Deck 20: The Texas Executive and Bureaucracy

Question 1

Agencies headed by elected officials in Texas are __________ the governor.

A) under control of
B) closely-managed by
C) answerable to
D) autonomous of
E) isolated from

Answer 1

autonomous of

Question 2

The plural executive can make it difficult to have

A) an effective governor.
B) any success passing legislation.
C) a balanced budget.
D) a nonpartisan legislature.
E) a focused legislative agenda.

Answer 2

a focused legislative agenda.

Question 3

The power of the Texas executive is distributed among all of the following EXCEPT the

A) attorney general.
B) house speaker.
C) lieutenant governor.
D) Texas Railroad Commission.
E) State Board of Education.

Answer 3

house speaker.

Question 4

UNLIKE U.S. vice presidents, Texas lieutenant governors

A) fill the position of the chief executive when the position is vacated.
B) are elected independently of the chief executive.
C) serve a legislative function.
D) are part of the executive branch.
E) are elected.

Question 5

The multi-billion-dollar suit filed by Attorney General Dan Morales in 1996 was against

A) tobacco companies.
B) oil companies.
C) illegal immigrants.
D) employers of illegal immigrants.
E) the governor.

Question 6

The main function of the Texas secretary of state is overseeing

A) public lands.
B) elections.
C) state expenditures.
D) the office of the comptroller of public accounts.
E) the state treasurer.

Question 7

The comptroller of public accounts, though a tax official, exercises great authority over state

A) expenditures.
B) law.
C) legislative dealings.
D) custody cases.
E) budgetary processes.

Question 8

The state of Texas has over _____ boards and commissions.

A) 50
B) 100
C) 150
D) 200
E) 250

Question 9

There are close-possibly corrupt-historical relations between the oil and gas industry and the

A) FCC.
B) Texas Railroad Commission.
C) state treasurer.
D) office of the comptroller.
E) State Board of Education.

Question 10

A plural executive is one

A) with no chief executive.
B) represented by the legislature and the executive.
C) that is modeled on the U.S. executive.
D) where the power of the executive is split among two or more persons.
E) where the governor has more power than the other two branches.

Question 11

Sunset reviews function to ensure that agencies

A) are well-funded.
B) are not "captured."
C) are working well.
D) avoid partisan tendencies.
E) conclude their business promptly.

Question 12

The practice of moving from a regulatory agency to a better-paid job in the industry the agency governed is called

A) the revolving door.
B) "foxes guarding the henhouse."
C) transfer of responsibility.
D) the iron triangle.
E) co-option.

Question 13

A consistent problem with regulatory agencies is their boards, often composed of

A) revolving door members.
B) recent college graduates.
C) those the board is charged with regulating.
D) lifetime politicians.
E) political novices.

Question 14

Comptroller John Sharp initiated performance reviews of state agencies in an effort to

A) improve delivery of services.
B) eliminate co-option.
C) save money.
D) stop the revolving door.
E) end sunset reviews.

Question 15

An important check on the functioning of agencies is the ten-member body that represents the legislature and the general public, known as the

A) State Review Board.
B) Judicial Review Board.
C) Legislative Advisory Board.
D) Sunrise Commission.
E) Sunset Advisory Committee.

Question 16

The unusual number of elected executive officials in the Texas government reduces the power of the governor.

Question 17

Arguments in favor of the plural executive say it is successful in limiting the power of the governor.

Question 18

Under the two-party system, strife in the Texas executive has increased even among members of the same party.

Question 19

Texas governors have the important power of calling an unlimited number of special sessions.

Question 20

Although the governor has very little control over the process of creating the budget, he can exercise budgetary power through the line-item veto.

Question 21

A veto that comes in the twenty days after the legislature adjourns is easily overridden by a special session.

Question 22

The judicial powers of the Texas governor are limited to extradition and mitigating criminal penalties.

Question 23

The attorney general is responsible for defending state laws.

Question 24

The state of Texas employs its workers through a merit system.

Question 25

The number of Texas state employees has more than doubled since 1972.

Question 26

In Texas, the State Board of Education is part of the

A) legislative branch.
B) executive branch.
C) judicial branch.
D) boards and commissions appointed by the governor.
E) lieutenant governor's office.

Question 27

All of the following are directly elected by the people of Texas EXCEPT the

A) Commissioner of Agriculture.
B) Texas Railroad Commission.
C) State Board of Education.
D) Comptroller of Public Accounts.
E) Adjutant General.

Question 28

Cooperation within the offices of the executive branch of the Texas government prior to about 1870 can be said to have been due to

A) Democratic control.
B) Republican control.
C) the one-party system.
D) the two-party system.
E) control by the Establishment.

