Gov Quizzes 8-13 – Flashcards
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In 2003, the first Republican House Speaker since Reconstruction was a. Tom DeLay b. Gib Lewis c. David Dewhurst d. Tom Craddick e. Bob Bullock
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d. Tom Craddick
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Which of the following best characterizes the Texas state legislature? a. The Texas state legislature is the only one on the country whose laws cannot be declared unconstitutional by the courts. b. Though on paper the Texas legislature is one of the strongest in the country, it is actually one of the weakest. c. The setting of governmental priorities through the budgetary process is becoming increasingly more professional. d. The Texas legislature is increasingly being dominated by the governor, who has the power to dismiss it at any time. e. It has ultimate say in the financial matters of the state but is becoming increasingly dependent on the governor for support.
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c. The setting of governmental priorities through the budgetary process is becoming increasingly more professional.
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The Texas legislature is a. unicameral and full time, and has 31 House members and 150 senators. b. unicameral and part time, and has 150 House members. c. bicameral and part time, and has 15 senators and 120 House members. d. bicameral and part time, and has 31 senators and 150 House members. e. bicameral and full time, and has 25 senators and 120 House members.
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d. bicameral and part time, and has 31 senators and 150 House members
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The base pay of House and Senate members is ________ per year. a. $45,300 b. $21,100 c. $7,200 d. $4,500 e. $2,600
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c. $7,200
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Critics argue that the legislature has increasingly become dominated by business owners and attorneys because a. new qualifications for one to serve in the legislature require a postgraduate degree. b. low legislative pay and increasing demands on time preclude many salaried people from serving. c. voters believe that people with these backgrounds are best fit to serve in the legislature. d. they more often than not have the money required to file for candidacy. e. doctors and educators, who once dominated the legislature, have shown a declining interest
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b. low legislative pay and increasing demands on time preclude many salaried people from serving.
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The speaker of the House is a. elected by the members of the House. b. elected by members of the majority party in the House, with final approval by the Senate. c. appointed by the governor. d. held by the legislator who has the longest tenure serving in the House. e. elected by a statewide popular election.
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a. elected by the members of the House.
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Why is the office of the lieutenant governor considered by some to be the most powerful office in Texas state government? a. This office is elected independently of the governor and can develop a dominant legislative role. b. The lieutenant governor can appoint members to standing committees regardless of seniority. c. This office, unlike the governor's, is protected from being charged with crimes while in office. d. The Texas Constitution grants the lieutenant governor more authority than the governor. e. This lieutenant governor has the sole power and responsibility to appoint statewide officials.
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a. This office is elected independently of the governor and can develop a dominant legislative role.
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The ________ cannot vote on legislation unless there is a tie. a. speaker of the House b. president pro tempore of the House c. lieutenant governor d. governor e. legislature
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c. lieutenant governor
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Why has there traditionally been no formal division along party lines or a formal system of choosing floor leaders in the Texas legislature? a. The powers of the presiding officers and the longtime Democratic-controlled system did not produce a leadership structure comparable to that of the U.S. Congress. b. Though membership in the legislature includes Republicans and Democrats, the delegation of power has not been typically done in a partisan fashion. c. Legislative rules concerning the appointing of floor leaders was removed in the early twentieth century to reduce partisanship. d. The powers of the governor over the legislature and longtime Democratic-controlled system did not produce a leadership structure comparable to that of the U.S. Congress. e. Though membership in the legislature includes Republicans and Democrats, the delegation of power has been left to the whim of the presiding officers, which varies greatly.
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a. The powers of the presiding officers and the longtime Democratic-controlled system did not produce a leadership structure comparable to that of the U.S. Congress. b. Though membership in the legislature includes Republicans and Democrats, the delegation of power has not been typically done in a partisan fashion.
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If a bill passes both the House and Senate but in different forms, the bill is sent to a. the governor. b. a conference committee. c. the speaker. d. a special caucus. e. a standing committee
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b. a conference committee.
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A committee appointed by the governor, Lt. Governor, and the Speaker of the House to study a major policy issue would be considered a ________ committee. a. procedural b. select c. conference d. standing e. steering
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b. select
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The first step for a bill is a. referral to a committee. b. passage by a standing committee. c. political support from the governor. d. the first reading. e. the creation of a companion bill for the opposite legislative chamber.
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d. the first reading.
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During the third reading, a bill may be amended by a. four-fifths approval. b. three-fourths approval. c. two-thirds approval. d. three-fifths approval. e. majority approval.
