Deck 4: Texas Governors

Question 1

The Texas Constitution lists ______ as grounds for impeachment of the governor.

A) treason
B) bribery
C) high crimes
D) nothing-the Texas Constitution is silent on the grounds for impeachment
E) misdemeanors

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The ______ is first in line of succession for the office of governor in Texas.

A) lieutenant governor
B) attorney general
C) comptroller
D) secretary of state

Answer 2

A

Question 3

All of the following statements concerning the informal characteristics of governors of Texas are true EXCEPT that ______.

A) they are usually White, Protestant, wealthy men
B) they have some higher education
C) they have some military service
D) they have some political experience
E) they tend to be ranchers or oil men

Answer 3

E

Question 4

As governor of Texas, Rick Perry attempted to increase his power through all of the following EXCEPT ______.

A) not making new appointments while the legislature was in session and making recess appointments afterward
B) issuing an executive order to require sixth-grade girls in Texas schools to get the HPV vaccine
C) endorsing proposals for a new constitution
D) issuing an executive order to reduce the time it takes coal-fired power plants to obtain a permit
E) using his power of appointment to gain large campaign contributions from those he appointed to university regent positions

Question 5

The budget power of the governor of Texas is ______.

A) exercised through the requirement that he or she prepares a budget and submits it to the legislature
B) relatively weak compared with that of other governors
C) strengthened considerably by his or her use of an unrestricted line-item veto
D) relatively strong compared with other governors
E) exercised through his or her control of the Legislative Budget Board

Question 6

Senatorial courtesy requires that ______.

A) the governor treats members of the Texas Senate with proper respect
B) senators treat the governor with proper respect
C) the party of an incumbent senator does not oppose his or her renomination
D) any gubernatorial appointees have the approval of their own state senator
E) the governor provides the members of the Texas Senate with notice that he or she intends to veto a bill

Question 7

Which of the following describes the terms of service for office of governor?

A) four-year term with a limit of two terms served
B) four-year term with no limit on terms served
C) two-year term with no limit on terms served
D) six-year term with a limit of two terms served

Question 8

In Texas, the governor can do all of the following EXCEPT ______.

A) call special legislation sessions
B) determine the subject of special legislative sessions
C) determine the length of special legislative sessions
D) issue executive orders
E) issue vetoes after a legislative session has ended

Question 9

What incentive exists for the governor to make appointments in between legislative sessions?

A) The appointee will not require confirmation until the next session.
B) The appointee will not require any confirmation by the Texas Senate.
C) The appointee will be able to serve two consecutive terms.
D) The governor can seek confirmation from the Supreme Court of Texas rather than the Senate.
E) The appointee will only require a majority approval by the Senate to continue serving.

Question 10

The most significant power of the governor over the judiciary is the power to ______.

A) appoint replacements when judgeships become vacant between elections
B) pardon
C) create new judgeships when needed
D) nullify judicial rulings

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a common characteristic of all of the governors of Texas?

A) white
B) Protestant
C) conservative
D) known for having a deep knowledge of public policy issues

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a constitutional requirement for serving as governor of Texas?

A) at least thirty years of age
B) a resident of Texas for at least five years
C) a U.S. citizen
D) natural-born citizen

Question 13

Under which condition could a governor most convincingly claim he or she has a popular mandate?

A) when there is a vacancy in the lieutenant governor's office
B) upon defeating an incumbent governor in a close contest
C) when the legislature is out of session
D) when being of the same political party as the legislature
E) after winning office with a large margin of victory

Question 14

The governor's most significant appointment is the ______.

A) attorney general
B) lieutenant governor
C) secretary of state
D) railroad commissioner
E) comptroller.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT one of the governor's legislative powers?

A) the state of the state address
B) the power to call special sessions of the legislature
C) the veto power
D) the post-adjournment veto
E) control over the lieutenant governor's actions in the Senate

Question 16

What is the longest amount of time a Texas governor may serve?

A) two years
B) four years
C) eight years
D) twelve years
E) There is no such limit.

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the governor's powers of clemency?

A) A governor may unilaterally grant a pardon.
B) A governor is not bound to follow recommendations from the Board of Pardons and Paroles.
C) The governor's clemency powers are stronger today than when the Texas Constitution was written.
D) The governor must get approval from the Texas Senate for a pardon.
E) The clemency power does not extend to death penalty cases.