Question 29

Those who support the plural executive claim that deadlocks and delays are a necessary part of achieving

A) efficiency.
B) a clear direction in government.
C) democracy.
D) reelection.
E) separation of powers.

Question 30

Texans developed the plural executive because of the tradition of

A) moralism.
B) traditionalism.
C) individualism.
D) support for a strong government.
E) fear of a weak governor.

Question 31

How many women have served as governor of Texas?

A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5
E) 6

Question 32

How many minorities have served as governor of Texas?

A) 0
B) 1
C) 2
D) 3
E) 4

Question 33

George W. Bush was unusual among governors in having had

A) a background as an attorney.
B) begun his career as lieutenant governor.
C) begun his career as attorney general.
D) no political career prior to taking office.
E) a long political career prior to taking office.

Question 34

The governor's staff grew from 4 to over ____under Governor Briscoe.

A) 400
B) 300
C) 200
D) 100
E) 50

Question 35

Special sessions have all of the following drawbacks EXCEPT

A) risking the governor's political influence.
B) being useless in handling emergency situations.
C) legislation creeping in that was not the chief issue of the session.
D) lost income to legislators.
E) the legislators may continue to refuse to act.

Question 36

Governor Rick Perry used his veto power ___ times during the 2001 session.

A) 22
B) 42
C) 62
D) 82
E) 102

Question 37

The governor's veto has been overridden by the legislature only ____ time(s) in seventy years.

A) 0
B) 1
C) 2
D) 3
E) 4

Question 38

Governor Ann Richards tried to increase the power of the governor by gaining

A) the line-item veto.
B) a three-quarters requirement for overriding a veto.
C) appointment of heads of state agencies.
D) a six-year term for governors.
E) control of the Texas house.

Question 39

The governor's choice of individuals for boards and commissions requires a _____ approval of the senate.

A) simple majority
B) two-thirds
C) three-quarters
D) four-fifths
E) unanimous

Question 40

Among the appointive powers of the Texas governor is the power to

A) appoint the lieutenant governor.
B) appoint the chief justice of the state supreme court.
C) replace the speaker of the house.
D) chose the presiding officer of the state senate.
E) fill judicial vacancies.

Question 41

Most Texas state board members serve terms of __ years.

A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5
E) 6

Question 42

The governor is responsible for

A) executions.
B) extraditions.
C) elections.
D) restitutions.
E) the legislative calendar.

Question 43

The governor's power as ________ has increased under the two-party system.

A) head of the legislature
B) head of a unitary executive
C) commander-in-chief
D) speaker of the house
E) party leader

Question 44

Interest groups often have a __________relationship with governors.

A) symbiotic
B) predatory
C) hostile
D) dependent
E) independent

Question 45

Governors use the media for all of the following EXCEPT

A) leaks of information.
B) pseudo-events.
C) fundraising.
D) mobilizing public opinion.
E) press conferences.

Question 46

Lieutenant governors took over the highest executive office when governors left office early how many times in Texas history?

A) 4
B) 5
C) 6
D) 7
E) 8

Question 47

Lieutenant Governor Rick Perry became governor in 2000 when

A) Governor George W. Bush was elected president.
B) he was elected.
C) Governor George W. Bush was impeached.
D) the former governor died.
E) he was appointed by the senate.

Question 48

One of the most important powers of the Texas lieutenant governor is as

A) speaker of the house.
B) commander-in-chief of the Texas National Guard.
C) chief judicial officer.
D) head of intra-state relations.
E) chair of the Legislative Budget Board.

Question 49

The Texas attorney general represents

A) the governor.
B) criminals.
C) the state of Texas.
D) civil plaintiffs.
E) corporate clients.

Question 50

The attorney general's office does all of the following EXCEPT

A) defend state law.
B) defend regulatory orders.
C) enforce antitrust laws.
D) enforce child custody payments.
E) prosecute criminal law.

Question 51

The suit brought by Attorney General Dan Morales

A) helped him become governor.
B) ended his career.
C) was a failure.
D) a blow for the Democratic Party.
E) a blow for the Republican Party.

Question 52

The state's main tax executive is the

A) chief financial officer.
B) speaker of the house.
C) lieutenant governor.
D) comptroller of public accounts.
E) adjutant general.

Question 53

The comptroller of public accounts has the powerful role of ensuring that state expenditures

A) are matched by increasing tax revenue.
B) will not be more than 10% more than projected revenues.
C) are balanced between different agencies.
D) are less than or equal to projected revenues.
E) are not unmerited.

