Question 1

There are no limitations or restrictions on when the governor can use the line-item veto.

Accepted Answer

The line-item veto allows a governor to reject individual provisions of a bill without vetoing the entire bill, but its use is typically limited to budget or spending bills, and not all states grant this power to their governors. Additionally, some states may have specific procedural requirements or limitations on how and when the line-item veto can be used.

Question 2

The Texas Department of Insurance
A) regulates the insurance market in Texas under the guidance of an appointed commissioner who serves a two-year term.
B) is responsible for ensuring that all Texans have health insurance as required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
C) is responsible for administering state-funded insurance programs such as Medicaid and CHIP.
D) is an elected multimember board that has responsibility for all insurance markets within Texas.

Accepted Answer

The Texas Department of Insurance is responsible for regulating the insurance market in Texas under the guidance of an appointed commissioner who serves a two-year term. Option B is incorrect because the responsibility of ensuring that all Texans have health insurance as required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is the responsibility of the federal government, not the Texas Department of Insurance. Option C is incorrect because while the Texas Department of Insurance may play a role in administering state-funded insurance programs like Medicaid and CHIP, it is not solely responsible for them. Option D is also incorrect because the Texas Department of Insurance is not an elected board, but rather a state agency.

Question 3

The elected members of the plural executive are ultimately accountable to
A) the governor.
B) the legislature.
C) the voters.
D) the cabinet.

Accepted Answer

The elected members of the plural executive (such as the attorney general, comptroller, and land commissioner) are ultimately accountable to the voters, as they are elected directly by the people of Texas. While they may have some accountability to the governor and the legislature in terms of their duties and functions, their ultimate responsibility and authority comes from the voters who elect them into office.

Question 4

What is the purpose of the Sunset Advisory Commission in Texas?
A) It reviews state agencies every twelve years to see if they are still needed.
B) It administers state programs for the elderly.
C) It oversees the retirement of state bureaucratic workers.
D) It runs the Texas Chamber of Commerce.

Accepted Answer

The Sunset Advisory Commission in Texas reviews state agencies every twelve years to determine whether they should be continued, modified, or abolished. This helps ensure that state government is efficient and effective in meeting the needs of Texans.

Question 5

The Texas Constitution of 1876 placed strict limits on the governor's ability to control the people appointed to office and almost eliminated the possibility that appointees to office could be removed.

Accepted Answer

The Texas Constitution of 1876 did place strict limits on the governor's ability to control appointments to office and made it difficult to remove appointees, particularly those appointed to certain positions such as judgeships.

Question 6

The governor of Texas currently serves a two-year term in office.

Accepted Answer

The governor of Texas serves a four-year term in office.

Question 7

Which office is charged with ensuring the accuracy of official weights and measures?
A) the Department of Agriculture
B) the Department of Weights and Measures
C) the attorney general
D) the comptroller

Accepted Answer

The Department of Agriculture is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of official weights and measures through its National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

Option B is not correct as there is no such department as the Department of Weights and Measures.

Option C is not correct as the attorney general is responsible for enforcing laws and representing the government in legal matters, but not specifically for ensuring the accuracy of official weights and measures.

Option D is not correct as the comptroller is typically responsible for managing and supervising financial matters, but not specifically for ensuring the accuracy of official weights and measures.

Question 8

Which state office was eliminated in 1996?
A) attorney general
B) animal commissioner
C) state treasurer
D) sheriff

Accepted Answer

The state treasurer's office was eliminated in 1996 in the state of Kentucky.

Question 9

The Secretary of State in Texas works with organizations to increase the number of registered voters.

Accepted Answer

The Secretary of State in Texas is responsible for overseeing elections, which includes working with organizations to increase voter registration.

Question 10

The Texas governor has many formal powers, making him or her one of the United States' strongest chief executives.

Accepted Answer

The Texas governor is often considered to have relatively weak formal powers compared to other state governors in the United States, especially in terms of appointment powers, budgetary control, and veto powers, which are limited or shared with other state officials or bodies.

Question 11

Impeachment of a governor begins in the Texas Senate.

Accepted Answer

Impeachment proceedings against a governor in Texas begin in the Texas House of Representatives, not the Senate. The House has the sole power to impeach, while the Senate conducts the trial on the impeachment.

