Deck 8: Governors of Texas

Question 1

To be governor, one must be at least 30 years old and a resident of Texas for at least five years preceding the election. These are _______ requirements to be governor

A) cultural
B) procedural
C) informal
D) formal

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Most Texas governors have been white Protestant men. These are _______ requirements to be governor

A) cultural
B) procedural
C) informal
D) formal

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Some states specify someone can only be elected governor twice. These requirements are

A) term limits.
B) limitations of the Executive.
C) recommendations for time in office.
D) Article II limits.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Those drafting the 1876 Constitution were suspicious of executive power, so they set the governor's term for

A) 2 years.
B) 10 years.
C) life.
D) 5 years.

Question 5

In 2000, Governor George W. Bush resigned to prepare for his upcoming term as President of the United States. Which official took over as governor?

A) The speaker of the house
B) The attorney general
C) The lieutenant governor
D) The vice governor

Question 6

The sequential passing of authority from one person to another if the previous person is unable to serve is referred to as

A) passing the torch.
B) political succession.
C) impeachment.
D) removal powers.

Question 7

The governor is able to choose whom he or she would like for a number of government positions. This is the _______ power.

A) corrupt
B) campaign
C) spoils
D) appointment

Question 8

Someone was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The governor reduces her sentence to 10 years. The governor has just issued _______.

A) judicial override
B) a pardon
C) clemency
D) executive review

Question 9

The constitutional power of the veto is nicknamed the _______ because it is such a valuable bargaining tool.

A) "representation curse"
B) "tricky gift"
C) "governor's gift"
D) "legislator's gift"

Question 10

Governors have the ability to suggest legislation to the legislature. This is referred to as the governor's power to

A) recommend legislation.
B) issue a proclamation.
C) issue a veto.
D) call a special session.

Question 11

During the first sixty days of each legislative session, lawmakers are barred from passing legislation. The constitution allows the governor to declare _______ and have it be prioritized in the first sixty days.

A) an inappropriate use of funding
B) a priority item
C) an "emergency" item
D) an appropriation

Question 12

Special sessions of the legislature are often nicknamed

A) the "governor's session."
B) the "late-late session."
C) the "lieutenant governor's session."
D) the "left-over session."

Question 13

The governor has vetoed a bill, but the legislature would still like to see this bill become law. How can they accomplish this?

A) They must convince the governor to sign it.
B) They can override the veto with a majority vote in both chambers.
C) They can override the veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
D) The Senate can override the veto with a majority vote.

Question 14

In order for the governor to issue a pardon he or she needs the support of the

A) victim's family.
B) lieutenant governor.
C) Texas Prisons Board.
D) attorney general.

Question 15

A veto that allows the governor to reject a specific provision in a bill without rejecting the whole bill is called a

A) veto.
B) special-executive veto.
C) line-item veto.
D) budget-item veto.

Question 16

As the president is the commander-in-chief of the US military, the Texas governor serves as commander-in-chief of the Texas military forces, except when

A) the governor is out of the state.
B) they are called into service of the United States.
C) the United States is in a state of war.
D) the state of Texas is underfunded.

Question 17

The power to reduce or delay punishment for a crime is called granting

A) clemency.
B) a pardon.
C) a reprieve.
D) a reduction.

Question 18

The power to forgive a crime is called granting.

A) clemency.
B) a pardon.
C) a reprieve.
D) a reduction.

Question 19

The legislature passes a bill which the governor does not want to see become law. He or she can

A) formally reject the bill.
B) veto the bill.
C) sign the bill out of law.
D) order the legislature to withdraw the bill.

Question 20

Governors often veto to bring state policy in line with their

A) budget goals.
B) political philosophy.
C) personal finances.
D) friends' goals.

Question 21

The legislature sends the governor a bill. If the governor ignores the bill for 10 days, what happens?

A) It goes to the Chief Justice for his or her signature.
B) It is automatically vetoed.
C) It goes to the lieutenant governor for his or her signature.
D) It becomes law without his or her signature.

Question 22

In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Governor Abbott issued _______ declaring the Coastal Bend a disaster area. This allowed emergency responders to begin work.

A) an executive order
B) a proclamation
C) a directive
D) legislation

Question 23

The legal process in which the legislative branch has the authority to indict and remove a public official is called

A) losing an election.
B) executive removal.
C) impeachment.
D) indictment.

Question 24

During the covid-19 pandemic, Governor Abbott issued _______ which required certain businesses to close.

A) an executive order
B) a proclamation
C) a directive
D) legislation

Question 25

The governor has the power, with the support of the majority of the Texas Prisons Board, to set aside convictions of those in Texas prisons. This is the _______ power.

A) pardon
B) judicial review
C) second-chance
D) reentry

Question 26

Suppose the governor believes an urgent matter requires the legislature's immediate attention, but the legislature is not scheduled to be in session for another year. What can the governor do?

A) Request the County Judges to convene
B) Ask the Texas Supreme Court to step in
C) Nothing, the governor must wait
D) Call a special session

Question 27

Legally binding orders from the governor that are used to direct government, especially state agencies, in the execution of law are called

A) executive orders.
B) proclamations.
C) executive resolutions.
D) executive laws.

Question 28

On the whole, the number of executive orders and proclamations has _______ over time.

A) dramatically decreased
B) decreased
C) stayed roughly the same
D) increased

Question 29

Gubernatorial orders that are used to make factual determinations to trigger other available powers are

A) executive orders.
B) proclamations.
C) executive resolutions.
D) executive laws.