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c. two-thirds approval
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How does the veto power of the Texas governor differ from that of the president of the United States? a. The governor can use the line-item veto on any bill, but the president is restricted to using it on appropriation bills. b. The governor can veto a bill twice, but the president can only veto a bill once and is powerless if the legislature overrides it. c. Unlike the president, a veto by the governor on a bill cannot be overridden by the legislature. d. The governor can only veto a bill with the sworn support of one-tenth of the legislature; the president has no preconditions. e. Unlike the president, if the governor fails to sign a bill by a certain deadline, it is passed automatically.
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e. Unlike the president, if the governor fails to sign a bill by a certain deadline, it is passed automatically.
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To bring a bill to the floor of the Senate for debate requires a. the permission of the senior member of the majority party. b. a two-thirds approval vote by the Senate. c. a three-fourths approval vote by the House. d. the approval of the chair of the committee that considered the bill. e. the approval of the Calendars Committee.
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b. a two-thirds approval vote by the Senate.
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How did the fallout from the Sharpstown stock fraud scandal immediately impact the Texas legislature? a. The House moved to limit the speaker's power through a modified seniority system for committee appointments. b. Through a public referendum, it was voted that appropriations bills could no longer originate from the Senate. c. An executive order was issued by the governor to force all legislators to reveal their personal stock holdings. d. The judiciary stepped in and put forth a rule that all legislation concerning the banks had to go through the Texas comptroller. e. The governor created a special board comprised of bank industry experts and federal auditors to oversee every bill concerning banks and insurance.
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a. The House moved to limit the speaker's power through a modified seniority system for committee appointments.
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The most important power of the speaker and lieutenant governor is a. their control of the scheduling of third readings. b. the appointment of House and Senate committee members. c. certifying the vote on bills that pass. d. signing bills in the governor's absence. e. the appointment of Texas state board and commission members.
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b. the appointment of House and Senate committee members.
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Which of the following statements best characterizes lawmakers' overriding consideration of getting reelected and the question of how to vote on a particular bill? a. Campaign contributors are the most vital to a legislator's reelection hopes so care must be taken not to alienate them. b. Legislators must carefully balance the demands of a variety of political players to ensure continued support. c. The political party is central to a legislator's career. d. The legislators' personal conviction are most important for the people that vote for a legislator and this must be maintained at all costs. e. A legislator's senior colleagues are the biggest influence on how they will vote.
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b. Legislators must carefully balance the demands of a variety of political players to ensure continued support.
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The growth and development of the legislative staff reflects a. a growing commitment to be free of lobbyists. b. a reduction in the influence of the presiding officers. c. an emerging professionalism in lawmaking. d. the attempt by the legislature to address scandalous issues. e. a bloated bureaucracy that needs to be trimmed down.
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c. an emerging professionalism in lawmaking.
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The governor can use the line-item veto on a. education bills that reflect requirements for teaching certification.. b. water rights bills. c. local bills that create local forms of government. d. appropriations bills. e. all bills.
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d. appropriations bills.
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A plural executive is a(n) a. uncommon system of authority in which the office of the governor is shared by a council chosen by the legislature. b. system of authority in which the governorship is rotated among members of a chief council appointed by the legislature. c. fragmented system of authority under which most statewide, executive officeholders are elected independently of the governor. d. system of authority in which a five-member board is elected by the people who act as the chief executive as a group. e. fragmented system of authority under which power is equally shared between the governor and lieutenant governor, though the former is the chief executive of the state.
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c. fragmented system of authority under which most statewide, executive officeholders are elected independently of the governor.
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What led Texans to work to limit the power of the governor with the Constitution of 1876? a. demands issued by the federal government in the Reconstruction period b. a desire to return to the principles of the Constitution of 1836 c. a popular referendum and anger at the Davis administration that led the legislature to take action d. radical Reconstruction policies and the abuses of the Governor Davis administration e. the Republican-dominated legislature seeking to limit the power of the Democrats
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d. radical Reconstruction policies and the abuses of the Governor Davis administration
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he governor's power in Texas compared to other states is categorized as a. weak. b. moderate. c. moderately strong. d. strong. e. very weak
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a. weak e. very weak
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A plural executive structure makes it difficult a. to compromise over competing plans. b. to attain harmony between the executive and legislative branches. c. to coordinate an integrated policy. d. to obtain enough votes to veto a plan from the legislature. e. to obtain a loose confederation operation.
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c. to coordinate an integrated policy.
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To run for governor, the constitution says a candidate must be a. thirty years old and a resident of Texas for five years. b. literate and a property owner. c. thirty-five years old and a resident of Texas for fourteen years. d. forty years old and a natural-born Texan. e. thirty-five years old and believe in a supreme being.
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a. thirty years old and a resident of Texas for five years.
