Deck 9: The Plural Executive and the Bureaucracy

Question 1

In Texas, executive power is split among several independent officials. Texas can be said to have a _______ executive.

A) split
B) bureaucratic
C) plural
D) diffusion

Answer 1

C

Question 2

A government organization that implements laws and provides services to individuals is the

A) executive branch.
B) legislative branch.
C) judicial branch.
D) bureaucracy.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality developed standards to minimize air pollution. These standards are legally binding. The process in which they were created is called

A) legislation.
B) implementation.
C) regulation crafting.
D) rulemaking.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The execution, by the bureaucracy, of laws and decisions made by the legislative, executive, or judicial branch, is known as

A) implementation.
B) diffusion.
C) execution of law.
D) rules.

Question 5

How does the size of the Texas bureaucracy (per 10,00 people) compare to that other states?

A) It is smaller than most other states.
B) It is larger than most other states.
C) It is about the same.
D) Texas does not have a bureaucracy.

Question 6

Standards that are established for the function and management of industry, business, individuals, and other parts of government are called

A) regulations.
B) licenses
C) business laws.
D) bureaucratic law.

Question 7

In order to perform some tasks, such as practicing medicine or working as a plumber, one needs to obtain _______ from the bureaucracy.

A) regulations
B) licensing
C) business laws
D) bureaucratic law

Question 8

The carrying out of rules by an agency or commission within the bureaucracy, is called

A) implementation.
B) rule-making.
C) licensing.
D) enforcement.

Question 9

The health department fines a restaurant for not adhering to rules about cleanliness standards. This is an example of

A) executive orders.
B) lawmaking.
C) implementation.
D) enforcement.

Question 10

The governor has the least control over what kind of bureaucratic entity?

A) Multimember agencies which the governor appoints
B) Hybrid agencies
C) One with an independently elected head
D) One with a head the governor appoints

Question 11

Compared to other states, the Texas lieutenant governor has _______ power.

A) about the same amount of
B) less
C) more
D) much less

Question 12

The legislature passes a law specifying that it is illegal to put "unsafe levels of toxins" into rivers. They leave it to the bureaucracy to determine what constitutes unsafe. In this case the bureaucracy has _______ power.

A) review
B) executive
C) legislative
D) rule-making

Question 13

The lieutenant governor has which power?

A) Impeaching the governor
B) Declaring actions of county judges unconstitutional
C) Vetoing legislation
D) Appointing committee chairs in the Senate

Question 14

Which member of the plural executive is the state's lawyer, defending the laws and constitution of the State of Texas by representing it in court?

A) The attorney general
B) The land commissioner
C) The lieutenant governor
D) The comptroller of public accounts

Question 15

Which member of the plural executive handles the state's finances?

A) The attorney general
B) The secretary of the treasury
C) The lieutenant governor
D) The comptroller of public accounts

Question 16

Which member of the plural executive implements agricultural laws, promotes Texas's agriculture production, and products and administers school nutrition programs?

A) The attorney general
B) The agriculture commissioner
C) The lieutenant governor
D) The comptroller of public accounts

Question 17

Which department performs regulatory functions, such as protecting consumers from pesticides and certifying organic products?

A) The General Land Office (GLO)
B) The secretary of state's office
C) The Department of Agriculture
D) The lieutenant governor's office

Question 18

Which bureaucratic agency often works on the enforcement of child support payments?

A) The State Board of Education
B) The lieutenant governor
C) The commissioner of child welfare
D) The attorney general

Question 19

The state's budget operates on a _______, which means that state funds spent must equal state funds received.

A) layaway system
B) pay-as-you-go system
C) deficit spending system
D) reduced income taxes system

Question 20

Which member of the plural executive oversees state-owned land, including open beaches and submerged land off the coast in the Gulf of Mexico?

A) The attorney general
B) The commissioner of the General Land Office
C) The lieutenant governor
D) The comptroller of public accounts

Question 21

The General Land Office oversees the _______, which helps fund education.

A) Permanent School Fund
B) STARR Fund
C) Longhorn-Aggie Fund
D) Governor's Excellence Fund

Question 22

The Railroad Commissioner is unsure about the legality of a course of action. So, she asks the attorney general for advice. This advice will come in the form of

A) a law review.
B) an advisory opinion.
C) a binding precedent.
D) a legislation package.

Question 23

Members of the plural executive, such as the attorney general, the lieutenant governor, and the comptroller of public accounts, are

A) independently elected in partisan elections.
B) appointed by the legislature.
C) appointed by the governor.
D) appointed by the governor and then reelected in a partisan election.

Question 24

Suppose the Senate is voting on a piece of legislation and the vote is tied. How is that tie broken?

A) The majority leader gets two votes.
B) A tie means the bill fails.
C) A coin flip breaks the tie.
D) The lieutenant governor votes.

Question 25

Suppose someone would like to lease state-owned lands for oil and gas production. With whom should they negotiate?

A) Governor
B) Attorney general
C) Commissioner of the General Land Office
D) Railroad Commissioner

Question 26

Perhaps the most powerful member of the plural executive is

A) the land commissioner.
B) the attorney general.
C) the lieutenant governor.
D) the comptroller of public accounts.