Question 30

When Governor Abbott suspended more than 200 laws or regulations (from vehicle registration to hotel and motel occupancy taxes) for victims of Hurricane Harvey for 14 days following the storm, he did so using

A) executive orders.
B) proclamations.
C) executive resolutions.
D) executive laws.

Question 31

The governor is asked to sign a bill. He likes the bill, but there is one provision he does not like; so he signs the bill, except for the part he does not like. He has just used the _______ veto.

A) line-item
B) selective
C) expansive
D) discretionary

Question 32

The governor's staff communicates with members of the legislature when it is session in order to get legislation passed. This is known as

A) meddling.
B) executive legislating.
C) keeping score.
D) working the floor.

Question 33

To get legislation passed, the governor invites legislators to dinner at her office and offers to endorse legislators in their reelection bids in return for help passing bills favored by the governor. This is an example of

A) logrolling.
B) corruption.
C) formal powers.
D) informal powers.

Question 34

The governor is frustrated with the state legislature and sends out a series of tweets criticizing the Texas House. The governor has just

A) gone public.
B) gotten really petty.
C) vetoed the bill.
D) violated the legislature's role in the law making process.

Question 35

The governor does not get along with a particular lawmaker and regularly vetoes her bills and campaigns against her. This is referred to as

A) meddling.
B) violating separation of powers.
C) going public.
D) keeping score.

Question 36

The governor wants input from citizens on a particular topic. He or she might assemble a group of citizens to study the topic and report back. This is called a

A) governor's study group.
B) citizen advisory group.
C) mini-legislature.
D) policy institute.

Question 37

Informally, the governor serves as the

A) leader of his or her political party.
B) county judge for Travis County.
C) senior U.S. senator.
D) CEO of the Houston Astros.

Question 38

Actions governors might take that are not formally written but are exercised through the activities of the governor are called

A) informal powers.
B) formal powers.
C) unofficial powers.
D) official powers.

Question 39

Governors are granted the formal power to recommend legislation, but they have to work well with members of the legislature to ensure passage of their agenda. This is often referred to as

A) "late-night sessions."
B) "legislative bargaining."
C) "executive coffee breaks."
D) "formal power bargaining."

Question 40

Why are some governors better at legislative bargaining than others?

A) The llegislature has passed laws making it easier for the governor to interact with the legislature.
B) Legislators have gotten less social over the years.
C) It is much easier to bargain with a smart phone than in the old days of landlines.
D) Legislative bargaining comes down to governor personality and strengths.

Question 41

A governor can lend his or her personal prestige to candidates for office with the presumption of reciprocal support. This is typically done through

A) bargaining.
B) nominations.
C) endorsements.
D) donations.

Question 42

An informal power of the governor to use his or her public platform to set the state's political and policy agenda is called

A) giving endorsements.
B) agenda-setting.
C) setting policy initiatives.
D) using veto power.

Question 43

An address that is not constitutionally required but is conventionally delivered at the beginning of a new gubernatorial term known as

A) the state of the state address.
B) the state of the union address.
C) the inaugural speech.
D) the executive address.

Question 44

The governor is constitutionally required to give the legislature an update on the state. Often, governors also set their policy agenda in this speech. The speech is called

A) the State of the State Address.
B) the State of the Union Address.
C) the State of Texas Address.
D) the Governor's Update.

Question 45

Just as presidents take their case to the American people, Texas governors frequently speak directly to the citizens of Texas. This persuasion technique is called _______.

A) "going local."
B) "going public."
C) "using the pulpit."
D) "bullying through speech."

Question 46

The governor's implementation of the budget when the legislature is not in session called

A) fiscal implementation.
B) budget execution.
C) budget appropriations.
D) fiscal appropriations.

Question 47

Recent Texas governors have spent a great deal of time on the road trying to lure jobs to the state. For this reason they are sometimes referred to as the state's

A) "economic cheerleader."
B) "economist."
C) "economist-in-chief."
D) "fiscal leader."

Question 48

On paper the governor in Texas is considered

A) "moderately strong."
B) "moderately weak."
C) "strong."
D) "weak."

Question 49

Which governor served three terms and greatly expanded the power of the Texas governor's office?

A) Ann Richards
B) Rick Perry
C) Sam Houston
D) George W. Bush

Question 50

Governor Perry was in office for more than a decade, and Governor Abbott has announced he plans to stand for a third term. Longer time in office _______ the power of the governor.

A) doesn't change
B) has no impact on
C) decreases
D) increases

Question 51

What are the constitutional requirements for becoming governor in Texas?

Question 52

What informal qualifications have we seen throughout time, as evidenced by those who have held the governorship?

Question 53

What are term limits? Does Texas have term limits?

Question 54

Which governor stayed in office the longest amount of time?

Question 55

How may a governor be constitutionally removed from office?

Question 56

Which governor was impeached and removed from?

Question 57

Who was Texas's first female governor?

Question 58

What is "political succession"?

Question 59

What are executive orders?

Question 60

What are proclamations?

Question 61

Explain the impeachment process and state whether any governors have ever been impeached in Texas. Be as specific as you can.

Question 62

Explain what an executive order is and how it is different from a proclamation.

Question 63

Explain the governor's legislative role.

Question 64

In your view, is the governorship of Texas weak or strong? Back up your claims with specific evidence.