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Chapter 7: The Governor and State Administration
True/False Questions
1. The office of governor in Texas is among the strongest in terms of formal constitutional powers.
2. The governor of Texas must depend on leadership, bargaining skills, and persuasive ability rather
than the formal powers of the office.
3. The governor of Texas has a four-year term of office with no limit on the number of terms that
can be served.
4. The governor of Texas is elected in the same election as the president of the United States.
5. The only means to remove the governor is through the process of impeachment by the House of
Representatives by a majority vote and removal after a trial by the Senate by a two-thirds vote.
6. In the event that the governor dies, resigns, or is impeached and removed from office, the
lieutenant governor becomes the governor of Texas.
7. The lieutenant governor of Texas is paid the same salary as the governor.
8. The salary of the governor makes the governor of Texas among the highest paid governors in the
nation.
9. The state of Texas has never had a non-Anglo governor.
10. The governor of Texas has significant powers to remove officials from office.
11. In the event of a vacancy in a judicial position at the district level or above, the governor can
appoint a replacement who serves until the next election.
12. Appointments by the governor of Texas require a two-thirds vote by the Texas Senate to confirm
the appointment.
13. The governor’s budget is the document which starts the budget and planning process in Texas.
14. The governor has strong executive powers to supervise the operations of state government.
15. The governor has the sole power to call special sessions of the legislature and to determine what
issues the legislature can consider.
16. The governor’s main power over legislation is largely negative.
17. The governor has the power to declare martial law and replace the local law enforcement with the
state militia and/or law enforcement agencies.
18. Federal statutes designate the governor as the official who has the planning and grant approval
authority for the state of Texas.
19. The governor has the power to request that a fugitive from justice in Texas be returned to the state
of Texas.
20. Governor Rick Perry is generally thought to be an example of how the governor’s office should
be conducted.
21. The Attorney General is the chief prosecutor for the state of Texas.
22. The Comptroller of Public Account is responsible for collecting taxes and handling state funds.
23. Texas and Alaska are the only states that entered the Union with large amounts of public lands
and only they have land offices.
24. The Texas Department of Agriculture is limited in its power to that of regulating agriculture in
Texas.
25. Among the responsibilities of the Texas Secretary of State are supervising elections, keeping lists
of lobbyists, keeping records on campaign expenditures, issuing corporate charters, and
publishing the Texas Register.
26. The main responsibility of the Texas Railroad Commission is supervision of the interstate
railroads in Texas.
27. An ex officio board is one where the members are appointed by the Governor.
28. Most of the state’s laws are administered by board and commissions whose members are
appointed by the governor rather than elected.
29. Members of a typical state agency are appointed for six-year overlapping terms and serve without
pay.
30. The iron triangle is the three-way relationship between legislative committees, client groups, and
the agencies which are supposed to regulate or control them.
31. State agencies frequently utilize the client groups with whom they work to attempt to persuade
the legislature to assist them with funds or laws.
32. One of the most significant areas of authority for bureaucratic agencies is the exercise of
administrative discretion.
33. According to the authors of the text, a much needed reform of the executive branch in Texas
would result in the creation of a cabinet style government with the governor in charge.
34. The Legislative Budget Board, the Legislative Council, and the Legislative Audit Committee are
examples of some of the tools of legislative oversight.
35. The Sunset Advisory Commission was established by the legislature to periodically review
agencies and recommend to the legislature whether they should be abolished, revised, or renewed.
36. The legislature has strengthened the rights of the public to have access to the records of public
agencies and required that governmental bodies hold their meetings in public.