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The first woman elected governor in Texas was a. Carole Keeton Strayhorn. b. Kay Bailey Hutchison. c. Frances "Sissy" Farenthold. d. Ann Richards. e. Miriam A. "Ma" Ferguson.
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e. Miriam A. "Ma" Ferguson
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A governor can be removed from office through impeachment proceedings initiated in the a. Senate and conviction by the House. b. House and conviction by the Senate. c. House and conviction by the House. d. Senate and conviction by the Senate. e. House and conviction by the Senate and the House.
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b. House and conviction by the Senate.
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Why was Governor James E. Ferguson impeached and convicted in 1917? a. He was found to have embezzled $2 million from state funds. b. He was accused of misuse of public funds following his call for an unnecessary session. c. He was found to have attempted to sell a Senate seat. d. He was accused of nepotism in making appointments to executive offices. e. He was plagued by scandals concerning his financial deals with corporations.
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b. He was accused of misuse of public funds following his call for an unnecessary session.
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A special session a. can be held twice every legislative session for forty days. b. can be called by the governor or lieutenant governor at any time. c. can be called any number of times by the governor and last for thirty days d. can only be called by the governor, but the legislature sets the agenda. e. can last thirty days but can only be called three times a year
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c. can be called any number of times by the governor and last for thirty days
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The governor's main constitutional powers over the legislature include a. the veto and the authority to call and set the agenda for special sessions. b. the power to appoint the presiding officers of the legislature. c. the veto and the authority to call a regular session of the legislature. d. the power to set the legislative agenda during the regular session. e. the power to appoint the parliamentarian of the House and the Senate.
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a. the veto and the authority to call and set the agenda for special sessions.
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To override a governor's veto requires a a. three-fifths vote in the chamber of origin only. b. two-thirds vote in both chambers. c. two-thirds vote in the chamber of origin and a majority vote in the second chamber. d. majority vote in the chamber of origin and a two-thirds vote in the second chamber. e. three-fourths vote in both chambers
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b. two-thirds vote in both chambers.
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The governor's budgetary power is a. strong, as all budgetary authority is rested in the governor's office. b. limited, as he or she has to submit a budget to the legislature along with the LLB. c. shared with the legislature and can be strong when the same party occupies both branches. d. limited, as he or she can only approve or veto a budget bill produced by the legislature. e. weak, as the state comptroller exercises executive branch authority over the budget.
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b. limited, as he or she has to submit a budget to the legislature along with the LLB.
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What characterizes the governor's appointive powers? a. The governor's powers are constrained because of staggered terms and the plural executive. b. The governor can remove his or her predecessor's appointments, so his or her powers are somewhat strong. c. Despite the plural executive system, the governor has full control over many appointments. d. The governor cannot appoint or dismiss anybody, so his or her powers are exceptionally weak. e. Despite the plural executive, the governor does not need Senate approval to fill vacancies.
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a. The governor's powers are constrained because of staggered terms and the plural executive.
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Before becoming governor, Rick Perry served as a. state representative, speaker of the Texas House, and commissioner of agriculture. b. state representative, commissioner of agriculture, and lieutenant governor. c. state senator, U.S. representative, and lieutenant governor. d. state senator, commissioner of the General Land Office, and U.S. senator. e. state senator, railroad commissioner, and lieutenant governor.
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b. state representative, commissioner of agriculture, and lieutenant governor.
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Governor Perry increased his support among conservative Republican voters in preparation for his 2006 reelection race by a. supporting a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. b. increasing funding for schools by cutting several welfare services. c. passing new strict rules on the construction of new abortion clinics. d. eliminating the state capital gains tax. e. requiring schoolgirls to be vaccinated against a virus linked to cervical cancer.
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a. supporting a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
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The lieutenant governor of Texas a. is elected in a team along with the governor, comptroller, and the attorney general. b. is a running mate of the governor, and they are elected as a team. c. is elected separately from the governor but has to be from the same party as the governor. d. is a co-candidate with the governor but can still be from a different party. e. is elected separately from the governor and can be from a different party.
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e. is elected separately from the governor and can be from a different party.
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The Texas attorney general is a. mainly a civil lawyer who defends state laws enacted by the legislature. b. a civil judge who overhears cases involving the state and private parties. c. mainly a criminal lawyer who is primarily involved in murder cases. d. a constitutional lawyer whose duty is to determine the constitutionality of legislation. e. both a criminal and civil lawyer who defends the state against the federal courts.
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a. mainly a civil lawyer who defends state laws enacted by the legislature.
