The division of Texas executive power is largely based on
Jacksonian democratic theory.
Which group prefers a decentralized style of government
a. Special-interest groups c. Legislative leadership
b. Bureaucrats d. All of the above are true.
Which of the following is not a cause for the Texas executive branch being decentralized
The legislative leadership and bureaucrats advocate for greater authority for the governor.
Which of the following does not provide an opportunity for the governor to have greater influence on both the legislative and administrative policy
The Texas Constitution
Which is not a formal qualification to become governor?
Must be a registered voter.
Which is (are) informal criterion (criteria) to become governor.
a. Governors must be WASP.
b. Governors are historically male.
c. Typically governors will be a businessperson or attorney.
d. All of the above are true.
In the history of Texas, the only other female governor other than Miriam Ferguson was
Ann Richards.
How many female governors has Texas had?
two
All but which of the following would have an edge in a Texas gubernatorial election?
Female
Republicans first swept statewide offices in
1998
In Republican primaries of Texas the fight is usually
between conservative-to-moderate candidates, with the more conservative the winner.
Which of the following statements best describes a Texas governor's term in office?
Four years per term, with no limit on the number of terms
The governor may be removed from office only by impeachment with conviction by
the Senate
If the office of the governor is vacated, who assumes office after the lieutenant governor?
Pro tempore of the Senate
Articles of impeachment in the Texas Senate against a governor require a vote of
two-thirds
Impeachment is the legislative equivalent of
indictment
The line of succession places which official next in line, should the governor vacate the office?
Lieutenant governor
The salary of the governor is determined by
the legislature.
The governor's annual salary is approximately
$150,000
What is the key ingredient for a successful chief executive?
Maintain a good staff.
To the displeasure of many consumer groups, Governor Perry has named many ___________ to his staff
lobbyists
_________ serve as a liaison between the office of the governor and the legislature
Legislative assistants
The governor's ability to influence the making and executing of government policy depend on all the following except
his or her prior experience as a legislator.
The Texas governor's combined administrative and legislative power ranking is __________ among the 50 states.
34th
Compared to those of other states, the governor of Texas has
weaker executive and administrative powers.
Powers that are not stated in rules, a law, or a constitution but are usually derived from these legal powers is called
informal (extralegal) powers.
The governor's ability to use informal powers is largely determined by the extent of
formal (legal) powers.
The most influential bargaining tools of the governor are
legislative
Which statement about the legislature's power to override bills vetoed by the governor is incorrect?
The vast majority of bills are passed and sent to the governor during the early days of the session so that he or she has plenty of time to veto them.
The legislature has the constitutional power to override the governor's veto
by a two-thirds vote
The governor's authority to reject a proposed law is almost an absolute power because
the legislature is seldom in session when the governor issues a veto.
Governor Perry vetoed 78 bills in one day; which resentful legislators dubbed as
Father's Day Massacre.
The Texas governor lacks __________ power that is available to many other chief executives, including the president of the United States
pocket veto
Which of the following legislative measures is considered the most important?
Appropriation bills
What happens to the measures that are neither signed nor vetoed by the governor
they become laws
The Texas governor has never been allowed to use the
pocket veto
item veto is only used with which type of bill?
Appropriations bills
An item veto allows the governor to do which of the following?
Remove funds for specific items or projects without killing the entire bill.
An informal legislative power of the governor not mentioned in the constitution or the law is the
threat of veto.
Which veto gives the governor the opportunity to shape legislation?
Threat to veto
One of the most persuasive tools the governor has is the
threat of veto
Reformers have long advocated that since forty-three governors have __________ the U.S. president should be given this tool as a way to reduce the federal budget deficits and help eliminate "earmarks".
line item veto
Which statement about the governor's power of item veto is correct?
States with governors who have the item veto have about the same level of per capita state spending as those without.
The flexibility and intensity that the governor brings to the bargaining table depends on each of the following factors except
that all political contributions buy political decisions of support.
Negotiations that let the governor and the legislative leaders reach the necessary compromises prior to the start of the legislative session is called
presession bargaining.
The goal of presession bargaining is
compromise
In presession bargaining which of the following is not an advantage for advance agreement on a given bill?
Passage of the bill is guaranteed.
Who has the constitutional authority to call a special session of the legislature?
Governor
Once a special session of the legislature has been called, the agenda is determined by the
governor
Which nonlegislative issue can be considered by the legislature during a special session?
a. Resolutions c. Impeachment
b. Constitutional amendments d. All of the above are true.
Which statement about special sessions is incorrect?
They are limited to 140 days.
Constitutionally, a state-of-the-state message must be given by the governor
at the beginning of each legislative session.
The receptiveness of the legislature to various messages by the governor is influenced by the
a. governor's popularity.
b. amount of favorable public opinion generated by the proposals.
c. governor's political expertise.
d. All of the above are true.
Which statement about blue-ribbon commissions is correct?
a. They are used to delay the actual consideration of a "political hot potato" until it has cooled.
b. They can serve as trial balloons to measure public acceptance of various proposals.
c. They are a means to inform and increase interest group support.
d. All of the above are true.
Which of the following executive officers is not legally independent of the governor?
Commissioner of education
Which term best describes the executive branch?
fragmented
Boards and commission members are appointed to serve a term of _________-year staggered terms.
six
Senators may influence appointments from their districts as the result of
senatorial curtosey
Which term best describes the removal power of the governor?
limited
As chief of state, the governor is responsible for all but which of the following?
Representing the president in formal diplomatic settings
Which state officials usually have budget power that is more powerful than that of the governor?
The Legislative Budget Board
All of the following are appointed by the governor except?
Members of the State Board of Education
Which of the following is not one of the governor's military powers?
Command of the Texas National Guard, even if nationalized by the president
Which of the following is a clemency power of the governor?
Appointing members to the Board of Pardons and Paroles
The governor can postpone executions, but only for
thirty days
The individual who is in charge of the administrative aspect of the Texas's military forces is the
adjutant general.
According to Richard Huckaby all of the following are limits on the governor's powers except
governor can never fire state officers.