37. A whistle-blower is member of the news media that blows the whistle on governmental excesses.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Regarding the election in which the Governor of Texas is elected
A. the Governor is elected in a non-partisan election held in May of the even year
B. the Governor is elected in a partisan election in the same year as the President of the US
C. the Governor is elected in a partisan election in November of even year in a non-
presidential year
D. the Governor and the members of the Legislature are elected in elections which are held
at different times of the year
2. Regarding the compensation (pay)of the Governor of Texas, the office ranks as
A. one of the lowest paid governors in the US
B. the highest paid governor in the US
C. has slipped to the rank of 23rd
D. generally ranks in the bottom ten with regard to pay
3. Compared to other urban states, the staff of the Governor of Texas
A. ranks as much smaller than most of the other urban states
B. ranks as about the same size as the staffs of most other urban states
C. ranks as one of the largest staffs of governor’s staffs in the nation
D. the governor of Texas does not have a paid staff
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4. Which of the following is not a constitutional qualification to be governor of Texas?
A. U.S. citizen
B. Texas resident for five years immediately preceding the election
C. Minimum age of 30
D. previous political experience as an elected officer in Texas government
5. Which of the following is generally not true of candidates for the Governor of Texas? (there have
been exceptions)
A. politically liberal
B. wealthy
C. Protestant
D. male
6. If a governor dies, resigns, or is incapacitated while in office, the office is filled in what manner?
A. the lieutenant governor becomes the governor
B. the secretary of state becomes the governor
C. the Legislature elects a new governor
D. a new election is held to fill the office
7. The salary of the governor of Texas is set by
A. the state constitution
B. a special compensation commission
C. the Texas Ethics Commission
D. the Texas legislature
8. Concerning terms of office for the Governor of Texas?
A. there is no limit on the number of terms that a Governor can serve
B. Governors are limited to two four-year terms
C. Governors are limited to one four-year term
D. Governors are limited to three two-year terms
9. Which is not a factor which makes the governor of Texas an institutionally weak?
A. a limit of only one term in office
B. independent elections of other key executive officers
C. inability to appoint all members of state boards and commissions soon after taking office
D. lack of an effective removal power
10. Senatorial courtesy refers to
A. the authority of the Senate to confirm or reject a Governor’s appointment
B. the custom which allows an individual Senator to block a Governor’s appointment of a person
who resides within that Senator’s district
C. the Senate’s power to block the appointment of persons to the Governor’s staff
D. the way in which members of the Senate are expected to treat each ot
11. The governor’s formal removal powers are best described as follows:
A. the governor has unlimited removal powers
B. the governor can remove, for cause, any non-elected executive official
C. the governor can recommend, for cause, the removal of any official which that governor was
responsible for the appointment.