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The comptroller of public accounts is a. the state's primary tax administrator, a certified public accountant, and responsible for writing the budget. b. the state's accounting officer, a certified public accountant, and responsible for proposing new taxes. c. responsible for issuing revenue estimates, a certified public accountant, and responsible for proposing new taxes. d. the state's primary tax collector and accounting officer, and is responsible for issuing revenue estimates. e. the state's primary tax administrator, the chief budget officer, and responsible for issuing revenue statements.
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d. the state's primary tax collector and accounting officer, and is responsible for issuing revenue estimates.
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What is the primary responsibility of the secretary of state? a. overseeing the Texas congressional delegation b. maintaining official records concerning the executive branch c. administering state election laws d. granting charters to corporations and towns e. transferring prisoners to other states.
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c. administering state election laws
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The top appointed official in the executive branch is the a. commissioner of the State Board of Education. b. secretary of state. c. commissioner of the General Land Office. d. director of legislative coordination. e. attorney general.
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b. secretary of state.
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In Texas, the role of the bureaucracy is enhanced because a. the legislature meets every year for a limited time. b. the governor has limited powers over the bureaucracy. c. the state uses the spoils system of government. d. the plural executive controls the bureaucracy. e. sunset laws only apply to the legislative committees.
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b. the governor has limited powers over the bureaucracy.
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In 2010, Texas ranked ________ in per capita spending by state government alone. a. first b. twenty-second c. thirty-sixth d. forty-eight e. fiftieth
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d. forty-eight
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How successful has Texas been in curtailing government growth and spending? a. It has been very successful. Though government spending has increased over the past decade, it has only increased by 30 percent, far lower than the average for other states. b. Efforts to reduce spending on health care and welfare have been successful, though Texas has increased educational spending and it now spends well above the national average. c. Except for the 2003 and 2011 budget crises, efforts to slow growth have met with only marginal success as a result of federal mandates and opposition by Texans unwilling to lose services. d. Though there have been few efforts to cut unnecessary spending , Texas has managed to limit the growth of government parallel to the growth in population. e. Texas was very successful in cutting wasteful spending, but overall attempts to slow growth have been moderately successful, with spending increasing by only 20 percent since 2003.
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c. Except for the 2003 and 2011 budget crises, efforts to slow growth have met with only marginal success as a result of federal mandates and opposition by Texans unwilling to lose services.
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Eighty-two percent of state government employees in Texas work in areas of higher education, public safety and corrections, and a. government administration. b. social services. c. fire and police protection. d. public K-12 education. e. transportation.
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b. social services.
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Implementation is the conversion of policy plans into a. mandates. b. red tape. c. confrontations. d. reality. e. conclusions
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d. reality
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________ would be considered co-optation. a. An oil industry executive serving on a state regulatory board working to prevent new restrictions being placed on the industry b. A state university provost appearing before the state legislature with a large group of students advocating for more funding c. Representatives of the agricultural industry hosting a dinner for state government administrators and politicians d. Lobbyists from a technology company trying to get the state to provide them with a contract to provide services e. Executives from the transportation industry holding a press conference outside the legislative offices calling for fewer regulations
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a. An oil industry executive serving on a state regulatory board working to prevent new restrictions being placed on the industry
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________ demanded that the Texas Department of Health crack down on deplorable conditions in nursing homes. a. Bill Clements b. Ann Richards c. Mark White d. Rick Perry e. George W. Bush
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b. Ann Richards
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How successful has the sunset process been in Texas? a. Despite failing to reduce the size of the bureaucracy, it has helped rid state government of some obsolete agencies, modernized state laws, and made some agencies more responsive to the public. b. Of the total number of agencies reviewed by the sunset process, around 80 percent have been phased out, with their operations transferred to other agencies. c. Despite failing to prevent the rapid increase of the bureaucracy, it has forced many programs back to the legislature to be revised before being implemented. d. The sunset process has brought about sweeping reforms in the bureaucracy by urging the legislature to pass new laws and restrictions and has increased efficiency while cutting costs. e. The sunset process has been very successful in reducing the number of agencies in Texas by 30 percent, though other agencies have grown in size, which has increas the size of the bureaucracy.
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a. Despite failing to reduce the size of the bureaucracy, it has helped rid state government of some obsolete agencies, modernized state laws, and made some agencies more responsive to the public.
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Each agency is subject to sunset review every a. six months. b. twelve months. c. two years. d. six years. e. twelve years.
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e. twelve years
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When a person in an agency reports an agency for costly mistakes or waste or an endangerment to the public, they are protected by the a. shield law. b. good citizen law. c. Whistle Blower Protection Act. d. Patronage Act. e. Good Samaritan law.
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c. Whistle Blower Protection Act.
