Chapter 8 Review
GOVT 2306 – Brown Text
1. What term is used to describe the multi-head executive branch found in Texas government?
2. What offices compose the executive branch in Texas?
3. How can a governor overcome the significant structural weaknesses designed in the office of the
Texas governor?
4. The creation of the framework for the executive branch in the Texas constitution resulted from
what experience of the framers?
5. Who guaranteed the loan for Rick Perry’s campaign to be lieutenant governor in 1998 that is
credited with giving him the edge to win the campaign? What agenda does your text say this
person is associated with having?
6. By what margin did Perry win the governorship in the 2006 campaign?
7. What factor largely determines whether or not a person will be successful as governor?
8. What are the constitutional requirements to become the governor of Texas?
9. Who was the first Republican governor of Texas since Reconstruction? Second?
10. What circumstance led to Rick Perry becoming the governor of Texas in 2000?
11. What was the governor’s salary in 2010-2011?
12. What is the purpose of governors placing their interests in blind trusts while they serve as
governor?
13. Who becomes governor if a sitting governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office?
14. How is the office of lieutenant governor filled if he or she must change offices?
15. What is the process of impeachment and removal of a governor? What is the penalty for
conviction?
16. What is the purpose of the Governor’s Office?
17. How do the personal characteristics of the governor and first lady enhance the ability of the
governor to connect with the public?
18. Identify and explain the executive powers of the governor?
19. How is the appointive power one of the most significant powers of the governor?
20. What position in the executive branch is appointed by the governor?
21. Who currently holds the offices of – lieutenant governor, comptroller, land commissioner,
agriculture commissioner, secretary of state, attorney general
22. All appointees, but personal staff, have to have approval by whom? What percentage?
23. What is a recess appointment?
24. What is the term of office for most state appointed boards and commissions? How does this
serve as a limitation on the appointive power of the governor?
25. What is the purpose of the Railroad Commission?
26. What are the only three officials that can be independently removed by the governor?
27. What is required for the governor to remove any of the others of his appointees?
28. What are the military powers of the governor?
29. Where and why did a Texas governor have to impose martial law in 1943?
30. What are the law enforcement powers of the governor?
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What is the budgetary power of the governor?
What is the principal source of governor’s control over state spending?
How are executive orders identified?
What is the significance of an executive order?
What executive order landed Governor Rick Perry in hot water and led to loud cries of
cronyism?
How is the proclamation authority used by the governor to assist him in the use of power?
What is the purpose of the state’s Texas Enterprise Fund?
What is the purpose of the Emerging Technology Fund?
Why have some criticized these two funds as little more than “slush funds” for the governor?
Through what four ways does the governor exercise legislative power? What is the significance
of each?
What is the relationship between pork barrel politics and the governor’s line item veto power?
How does the post-adjournment veto give significant power to the governor?
Who is the first African American chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court?
For what offenses may a member of the Texas judiciary be removed?
Describe each of the following powers of the governor: pardon, parole, clemency, commutation,
reprieve, conditional pardon
What is the significance of the power of the attorney general to issue opinions?
What is the primary role of the attorney general?
In what way is the comptroller of public accounts one of the most powerful positions in state
government?
What is the name of the site that the comptroller created to allow average citizens to track how
tax dollars are being spent by the state government?
What are some of the significant responsibilities of the commissioner of the general land office?
What is the principal requirement for winning office as the state agriculture commissioner?
What unique requirement exists to become the state agriculture commissioner?
What is the unique tie that the commissioner of agriculture has to Texas public schools?
What limitations has the commissioner of agriculture’s office placed on these schools?
What are the primary responsibilities of the secretary of state?