D. the governor can only recommend the impeachment of executive officials
12. With regard to the power of the Governor over the budget
A. the Governor may submit a budget to the Legislature
B. the Governor has a line item veto over any appropriations item
C. the Governor may bargain with the Legislature over the content of appropriations items
D. all of the above are correct
13. The governor’s planning power is significantly enhanced by which of the following:
A. the legislature has designated the governor as the chief planning officer of the state
B. the governor’s budget is the most important tool in the budget process
C. the federal government has designated the governor as the chief planning officer of the state
D. the Texas Constitution designates the governor as the chief planning officer of the state
14. Regarding the clemency powers of the Texas Governor, which of the following is true?
A. the Governor has broad powers to pardon, parole, and commute sentences
B. the Governor has limited powers to parole individuals
C. the only unrestricted clemency power of the Governor is the power to issue one reprieve per
individual in death penalty cases
D. the Governor can issue paroles only upon the the recommendation of the State Board of
Pardons and Paroles
15. The message power and the veto power are examples of the Governor’s _____ powers.
A. executive powers
B. judicial powers
C. legislative powers
D. military powers
16. When the Governor calls a special session of the Legislature, the agenda of the session is
determined by
A. the Speaker of the House
B. the Lt. Governor
C. the majority party caucus in both houses
D. the governor
17. With regard to the Governor’s veto power, which of the following statements is true?
A. The Governor seldom uses the veto power because he/she is generally overridden when it is
used
B. Although the Governor has a veto, it is seldom used because of the threat of veto
C. The threat of a veto carries great weight because vetos are seldom overridden by the
Legislature
D. The Legislature has no power to override a Governor’s veto
18. Which of the following is true about the organization of state administrative agencies in Texas?
A. there is no single, uniform organizational pattern
B. there are numerous exceptions to the traditional structure of hierarchical organization
C. the actual number of state agencies depends on who counts and how
D. all of the above are correct statements
19. Which of the following is not a function of the Texas Attorney General?
A. enforcement of anti-trust and consumer protection laws
B. serves as the state’s lawyer to defend executive agencies in civil cases
C. prosecutes criminal cases for the state of Texas
D. issues advisory opinions on legal questions involving state and local governments
20. What office is charged with the collection of most taxes and the payment of most bills?
A. Secretary of State
B. State Treasurer of Texas
C. Comptroller of Public Accounts
D. Attorney General
21. The official whose duties includes supervision of the Veteran’s Land Fund is the
A. Comptroller of Public Accounts
B. Adjutant General
C. Attorney General
D. Commissioner of the General Land Office
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22. The department which has the main responsibility for certifying weights and measures used by
institutions which sell bulk products by weight or volume is the
A. Consumer Protection Division of the Texas Attorney General’s Office
B. Texas Department of Agriculture
C. Texas Railroad Commission
D. State Land Office
23. The major responsibility of the Texas Railroad Commission is
A. the licensing of all railroads that operate within Texas
B. the licensing of all airlines that operate within Texas
C. regulation of the oil and gas industry, including pipelines
D. licensing of all interstate trucking companies that operate within Texas
24. An ex offico board or commission is one whose
A. members hold their position by virtue of another office
B. members are appointed by the governor
C. members are appointed by the legislature
D. members have purchased their office
25. The principle of hierarchy means that
A. agencies are structured like a pyramid, with authority focused at the top
B. agencies are structured so each level is independent
C. agencies are structured so that the major power rests with the bottom of the agency
D. agency heads are appointed for life
26. Sources of bureaucratic power include all except the following:
A. support by the client groups that are serviced by the agency
B. support by key members of the legislature
C. support by the governor
D. support by the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission
27. Oversight of executive agencies is accomplished by all of the following except:
A. sunset reviews
B. legislative oversight through the Legislative Budget Board and committees
C. media attention
D. the election of all of the executive department heads (long ballot)
28. Administrative discretion means that
A. department heads have freedom to interpret the meaning of the law
B. department heads have the ability to select between different courses of action
C. department heads have the opportunity not to act in cases where the law is unclear
D. all of the above are true
29. Which of the following tends to limit the amount of legislative oversight exercised by the Texas
Legislature?
A. the power of special interest groups which are allied to the agency
B. the part-time pay and short sessions of the legislature
C. the high degree of turnover in the legislature and on the staffs of the legislative committees
D. all of the above
30. Which of the following is an untrue statement concerning the Texas Sunset Advisory
Commission?
A. the agency has had little or no effect on the structure, powers, or operation of state agencies
B. the agency has been significant in causing the merger of twelve agencies
C. the agency has been responsible for a saving of $766 million of tax money and increased
revenues to the state since its inception
D. the agency has been responsible for the abolition of 32 agencies
Essay Questions
1. How effective is the governor as chief executive? What are the things that limit the ability of the
governor to manage the administrative structure of the state?
2. What are the five formal roles of the governor? Select one of these roles and discuss the strengths
and weaknesses of the governor’s power to effectively perform this role.
3. What characteristics of the Texas executive system create the confusion in how the state
administration is organized?
4. Name the five officials who head up an executive agency in Texas who are elected state-wide.
Select one of these offices and discuss the responsibilities and powers of this office.
5. What are the major sources of bureaucratic power in Texas? How do top bureaucrats seek to
enhance their power? Discuss administrative discretion.
6. In what ways do bureaucrats seek to influence the content and meaning of the statutes which are
passed by the legislature?