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________ would be considered political patronage. a. An agency chair hiring a consultant based on her excellent former work in the private sector b. A state representative hiring a campaign contributor to a job he knows nothing about c. A state commissioner delegating hiring duties to a human resources administrator d. An agency chair hiring his brother to oversee a new program because he is family e. A commissioner hiring an employee to a position based on her years of government experience
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b. A state representative hiring a campaign contributor to a job he knows nothing about
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A merit employment system a. is similar to political patronage because officeholders choose employees they have personal relationships with that are best qualified for the job. b. became very successful in Texas once the legislature set up an independent agency solely for the purpose of testing perspective employees and monitoring existing employees. c. is inconsistent with the individualistic political culture in Texas because of the decentralized plural executive and officeholders who jealously guard their prerogative to hire and fire. d. failed in Texas because the legislators were unwilling to give employment to women and minorities without extensively testing them, while allowing Anglo men patronage positions. e. is consistent with the individualistic political culture in Texas because of the decentralized plural executive and officeholders' desire to get the very best employees.
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c. is inconsistent with the individualistic political culture in Texas because of the decentralized plural executive and officeholders who jealously guard their prerogative to hire and fire.
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The Texas Workforce Commission is responsible for a. overseeing the hiring process for new public workers. b. assisting agencies in recruiting by listing all state job openings c. establishing policies on vacations, holidays, and retirement. d. overseeing the states classification schedule. e. providing a link between state unions and the government.
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b. assisting agencies in recruiting by listing all state job openings
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The practice of leaving a government job for a more lucrative job with the industry one used to regulate is known as a. sunsetting b. whistle-blowing c. revolving door d. promotion
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c. revolving door
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One of the obstacles to the bureaucracy's policy implementation is a. the absence of the expertise brought by interest groups. b. high rates of turnover of the most competent employees. c. high failure rates on promotion exams. d. lack of adequate funding by the legislature.
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d. lack of adequate funding by the legislature.
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The basic structure of the Texas judicial system, with more than 2,700 courts, a. is incredibly efficient despite overlapping jurisdictions. b. is considered among the most modern in the country. c. is considered one of the most corrupt state judicial systems in the country. d. is considered outdated and confusing due to its overlapping jurisdictions. e. is one of the smallest judicial systems in the country despite the size of Texas.
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d. is considered outdated and confusing due to its overlapping jurisdictions.
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The federal judiciary has ordered sweeping improvements in a. the state highway system. b. the allocation of state holidays. c. the state prison system. d. the state constitution. e. the state environmental agency
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c. the state prison system.
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More than ________ of all litigation is based on state laws or local ordinances. a. 95 percent b. 85 percent c. 75 percent d. 65 percent e. 55 percent
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a. 95 percent
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Civil lawsuits involve conflict a. where a misdemeanor has been committed. b. where a felony has been committed. c. between two or more parties. d. between the accused and the state. e. between married persons.
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c. between two or more parties.
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The authority of a court to try or resolve a civil lawsuit or a felony prosecution being heard for the first time is known as a. appellate jurisdiction. b. original jurisdiction. c. supreme jurisdiction. d. bifurcated jurisdiction. e. de novo jurisdiction
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b. original jurisdiction.
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Unlike federal judges, who are appointed by the president to life terms, state judges in Texas, except for those on municipal courts, are a. appointed by the governor for specific terms. b. appointed by the speaker for ten-year terms. c. elected to lifetime terms in partisan elections. d. elected to unlimited terms in nonpartisan elections. e. elected to limited terms in partisan elections.
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e. elected to limited terms in partisan elections.
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Why did Texas create constitutional county courts? a. They were created to deal with constitutional issues that affected state government and persons at the county level. b. They were created by the legislature over the years to supplement the statutory county courts, in the process assuming responsibility over criminal cases. c. To serve the needs of the sparsely populated rural society that existed in Texas then d. They were created by legislative order in 1954 to relieve the pressure from justice of the peace and municipal courts that had become overburdened with cases. e. They were created to provide a judicial branch at the county level in every county when Texas reorganized its counties in the early 1900s.
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c. To serve the needs of the sparsely populated rural society that existed in Texas then
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Justice of the peace courts a. have original civil jurisdiction, Class C misdemeanor jurisdiction, and serve as small claims courts. b. have original criminal jurisdiction but not civil jurisdiction, and serve as coroners. c. function as small claims courts, serve as coroners, and have de novo jurisdiction. d. have original civil and criminal jurisdiction, and function as small claims courts. e. serve as coroners, function as small claims courts, but have no other jurisdiction.
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a. have original civil jurisdiction, Class C misdemeanor jurisdiction, and serve as small claims courts.
