Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Who was the longest-serving governor in the history of Texas?

Accepted Answer

A)  William Clements 
B)  George W. Bush 
C)  Rick Perry 
D)  Dolph Briscoe 
A)  William Clements 
B)  George W. Bush 
C)  Rick Perry 
D)  Dolph Briscoe

Question 3

Executive power in Texas is

Accepted Answer

A)  divided among multiple officials, each elected by the people, to ensure that no one person has too much power. 
B)  modeled after executive power in the federal government, where the governor and lieutenant governor have powers similar to the president and vice president. 
C)  set up so that Texas has one of the strongest governors in the United States. 
D)  divided among multiple officials, each appointed by the governor, to ensure that no one person has too much power. 
A)  divided among multiple officials, each elected by the people, to ensure that no one person has too much power. 
B)  modeled after executive power in the federal government, where the governor and lieutenant governor have powers similar to the president and vice president. 
C)  set up so that Texas has one of the strongest governors in the United States. 
D)  divided among multiple officials, each appointed by the governor, to ensure that no one person has too much power.

Question 4

Which of the following is the best example of the Texas governor's exercise of senatorial courtesy?

Accepted Answer

A)  The governor will not appoint someone to office unless that appointee's state senator agrees. 
B)  The governor will not veto a bill without first giving the bill's Senate sponsor an opportunity to amend it. 
C)  The Senate will use the governor's budget plan as its blueprint for the upcoming session. 
D)  The governor will address the full Senate at the beginning of each legislative session. 
A)  The governor will not appoint someone to office unless that appointee's state senator agrees. 
B)  The governor will not veto a bill without first giving the bill's Senate sponsor an opportunity to amend it. 
C)  The Senate will use the governor's budget plan as its blueprint for the upcoming session. 
D)  The governor will address the full Senate at the beginning of each legislative session.

Question 5

The governor of Texas has

Accepted Answer

A)  strong formal powers granted by the Texas Constitution. 
B)  few formal powers, so the office is one of the weakest chief executives in the United States. 
C)  the power to appoint all officials in the executive branch. 
D)  the sole responsibility for budget-making. 
A)  strong formal powers granted by the Texas Constitution. 
B)  few formal powers, so the office is one of the weakest chief executives in the United States. 
C)  the power to appoint all officials in the executive branch. 
D)  the sole responsibility for budget-making.

Question 6

The structure of the Texas executive branch is centralized, with much formal authority allocated to the governor.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The lieutenant governor is the only member of the plural executive, other than the governor,

Accepted Answer

A)  to have both executive and legislative powers. 
B)  to have state-provided housing. 
C)  to be elected in a statewide election. 
D)  to have judicial powers. 
A)  to have both executive and legislative powers. 
B)  to have state-provided housing. 
C)  to be elected in a statewide election. 
D)  to have judicial powers.

Question 8

Which of the following is the best example of the Texas governor's military powers?

Accepted Answer

A)  The governor can declare martial law during a natural disaster. 
B)  The governor can use federal troops stationed in camps within Texas. 
C)  The governor receives a National Guard pension when he or she retires. 
D)  The governor automatically possesses the rank of general in the U.S. Armed Forces. 
A)  The governor can declare martial law during a natural disaster. 
B)  The governor can use federal troops stationed in camps within Texas. 
C)  The governor receives a National Guard pension when he or she retires. 
D)  The governor automatically possesses the rank of general in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Question 9

As part of his or her military and police power, the governor has responsibility for which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Texas Rangers and the Texas State Guard 
B)  sheriffs' departments in counties with populations less than 50,000 
C)  security at airports and seaports 
D)  animal and insect control 
A)  the Texas Rangers and the Texas State Guard 
B)  sheriffs' departments in counties with populations less than 50,000 
C)  security at airports and seaports 
D)  animal and insect control

Question 10

Why is the Texas governor's power exceptionally weak as compared to that of the governors of some other states?