Question 18

The governor's informal powers are important for his or her ability to ______.

A) manage the executive branch of government
B) make appointments to boards and commissions
C) receive respect from the news media
D) accomplish his or her legislative agenda
E) exercise his or her ceremonial duties

Question 19

The governor of Texas is part of a plural executive because ______.

A) the lieutenant governor exercises a great deal of power over the Texas Senate
B) several other important members of the executive branch are elected independently
C) the governor shares many powers with the legislature traditionally given to the executive
D) the spouse of the governor is often a powerful figure in his or her own right
E) the governor shares power with the Legislative Budget Board

Question 20

When the governor appoints his or her political supporters to prominent positions, it is called ______.

A) rescission
B) executive courtesy
C) patronage
D) extradition
E) succession

Question 21

The governor can grant a pardon if the case is recommended by the ______.

A) Texas House of Representatives
B) Texas Senate
C) lieutenant governor
D) Board of Pardons and Paroles

Question 22

A governor's budgetary power is weak, with the ______ taking the lead in the budgeting process.

A) Legislative Budget Board
B) Speaker of the House
C) president pro tempore
D) chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court

Question 23

In Texas, the governor may use the line-item veto only on bills pertaining to ______.

A) agriculture
B) alcohol and firearms
C) spending
D) workplace rights

Question 24

When a governor speaks publicly in the aftermath of an active-shooter situation, he or she is acting as a(an) ______.

A) agenda setter
B) fugitive governor
C) judicial leader
D) crisis manager

Question 25

The order of succession goes into effect if the governor does any of the following EXCEPT ______.

A) resigns
B) dies
C) is impeached
D) goes on vacation

Question 26

In Texas, the line-item veto does not exist.

Question 27

Which state currently pays its governor the lowest salary?

A) Pennsylvania
B) New Jersey
C) Maine
D) Vermont

Question 28

The governor of Texas may use the line-item veto on any bill.

Question 29

The lieutenant governor and the Speaker of the House oversee the ______.

A) appointment process
B) removal process
C) impeachment process
D) budget process

Question 30

A governor's ceremonial duty is listed in the Texas Constitution as her or his primary role.

Question 31

Emergency legislation must be designated by the ______.

A) Texas Senate
B) Texas House
C) Texas comptroller
D) Texas governor

Question 32

The governor of Texas may initiate a pardon for any criminal in the state.

Question 33

The governor's role as a crisis manager includes all of the following EXCEPT ______.

A) being a policymaker
B) being the person for bureaucratic coordination
C) coordinating the allocation of resources
D) constructing the budget and approving spending

Question 34

A governor's power to influence is enhanced by all of the following EXCEPT ______.

A) budgetary power
B) appointment power
C) removal power
D) term limits

Question 35

The Legislative Budget Board includes the ______.

A) president pro tempore
B) Texas governor
C) Texas Speaker of the House
D) Texas comptroller

Question 36

A popular mandate refers to the idea that the governor's right to lead is justified by ______.

A) religious authority
B) constitutional authority
C) the popular vote
D) senatorial courtesy

Question 37

A governor is acting out his or her ceremonial duty when he or she ______.

A) vetoes legislation
B) speaks at a school to honor the achievements of disabled children
C) offers senators a courtesy review of planned appointees
D) takes the oath of office after winning an electoral mandate

Question 38

Succession refers to ______.

A) Texas withdrawing from the United States.
B) the United States removing Texas from the Union.
C) the chain of command in the absence of the governor.
D) the removal of old laws from the Texas code.

Question 39

Texas has generally been willing to elect governors with no previous political experience.

Question 40

The post-adjournment veto is a type of veto the legislature cannot overturn.

Question 41

Discuss the governor's informal powers. What are the governor's informal powers? How do the informal powers help the governor?

Question 42

The Texas governor has sole discretion over the agenda for special legislative sessions.

Question 43

Discuss the governor's role in the legislative process. What are his or her sources of power and influence? What are his or her weaknesses?

Question 44

Name two governors who had no prior political experience.

Question 45

Describe the role of the governor in the pardon and clemency process.

Question 46

Texas has had two Roman Catholic governors.

Question 47

Define senatorial courtesy.

Question 48

How can the governor use his or her appointment powers to affect the judicial branch, even though the Texas judiciary is elected?