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Most municipal courts and all justice of the peace courts are a. courts of record. b. not courts of record. c. courts with appellate jurisdiction. d. courts with felony jurisdiction. e. courts with probate jurisdiction.
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b. not courts of record.
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The primary trial court in Texas is the a. county court. b. municipal court. c. statutory county court. d. justice of the peace court. e. district court.
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e. district court.
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A plea bargain results when the defendant negotiates a. a reduction in his sentence with his defense attorneys. b. directly with the judge in the case. c. a reduction in his sentence with the prosecutors. d. a reduction in his sentence with the Texas Supreme Court. e. a reduction in his sentence with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
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c. a reduction in his sentence with the prosecutors.
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The Court of Criminal Appeals a. hears both criminal and civil cases. b. has fifteen justices. c. hears only criminal cases. d. hears only civil cases. e. has only three justices.
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c. hears only criminal cases.
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Grand juries a. are each made up of twelve people selected by a district judge. b. tend to over represent minority interests. c. must issue an indictment or lower the charge to a misdemeanor. d. must meet in public with an attorney present for the accused. e. must have a unanimous decision in order to indict a defendant.
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a. are each made up of twelve people selected by a district judge.
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In order to convict a defendant of a felony in Texas, the jury decision must be a. unanimous. b. at least ten to two. c. at least eight to four. d. at least seven to five. e. agreed to by all twelve members.
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a. unanimous.
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Cases reach the Texas Supreme Court primarily on a. petitions for review. b. writs of mandamus. c. petitions for acceptance. d. writs of certiorari. e. de novo writs
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a. petitions for review.
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What is the purpose of writs of mandamus on which the Texas Supreme Court sometimes acts? a. It is to remedy defects in justice by ordering lower courts or public officials to take a certain action. b. It offers a higher court's opinion to a lower court in a case that has a high probability for appeal. c. They provide written mandates that guide lower courts on decisions in civil cases. d. They are used to stop a case from being heard in a lower court and to transfer it to a higher court. e. They are decrees ordering the legislature to strike down unconstitutional laws.
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a. It is to remedy defects in justice by ordering lower courts or public officials to take a certain action.
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In 1998, the Republican Party won ________ seats on the Texas Supreme Court. a. the majority of the b. all of the c. seven d. none of the e. half of the
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b. all of the
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Which of the following was appointed U.S. attorney general after serving on the Texas Supreme Court and as Texas secretary of state? a. Raul A. Gonzalez b. Nathan Luna c. Alberto R. Gonzales d. Ernest F. Hernandez, Jr. e. Harriet Miers
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c. Alberto R. Gonzales
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Why did the U.S. Supreme Court halt executions in all states in 1972? a. Capital punishment was halted for three months as the Supreme Court investigated the legality of it when the U.S. signed a UN humanitarian charter the same year. b. It declared capital punishment unconstitutional as it violated the constitutional prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment because it could be applied in a discriminatory fashion. c. Earlier that year, Congress had passed legislation banning the death penalty, and the U.S. Supreme Court upheld it following a lengthy court battle. d. A five-month moratorium was placed on the death penalty after it was revealed that in the previous year fifty-six people were wrongly executed following the discovery of new evidence e. It declared that several execution methods were cruel and unjust, and banned the death penalty until lethal injection was introduced in all states that had capital punishment.
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b. It declared capital punishment unconstitutional as it violated the constitutional prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment because it could be applied in a discriminatory fashion.
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Which of the following is true regarding taxes in Texas? a. There is no sales tax on luxury items. b. Personal income is not taxed. c. Ad valorem taxes are only collected on even years. d. Property tax revenues are only used for bond payments. e. Business income is not taxed.
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b. Personal income is not taxed.
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Which of the following is true of sales taxes? a. Lower income families are more affected by the tax than higher income families. b. They are considered progressive when food items are excluded. c. Sales taxes are returned to the counties in which they were collected d. They are unimportant to most Texans. e. They are fair for all Texans.
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a. Lower income families are more affected by the tax than higher income families.
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The franchise tax, formerly the state's main business tax, was replaced in 2006 with a. a broader-based business tax that applied not only to corporations but also sole proprietorships. b. a broader-based business tax that applied to business services as well as corporations. c. a broader-based business tax that applied not only to corporations but also to professional partnerships. d. a value added (VAT) tax that taxed the manufacture of all goods and services produced in Texas. e. a narrower-based business tax that only taxed corporations that did not have their corporate headquarters in Texas.
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c. a broader-based business tax that applied not only to corporations but also to professional partnerships.
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Texas taxpayer dissatisfaction and anger in recent years has been mostly due to a. an increase in grocery sales tax rates. b. the addition of ad valorem property tax. c. increases in ad valorem property tax rates. d. additional municipal taxes. e. the severance tax.
