Chapter 9: Texas Plural Executive

Governor Abbott's use of emergency powers during the COVID-19 pandemic:

Led to lawsuits and criticism from both conservatives and Democrats

Which of the following is NOT a power of the Texas governor?

Granting pardons without Board recommendation

The governor's clemency powers in Texas are limited because:

Pardons require recommendation from the Board of Pardons and Paroles

Texas gubernatorial elections are held in off-years (non-presidential election years) in order to:

Minimize the influence of presidential races on gubernatorial selection

Compared to governors in most other states, the Texas governor is considered:

Relatively weak due to the plural executive structure

Unlike governors in many other states, the Texas governor:

Must share executive power with other independently elected officials

The line-item veto gives the Texas governor a power that:

Is not available to the president of the United States

Which factor has allowed some Texas governors to overcome the constitutional weaknesses of the office?

Long tenure (time in office) and use of appointment power

The fragmented nature of the Texas executive branch means that:

Executive power is dispersed among multiple elected officials

When the governor is absent from Texas, who assumes the powers of the office?

The lieutenant governor