Accepted Answer

A)  lack of a line-item veto 
B)  inability to appoint any administrative heads 
C)  tenure limits 
D)  plural executive system 
A)  lack of a line-item veto 
B)  inability to appoint any administrative heads 
C)  tenure limits 
D)  plural executive system

Question 11

In Texas, why are gubernatorial elections held in off-years?

Accepted Answer

A)  so that gubernatorial elections will not be influenced by a presidential election 
B)  so that candidates cannot run for governor and a federal office at the same time 
C)  so that voters will not become overwhelmed by too many candidates in one year 
D)  because Texas happened to become part of the United States during an off-year 
A)  so that gubernatorial elections will not be influenced by a presidential election 
B)  so that candidates cannot run for governor and a federal office at the same time 
C)  so that voters will not become overwhelmed by too many candidates in one year 
D)  because Texas happened to become part of the United States during an off-year

Question 12

Why did the Texas Constitution establish a plural executive?

Accepted Answer

A)  Texas was following the structure of the federal executive. 
B)  There was suspicion of a strong chief executive. 
C)  The complications of running a state as large as Texas necessitate a plural executive. 
D)  It was necessary in order for the executive branch to be as dominant as possible. 
A)  Texas was following the structure of the federal executive. 
B)  There was suspicion of a strong chief executive. 
C)  The complications of running a state as large as Texas necessitate a plural executive. 
D)  It was necessary in order for the executive branch to be as dominant as possible.

Question 13

What makes the greatest difference between strong and weak governors of Texas?

Accepted Answer

A)  the willingness to use formal powers 
B)  the frequency of vetoes 
C)  personality differences 
D)  the partisan makeup of the legislature 
A)  the willingness to use formal powers 
B)  the frequency of vetoes 
C)  personality differences 
D)  the partisan makeup of the legislature

Question 14

The governor has some control over the final appropriations bill through the use of the ________ veto.

Accepted Answer

A)  pocket 
B)  amendatory 
C)  reduction 
D)  line-item 
A)  pocket 
B)  amendatory 
C)  reduction 
D)  line-item

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

Who was the longest-serving governor in the history of Texas?

Executive power in Texas is

Which of the following is the best example of the Texas governor's exercise of senatorial courtesy?

The governor of Texas has

The structure of the Texas executive branch is centralized, with much formal authority allocated to the governor.

The lieutenant governor is the only member of the plural executive, other than the governor,

Which of the following is the best example of the Texas governor's military powers?

As part of his or her military and police power, the governor has responsibility for which of the following?

Why is the Texas governor's power exceptionally weak as compared to that of the governors of some other states?

In Texas, why are gubernatorial elections held in off-years?

Why did the Texas Constitution establish a plural executive?

What makes the greatest difference between strong and weak governors of Texas?

The governor has some control over the final appropriations bill through the use of the ________ veto.

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

The Texas Constitution

Texas in the Federal System

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Legislature

The Judiciary

Local Government

Public Finance

Public Policy

Crime and Corrections Policy

Building the Future: Public Policies for a Changing Texas

Filters

Exam 8: The Executive Branch

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

Who was the longest-serving governor in the history of Texas?

Executive power in Texas is

Which of the following is the best example of the Texas governor's exercise of senatorial courtesy?

The governor of Texas has

The structure of the Texas executive branch is centralized, with much formal authority allocated to the governor.

The lieutenant governor is the only member of the plural executive, other than the governor,

Which of the following is the best example of the Texas governor's military powers?

As part of his or her military and police power, the governor has responsibility for which of the following?

Why is the Texas governor's power exceptionally weak as compared to that of the governors of some other states?

In Texas, why are gubernatorial elections held in off-years?

Why did the Texas Constitution establish a plural executive?

What makes the greatest difference between strong and weak governors of Texas?

The governor has some control over the final appropriations bill through the use of the ________ veto.

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

The Texas Constitution

Texas in the Federal System

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Legislature

The Judiciary

Local Government

Public Finance

Public Policy

Crime and Corrections Policy

Building the Future: Public Policies for a Changing Texas

Filters