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c. increases in ad valorem property tax rates.
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Sin taxes a. are used to directly fund public healthcare initiatives. b. do not exist in Texas. c. are imposed on tobacco and alcohol producers. d. are imposed on tobacco products and alcohol. e. are used to increase consumption of luxury goods.
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d. are imposed on tobacco products and alcohol.
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Why did Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock actively campaign for a state income tax in 1991? a. He believed that it could be used to replace the estate tax as a major source of revenue. b. He sought for it to be an alternative to the proposed state franchise tax. c. He believed in conjunction with other unpopular taxes, it could create a budget surplus. d. He believed it was the only way to meet the state's needs fairly and adequately. e. He sought to use it to replace local school property taxes.
answer
d. He believed it was the only way to meet the state's needs fairly and adequately.
question
In 1989, the Texas Supreme Court said the existing education finance system violated a state constitutional requirement for a. an equal system of public education. b. an open system of public education. c. an efficient system of public education. d. a quality system of public education. e. a fair system of public education.
answer
c. an efficient system of public education.
question
In early 1997, Attorney General Dan Morales interpreted the Hopwood ruling as prohibiting all Texas universities from using race or ethnicity as a preferential factor in a. all admissions decisions. b. undergraduate admissions. c. housing. d. promotions. e. grading systems.
answer
a. all admissions decisions.
question
While little changed in minority enrollments at many Texas Universities after the Hopwood decision, ______ and University of Texas at Austin, the two largest saw a huge drop-off as they had formerly used race as a factor in admissions. a. Tarleton State University b. Texas Tech University c. Lamar University d. Texas A e. University of North Texas
answer
d. Texas A
question
In the decades following the Ruiz decision, Texas dealt with the problem of its overcrowded prisons by a. increasing its parole rate, even to the point of paroling violent offenders. b. accepting convicted felons at state prisons so that county jails did not have to house them. c. doubling the size of the prison system. d. tripling the size of the prison system. e. early release programs for nonviolent drug offenders.
answer
c. doubling the size of the prison system.
question
What is the purpose of CHIP? a. It is a charitable organization that assists Medicaid recipients with purchasing prescription pills. b. It provides insurance to families of state government employees. c. It provides insurance for children of working parents who earn too much for Medicaid. d. It provides insurance to children of Texas State National Guard Veterans. e. It is a state organization dedicated to assisting families with children in providing preventive care.
answer
c. It provides insurance for children of working parents who earn too much for Medicaid.
question
Many Texas political figures still debate the _____ of Global Warming despite a 2009 report by Texas A& M scientists________. a. extent; declaring that it is not an issue for Texas. b. actuality; advising the legislature that it really exists. c. reach; declaring that it does not actually exist. d. veracity; warning of disastrous threats to the Texas Gulf Coast. e. actuality; claiming huge benefits for Texans that own land at 25 feet elevation..
answer
d. veracity; warning of disastrous threats to the Texas Gulf Coast.
question
The biggest share of state budget expenditures is for a. health and human services b. economic development c. road construction d. education
answer
d. education
question
Which of the following is the only source of revenue for school districts? a. state sales taxes b. property taxes c. fuel taxes d. federal taxes
answer
b. property taxes
question
Which of the following statements is true about the delivery of health care in Texas? a. Texas has the highest percentage of children covered by health insurance. b. Texas has the gihest reimbursement rate to nursing facilitites. c. Texas has the highest percentage of residents without health insurance. d. Texas has expanded its spending on health care programs by an amount larger than any other state.
answer
c. Texas has the highest percentage of residents without health insurance.
question
The _________ rule is the prevailing theory defining the relationships of states and local governments, a relationship in which local governments are fundamentally administrative subdivisions of the state and have no rights except for those granted to them by the state. a. Perry b. Dillon c. Richards d. Houston e. Jefferson
answer
b. Dillon
question
The state has granted Texas cities __________ range of discretionary power over organizational structure and local public policy. a. a very limited b. an unlimited c. a wide d. no e. an inconsistent
answer
c. a wide
question
The majority of cities in Texas are _________cities while the most common form of city government is _____. a. general law; mayor-council. b. home rule; commission. c. general law; council-manager. d. incorporated; mayor-council. e. home rule; council-manager.
answer
a. general law; mayor-council.