Question 54

The Texas state land commissioner is responsible for

A) oil extraction.
B) housing.
C) state lands.
D) natural disasters.
E) agriculture.

Question 55

The state executive officer in charge of elections is the

A) state treasurer.
B) lieutenant governor.
C) attorney general.
D) governor.
E) secretary of state.

Question 56

The office of state treasurer of Texas

A) is under the office of the secretary of state.
B) answers directly to the governor.
C) no longer exists.
D) is one of the most powerful in the executive branch.
E) shares power with the comptroller's office.

Question 57

Which of the following divisions of the Texas executive is seen as ripe for being abolished and its responsibilities shifted to other agencies?

A) The Railroad Commission
B) The Agricultural Commission
C) The State Board of Education
D) The State Treasurer
E) The Election Commission

Question 58

Which elected state body is accused of making deals with those it was intended to regulate, and has frequently been used as a stepping stone to higher office?

A) The Agricultural Commission
B) The Railroad Commission
C) The State Board of Education
D) The house of representatives
E) The senate

Question 59

The state bureaucracy in Texas consists of about 250 state agencies and universities and approximately _________ employees.

A) 300,000
B) 500,000
C) 700,000
D) 900,000
E) 1,000,000

Question 60

Two factors in Texas that tend to shift more responsibility to state agencies are

A) the bicameral legislature and the emphasis on limited government.
B) a limited budget and the plural executive.
C) biennial legislative sessions and a limited budget.
D) the plural executive and biennial legislative sessions.
E) the size of the state and the plural executive.

Question 61

Which level of the bureaucracy showed the greatest percentage growth from 1972 to 2002?

A) school districts
B) municipalities
C) counties
D) special districts
E) state

Question 62

Education employs about what percent of state employees?

A) 19
B) 29
C) 39
D) 49
E) 59

Question 63

Higher education, public safety, corrections, and social services account for ___% of state government employees.

A) 40
B) 50
C) 60
D) 70
E) 80

Question 64

The co-option of agencies means an agency has come under the control of the

A) opposite party.
B) industry it was supposed to regulate.
C) legislature.
D) chief executive.
E) judiciary.

Question 65

The revolving door was limited by

A) the Public Utility Regulatory Act.
B) co-option.
C) sunset legislation.
D) legislative budgetary control.
E) the Public Utility Commission.

Question 66

The concept embodied by the Public Utility Regulatory Act of 1975 that created the Public Utility Commission was later extended to other agencies to control

A) sunset legislation.
B) the revolving door.
C) "foxes guarding the henhouse."
D) co-option.
E) unfunded mandates.

Question 67

Sunset reviews occur every ____ years.

A) 6
B) 8
C) 10
D) 12
E) 14

Question 68

Anything created by the state __________ is not subject to sunset review.

A) constitution
B) governor
C) legislature
D) executive branch
E) Legislative Advisory Board

Question 69

A sunset review can result in no action, restructuring of, or __________ of an agency.

A) censure
B) mandatory policy review
C) co-option
D) fining
E) abolishment

Question 70

Most sunset bills

A) call for the termination of an agency.
B) schedule the termination of an agency.
C) recommend modifications to an agency.
D) give an agency a final warning.
E) are meant to be taken as a threat to an agency.

Question 71

Postponement for two years of action on the Public Utility Commission sunset bill illustrates

A) the efficiency guaranteed under the sunset law.
B) poorly performing regulatory agencies.
C) battles for control of some agencies.
D) deadwood in the bureaucracy.
E) the revolving door.

Question 72

From 1979 to 2009, the sunset process reviewed 398 agencies and abolished ___ agencies.

A) 45
B) 55
C) 65
D) 75
E) 85

Question 73

Hiring state employees is the responsibility of the

A) Texas Workforce Commission.
B) individual state agencies.
C) General Services Commission.
D) Civil Service Commission.
E) comptroller.

Question 74

The state equivalent of the Civil Service Commission has not been adopted in Texas, largely because of the tradition of

A) individualism.
B) corporatism.
C) privatization.
D) decentralization.
E) patronage.

Question 75

Texas has avoided following the hiring practices of the Civil Services Commission, which is based on

A) patronage.
B) merit.
C) want ads.
D) decentralization.
E) no one specific method.

Question 76

The governor of Texas is part of a plural executive.

Question 77

Elected heads of Texas agencies are autonomous of the governor's control.

Question 78

Atheists may not become governors of Texas.

Question 79

Impeachment implements the concept of separation of powers.

Question 80

Governor Ann Richards fought to permit private citizens to carry handguns.