Question 1

The line-item veto in Texas was eliminated in 1866.

Accepted Answer

The line-item veto in Texas was not eliminated in 1866; it is still a power held by the Texas governor, allowing them to veto specific provisions of a bill without rejecting the entire legislation.

Question 2

Under the Republic of Texas, the chief executive officer was the president.

Accepted Answer

The Republic of Texas, which existed from 1836 to 1846, had a president as its chief executive officer, similar to the United States.

Question 3

Texas is one of the few states that does not have a line-item veto.

Accepted Answer

The Governor of Texas does have the power of a line-item veto, allowing them to veto specific parts of a bill, particularly in appropriations bills.

Question 4

Only one governor has been impeached and removed from office since the writing of the 1876 constitution.

Accepted Answer

Only Governor James E. Ferguson has been impeached and removed from office since the writing of the 1876 constitution.

Question 5

The speaker of the House succeeds the governor if the office becomes vacant midterm.

Accepted Answer

In the United States, if a governor's office becomes vacant, the lieutenant governor typically succeeds the governor, not the speaker of the House.

Question 6

When the governor acts in his or her role of chief of state, he or she is representing the state of Texas in its relationships with officials outside the state.

Accepted Answer

The governor, as chief of state, represents Texas in interactions with other states and the federal government, acting as the symbolic leader of the state.

Question 7

The governor's message is delivered to the legislature.

Accepted Answer

The governor's message, often referred to as the "State of the State" address, is typically delivered to the legislature to outline the governor's priorities and legislative agenda.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

The Texas governor is considered one of the weaker governors in terms of appointment power and tenure due to the plural executive system, which limits the governor's control over the executive branch.

Question 9

The governor appoints more agency heads today than ever before.

Accepted Answer

The governor has more power to appoint agency heads today than in the past due to the growth of the executive branch and the increasing number of agencies created by the legislature.

Question 10

Governors' appointees have tended to overrepresent Hispanics.

Accepted Answer

Governors' appointees have historically underrepresented Hispanics compared to their population size in many regions.

Question 11

Key appointments often go to the governor's largest campaign contributors.

Accepted Answer

Political appointments can sometimes be influenced by campaign contributions, as donors may be rewarded with positions or influence.

Question 12

Texas governors must perform all of their official duties without the help of a staff.

Accepted Answer

Texas governors have a staff to assist them with their official duties, including advisors, administrative personnel, and other support staff.

Question 13

Public opinion leadership is particularly important to Texas governors because they are constitutionally weak governors.

Accepted Answer

Texas governors have limited formal powers compared to governors in other states, so they rely on public opinion leadership to influence policy and achieve their goals.

Question 14

Texas is one of the few states with a plural executive.

Accepted Answer

Texas has a plural executive system, meaning that executive power is divided among several independently elected officials, rather than being centralized under a single governor.

Question 15

The governor appoints the comptroller of public accounts.

Accepted Answer

The comptroller of public accounts is typically an elected position, not appointed by the governor.

Question 16

The governor is the top political leader of the executive branch of Texas.

Accepted Answer

The governor of Texas is the chief executive officer of the state, responsible for overseeing the executive branch and implementing state laws.

Question 17

Authority over public education in Texas is highly fragmented.

Accepted Answer

The Texas education system is governed by multiple entities, including the Texas Education Agency, local school districts, and the State Board of Education, leading to a fragmented authority structure.

Question 18

Despite its vast amount of land and natural resources, Texas does not have a bureaucratic agency in charge of administering the state's environmental programs.

Accepted Answer

Texas has the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), which is responsible for administering the state's environmental programs.

Question 19

The revolving door leads to a close relationship between members of legislative committees and the judiciary.

Accepted Answer

The revolving door typically refers to the movement of personnel between roles as legislators or regulators and positions in industries affected by the legislation and regulation, not between legislative committees and the judiciary.

Question 20

What is the difference between a governor's role as chief of state and his or her role of chief executive officer?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the difference between a governor's...

Quiz 5: The Governor and Bureaucracy in Texas