question
___________ would be considered an aspect of a strong mayor. a. Exercising veto authority over the budget b. Independently elected city administrators c. The power to remove city officials with approval of the city council d. Limited budgetary authority e. Sharing power with the city council over city administration
answer
c. The power to remove city officials with approval of the city council
question
Why is the strong mayor form of government found in only one major city in Texas? a. Multiple mayors were embroiled in scandals in the 1970s leading to a move away from this system. b. This form of government only came about recently in the 1990s. c. Cities have been moving away from this and towards more fragmented forms of government. d. It is a difficult system of government to devise a charter for. e. Texas's political culture works against the legitimacy of this form of government.
answer
e. Texas's political culture works against the legitimacy of this form of government.
question
The greatest flaw with the commission form of city government is a. its reliance on a city manager to run the city. b. the lack of a single chief executive, so that no one is in charge. c. its reliance on partisan elections. d. the domination of the various departments by an authoritarian chief executive. e. its administrative inefficiency and partisan battles.
answer
b. the lack of a single chief executive, so that no one is in charge.
question
In a council-manager form of government a. the mayor has no more power on the city council than a council member. b. the manager reports to the mayor. c. the manager is chosen from among the city council members. d. oversight of administrative agencies is taken away from the city council and given to the city manager. e. the city manager is elected by the city and there is no mayor.
answer
a. the mayor has no more power on the city council than a council member.
question
Which is a factor that helps to determine the overall effectiveness of city managers? a. The relationships they have with the local county government. b. Their ability to exceed their mandated authority. c. The ability they have to nullify legislation produced by the legislature. d. The margin by which they win in an election. e. Their relationships with the city council.
answer
e. Their relationships with the city council.
question
Almost every Texas city elects its council in _________ elections. a. primary b. nonpolitical c. special d. nonpartisan e. partisan
answer
d. nonpartisan
question
A notable feature of city elections in Texas is the use of a. single-member districts. b. multimember districts. c. the all-city system. d. party labels. e. the at-large system.
answer
e. the at-large system.
question
In a place system, candidates a. file for a specific council seat and run citywide for positions. b. run citywide for council seats; the candidates with the most votes win. c. run for a council seat within a district and are voted by the constituents of the district. d. for city council are elected through a double ballot system. e. file for city council and are chosen by party leaders.
answer
a. file for a specific council seat and run citywide for positions.
question
Although cities are required by law to balance their operating budgets, many municipal construction projects are financed by loans through the issuance of a. referenda bonds. b. limited agenda bonds. c. general obligation bonds. d. county bonds of indebtedness. e. municipal bonds
answer
c. general obligation bonds.
question
The bonds issued by a city are secured by its a. taxing power. b. judicial courts. c. manager. d. mayor. e. general assets.
answer
a. taxing power.
question
The population characteristics of Texas cities change over time, and major metropolitan areas have experienced a(n) ___________ to the suburbs. a. "Hispanic flight" b. "white flight" c. "African American flight" d. "senior's flight" e. "affluent flight"
answer
b. "white flight"
question
What characterizes the organizational structure of Texas county government? a. They vary widely from county to county but all have few implied powers. b. They are tightly organized with a relatively high degree of power and autonomy. c. They are highly fragmented. d. They are slightly fragmented. e. They are tightly organized with relatively few implied powers.
answer
c. They are highly fragmented.
question
Why was the appraisal district created? a. It was meant to remove the tax appraisal powers of the sheriff and place them in a single independent office. b. It was meant to assist the tax assessor collector who in many counties had become overburdened by the 1970's c. It was primarily intended to be a cost cutting measure by combining the tax office with the appraisal office. d. It was meant to enhance the professionalism of tax appraisals and move towards greater consistency across the state. e. It was created to limit the powers of the precinct commissioners by creating an office that would be headed by a popularly elected official.
answer
d. It was meant to enhance the professionalism of tax appraisals and move towards greater consistency across the state.
question
The structure of Texas county government has held back the efforts of _________ counties to respond to a growing need for public service. a. small b. rural c. urban d. all e. large
answer
c. urban
question
What was a primary goal in establishing independent school districts? a. To shift responsibility to county governments while decreasing the financial burden of the state. b. To ensure financial equality in schools across the state. c. To shift responsibility for the schools from politicians to educators and reduce costs. d. To depoliticize education and shift responsibility for it away from county or city government. e. To ensure every child received an education derived from a single curriculum.
answer
d. To depoliticize education and shift responsibility for it away from county or city government.
question
The top county official is the a. county clerk b. county judge c. county attorney d. county auditor e. county tax assessor-collector
answer
b. county judge
question
Home rule cities a. are allowed only those powers defined in the constitution and granted by the legislature. b. are those cities that have less than 5000 residents. c. have a city charter that was adopted by their residents. d. make up a majority of Texas cities. e. cannot extend their jurisdiction outside of the county in which it was created.
answer
c. have a city charter that was adopted by their residents.
