CHAPTER 8
Multiple Choice
1. All of these are true about the Lieutenant Governor’s role from the executive perspective except:
a. He succeeds the governor in case of death.
b. He serves in the governor’s capacity when the latter is out of state.
c. He succeeds the governor in case of removal or resignation.
d. He succeeds the Comptroller of Publics accounts in case of death, removal, or resignation.
2. The first Republican lieutenant governor was
a. Rick Perry.
b. Bob Bullock.
c. John Cornyn.
d. Gary Mauro.
3. All of these are true about the functions of the Attorney General except:
a. He initiates criminal procedures.
b. He protects consumers from deceptive trade practice.
c. His investigates unfair and anti-competitive practices of business.
d. He enforces child support payments.
4. Which statement is not true about the Comptroller of Public Accounts?
a. The Comptroller of Public Accounts is Susan Combs.
b. The Comptroller of Public Accounts can veto proposed state budget.
c. The Comptroller of Public Accounts is the state’s accountant and chief tax collector.
d. The Comptroller of Public Accounts estimates state revenues.
5. The state Treasurer’s office
a. protects consumers from defective trade practice.
b. pays state expenses.
c. estimates revenues.
d. was abolished by the voters.
6. The Commissioner of Land
a. is appointed by the governor.
b. is Susan Combs.
c. is responsible for leasing and use of corporate owned land.
d. serves as the chair of the Veterans Land Board.
7. Which of the following is not a constitutionally mandated executive office?
a. Land Commissioner
b. Agriculture Commissioner
c. Comptroller of Pubic Accounts
d. Lieutenant Governor
8. The Agriculture Commissioner’s job requires that candidates be
a. a practicing farmer.
b. A practicing attorney.
c. A practicing veterinarian.
d. A practicing agronomist.
9. The governor appoints the heads of all these offices except:
a. Secretary of State
b. Insurance Commissioner
c. Adjutant General
d. Railroad Commissioner.
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10. The Texas Register
a. reports administration agency rules, attorney general opinions, and other government information.
b. is published by the governor’s office.
c. is published by the lieutenant governor’s office.
d. reports who voted in favor and who against pending bills on the floor of the Texas Legislature.
11. The person who oversees the Army National Guard, the Air National Guard, and the Texas National Guard is the
a. governor.
b. Secretary of State.
c. Adjutant General.
d. Secretary of Army.
12. All of these are characteristics of a hierarchically shaped bureaucracy except:
a. There is a chain of command.
b. It has a pyramid-shaped structure.
c. Authority is concentrated at the top.
d. Everybody reports to the agency head.
13. Which statement is true?
a. About 150,000 employees work for the Texas bureaucracy.
b. About 150,000, excluding education employees, labor for the state’s bureaucracy.
c. About two million civilian employees work for the federal government.
d. Local governments employee less people than the state government in Texas.
14. Under the “spoils system”
a. hiring is based on the merit system.
b. hiring is based on what you know and not who you know in government.
c. a person needs “connections” to get a government job.
d. hiring is based on skills and qualifications.
15. The Texas Railroad Commission lost its responsibility to regulate
a. natural gas.
b. oil.
c. pipelines.
d. intrastate trucking.
16. Which of the following statements is not true about the State Board of Education?
a. Independent charter schools can apply for and receive state funds with State Board of Education approval.
b. It has fifteen board members.
c. It selects the education commissioner.
d. It has seen their authority increased in recent years.
17. All of these are true about the duties of the Parks and Wildlife Department except:
a. protects wildlife,.
b. hires game wardens.
c. maintains parks
d. hires constables.
18. All of these departments are part of Health and Human Services except:
a. Aging and Disability
b. State Health Services
c. Family and Protective
d. Local Health Services
19. All of the following are elected except:
a. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
b. State Board of Education.
c. Railroad Commission.
d. Agriculture Commission.
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20. The Texas Higher Education Coordinator Board oversees
a. all public education in Texas.
b. all higher education in Texas.
c. just junior and community colleges.
d. only private four year colleges in Texas.
21. An example of regulatory commission is
a. Public Utilities Commission.
b. Board of Nurse Examiners.
c. Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.
d. Texas Bar Association.
22. Licensing is not regulated in which one of the following areas?
a. Cosmetology
b. Occupational Therapy
c. Dentistry
d. Higher Education
23. Which of the following regulates electric and phone companies?
a. Attorney General
b. Public Utilities Commission
c. Sunset Advisory Commission
d. Secretary of State
24. Most agencies under the Sunset Advisory Commission are
a. closed.
b. merged.
c. reauthorized.
d. referred to the Legislative Budget Board.
25. The Sunset Advisory Commission
a. is composed of 12 members, five senators, five representatives, and two members of public.
b. does not have the authority to bring an agency up for review out of order.
c. reviews constitutionally mandated agencies every 12 years.
d. has part-time staff that aids in the research and review processes.
True/False
1.
A consequence of the plural executive is consistency and teamwork.
2.
The Office of the Attorney General has about 4200 employees, employs some 400 attorneys, and has seventy regional
offices.
3.
The Comptroller of Public Accounts tells the legislature how much money it has to spend and fills out federal grant
paperwork.
4.
The Commissioner of General Land is responsible for regulating the use of pesticides and providing information,
training, and licenses for their use.
5.
The Secretary of State provides training for election clerks and maintains a master roll of all registered voters in the state.
6.
Citizens tend to have a positive image of bureaucrats.
7.
The Railroad Commission has three members, elected in a nonpartisan manner to overlapping six-year terms.
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8.
The Parks and Wildlife Department is overseen by a nine-member board appointed by the governor and is headed by an
executive director, who is appointed by the board. The purpose of the department is to protect wildlife, maintain parks,
and provide for recreational opportunities.
9.
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is an example of licensing commission.
10. When an agency is up for review by the Sunset Advisory Commission, it must first complete a self-evaluation. Next,
public hearings take place. Finally, the commission will make its recommendations to the governor abolish it or not.
Essay Questions
1.
Explain the functions of bureaucracy in Texas.
2.
What are the functions of the Secretary of State, Adjutant General, and Insurance Commission?
3.
Discuss the use of appointed boards and commissions.
4.
To whom are bureaucrats accountable in Texas?
5.
Discuss the criteria used by the governor to appoint key members of his bureaucracy.
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