Question 27

The lieutenant governor serves as the _______ of the Texas Senate, meaning that he or she is in charge of the administrative and procedural duties of the chamber.

A) presiding officer
B) minority leader
C) chancellor
D) director of legislation

Question 28

How is the secretary of state selected in Texas?

A) By the voters in a partisan election
B) By the governor and then confirmed by the Senate
C) By the governor only
D) By the voters in a nonpartisan election

Question 29

Which official oversees elections in Texas?

A) The attorney general
B) The chief justice
C) The election chief
D) The secretary of state

Question 30

How is the commissioner of health and human services selected in Texas?

A) By the voters in a partisan election
B) By the governor and then confirmed by the Senate
C) By the governor only
D) By the voters in a nonpartisan election

Question 31

Bureaucratic organizations staffed by a minimum of three individuals are referred to as

A) independently elected agencies.
B) single-head agencies.
C) multimember agencies.
D) hybrid agencies.

Question 32

If you get an electricity bill that is alarmingly high, you should contact which multimember agency?

A) The Department of Transportation
B) The Department of Health and Human Services
C) The Public Utility Commission
D) The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Question 33

Which agency is in charge of operation and maintenance of the state's massive 80,000-mile highway system, in addition to overseeing aviation, railroads, and other public transportation systems in the state?

A) The Department of Transportation
B) The Department of Health and Human Services
C) The Public Utility Commission
D) The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Question 34

The _______ protects public health, preserves the natural resources of the state, maintains clean air and water, and assures the safe management of waste.

A) Department of Transportation
B) Department of Health and Human Services
C) Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
D) Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Question 35

The Texas Department of Transportation is in charge of

A) the state's highway system.
B) air traffic in Texas.
C) clearing traffic jams.
D) maintaining sidewalks.

Question 36

Which agency is in charge of selling hunting and fishing licenses?

A) The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
B) Sportsman Commission
C) Department of the Interior
D) Department of Recreation

Question 37

How are members of hybrid agencies selected?

A) Some are appointed, some are elected.
B) The are appointed by the Senate, then confirmed by the House.
C) They are initially appointed and then elected.
D) Members of the agency vote for their own leaders.

Question 38

Which bureaucratic agency oversees curriculum in primary and secondary schools?

A) State Board of Education
B) Board of Regents
C) Texas Independent Mega District
D) The State Senate

Question 39

Bureaucratic organizations whose leaders are selected by a mixture of appointments and elections are known as

A) independently elected agencies.
B) single-head agencies.
C) multimember agencies.
D) hybrid agencies.

Question 40

How are multimember commissioners selected?

A) Through district or statewide elections
B) Through city elections
C) Through national elections
D) Through appointment

Question 41

Which of the following commissions deals primarily with the regulation of the oil and gas industry?

A) The Texas Railroad Commission
B) The Texas Ethics Commission
C) The Texas Oil Commission
D) The Public Utility Commission

Question 42

The _______ oversees campaign contributions and regulates and enforces lobbying activities.

A) Texas Railroad Commission
B) Texas Ethics Commission
C) State Board of Education
D) Public Utility Commission

Question 43

The _______ is responsible for the oversight of public primary and secondary education, setting curriculum standards, and establishing graduation requirements.

A) Higher Education Coordinating Board
B) State Board of Education
C) Texas Ethics Commission
D) Public Utility Commission

Question 44

Why does the governor have less influence over multimember agencies?

A) All members are appointed at the same time.
B) Member terms are often staggered.
C) Members are appointed by the Senate.
D) Members are always elected.

Question 45

One consequence of a plural executive is policy making is often

A) streamlined.
B) quick.
C) efficient.
D) sluggish.

Question 46

What typically happens when an agency is marked to be "sunsetted"?

A) They completely cease to exist.
B) Their responsibilities are transferred to other agencies.
C) They immediately stop operating.
D) The voters make the ultimate decision.

Question 47

Suppose the legislature conducts hearings to determine whether agencies are compliant with legislative policies. These hearings are called

A) markup.
B) compliance.
C) review.
D) oversight.

Question 48

The lieutenant governor also sits on several _______ boards.

A) county
B) judicial
C) executive
D) legislative

Question 49

Which bureaucratic agency reviews whether other bureaucratic agencies are still useful to Texas?

A) Small Government Agency
B) Texas Ethics Commission
C) Sunset Advisory Commission
D) Utility Commission

Question 50

While the governor appoints many members of the bureaucracy, the legislature can _______ members of the bureaucracy.

A) imprison
B) set minimum qualifications for
C) dismiss
D) fire for any reason

Question 51

Describe the plural executive in Texas.

Question 52

Define bureaucracy.

Question 53

Bureaucrats engage in implementation. What does this mean?

Question 54

Why do bureaucrats "get a bad rap"?

Question 55

Why Is the lieutenant governor important in Texas?

Question 56

Explain the "plural executive" in Texas and how this diffuses power.

Question 57

Describe the Texas bureaucracy. What do bureaucrats do? How does the size of our bureaucracy compare to other states?

Question 58

Name the members of the plural executive that are elected. Why do they have autonomy?

Question 59

Explain the position of the lieutenant governor in Texas. What makes the role so powerful?

Question 60

Explain the position of the attorney general in Texas. What role does he or she play in Texas politics?