Question 12

Authority over railroads throughout Texas was given to the ________ in 2005.
A) Railroad Commission of Texas
B) Texas Department of Transportation
C) lieutenant governor
D) attorney general

Accepted Answer

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) was given authority over railroads throughout Texas in 2005, taking over responsibilities that include planning, coordinating, and implementing rail operations within the state.

Question 13

In Texas, what is the most important power of the state comptroller?
A) estimating state revenues for the legislature
B) overseeing the state police and the Texas Rangers
C) enforcing all state land-use and -takings laws
D) regulating the oil industry in the state

Accepted Answer

The most important power of the state comptroller in Texas is estimating state revenues for the legislature. This plays a crucial role in the state budget and the allocation of funds for various programs and services.

Question 14

Ann Richards was the first woman to serve as governor in Texas.

Accepted Answer

Miriam "Ma" Ferguson was the first woman to serve as governor of Texas, taking office in 1925.

Question 15

The governor makes approximately 3,000 appointments to various state posts during a single term in office.

Accepted Answer

The governor has the power to appoint individuals to various state positions during their term, and this number can vary from state to state. However, on average, the governor makes approximately 3,000 appointments during a single term in office.

Question 16

Only the Comptroller of Public Accounts has the ability to submit a budget to the legislature.

Accepted Answer

While the Comptroller of Public Accounts provides revenue estimates and other information to the legislature to assist in the development of the state budget, the Governor is the one who ultimately submits a budget proposal to the legislature.

Question 17

The legislature has the ability to declare martial law.

Accepted Answer

The power to declare martial law usually rests with the executive branch, not the legislature.

Question 18

Members of the State Board of Education (SBOE) are elected in single-member districts. Therefore,
A) voters in Texas have the ability to influence public education policy, such as high school graduation requirements and textbook adoptions.
B) there will always be a balance between Democrats and Republicans on the SBOE.
C) there are the same number of members on the SBOE as members of the Texas Senate.
D) only registered Democrats or Republicans can run for positions on the SBOE.

Accepted Answer

Because members of the State Board of Education are elected in single-member districts, voters in Texas have the ability to influence public education policy by choosing who they want to represent them on the board. This includes decisions on high school graduation requirements and textbook adoptions.

Question 19

The Railroad Commission of Texas's strategy of limited oil production to maintain prices was adopted by which organization?
A) APEC
B) TPP
C) OPEC
D) BP

Accepted Answer

The Railroad Commission of Texas's strategy of limited oil production to maintain prices was adopted by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Question 20

In 2017, approximately how many people worked for the state bureaucracy in Texas?
A) 330,000
B) 290,000
C) 150,000
D) 410,000

Accepted Answer

In 2017, approximately 330,000 people worked for the state bureaucracy in Texas, reflecting the size of the state's government workforce.

Quiz 8: The Executive Branch

There are no limitations or restrictions on when the governor can use the line-item veto.

The Texas Department of Insurance

The elected members of the plural executive are ultimately accountable to

What is the purpose of the Sunset Advisory Commission in Texas?

The Texas Constitution of 1876 placed strict limits on the governor's ability to control the people appointed to office and almost eliminated the possibility that appointees to office could be removed.

The governor of Texas currently serves a two-year term in office.

Which office is charged with ensuring the accuracy of official weights and measures?

Which state office was eliminated in 1996?

The Secretary of State in Texas works with organizations to increase the number of registered voters.

The Texas governor has many formal powers, making him or her one of the United States' strongest chief executives.

Impeachment of a governor begins in the Texas Senate.

Authority over railroads throughout Texas was given to the ________ in 2005.

In Texas, what is the most important power of the state comptroller?

Ann Richards was the first woman to serve as governor in Texas.

The governor makes approximately 3,000 appointments to various state posts during a single term in office.

Only the Comptroller of Public Accounts has the ability to submit a budget to the legislature.

The legislature has the ability to declare martial law.

Members of the State Board of Education (SBOE) are elected in single-member districts. Therefore,

The Railroad Commission of Texas's strategy of limited oil production to maintain prices was adopted by which organization?

In 2017, approximately how many people worked for the state bureaucracy in Texas?