly likely to be abolished by the legislature when it comes up for sunset review.
E)unconstitutional by both state and federal courts.

Question 69

The annual salary for the Texas governor is currently set at $115,345.

Question 70

Which executive agency regulates the insurance industry?

A)Department of Insurance
B)Railroad Commission
C)Public Utilities Commission
D)Office of General Council
E)Department of Public Welfare

Question 71

The continuing need for a Texas bureaucracy is evaluated through a process known as

A)redistricting.
B)senatorial courtesy.
C)sunset review.
D)administrative oversight.
E)statutory analysis.

Question 72

A phenomenon that tends to reinforce close relationships between private interests and public regulators is

A)the revolving door.
B)senatorial courtesy.
C)sunset review.
D)logrolling.
E)the plural executive.

Question 73

Starting with an 1850 amendment to the state constitution,the executive power of Texas government was constitutionally decentralized through the creation of a weak governor and a plural executive.

Question 74

Texas agency heads appointed by the governor directly,as opposed to those appointed by boards and commissions,are seen usually as

A)more powerful because of their access to the governor and because they are part of the governor's political team.
B)less efficient because of their political obligations to the governor.
C)less responsive to the interests of the public because of their political involvement with the governor.
D)less capable because governors tend to appoint friends and allies while board and commissions tend to appoint professional administrators.
E)more capable because governors tend to appoint friends and allies from the private sector while boards and commissions tend to appoint professional bureaucrats.

Question 75

The state executive official who is the chief elections officer for Texas,manages corporate charters in Texas,and maintains many of the state's records is the

A)public utility commissioner.
B)Texas secretary of state.
C)Texas attorney general.
D)comptroller.
E)lieutenant governor.

Question 76

The lieutenant governor succeeds to the governorship if there is a vacancy.

Question 77

Which of the following Texas government employees is LEAST likely to be well paid?

A)College football coaches
B)Physicians at state hospitals
C)University presidents
D)University librarians
E)Investment officers for state pension funds

Question 78

Who among the following does NOT serve on the Sunset Advisory Commission?

A)Five state senators
B)One member appointed by the governor
C)Five state representatives
D)One member appointed by the lieutenant governor
E)One member appointed by the Speaker of the House

Question 79

Members of the Texas Public Utilities Commission are

A)elected to their positions by a direct, statewide vote of the people of Texas.
B)appointed to their positions by the governor (with the approval of the Texas Senate).
C)appointed to their positions by a vote of the Texas legislature.
D)ex officio officeholders, serving in their PUC positions as a part of their duties as lieutenant
Governor, Speaker of the House, and comptroller of public accounts.
E) responsible for generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity in the Texas.

Question 80

The Texas Constitution requires the governor to deliver messages to the legislature,such as the budget message and the State of the State address.