Texas Govt Exam 2

The structure of the Texas Legislature is defined with which of the following:

Bicameral

One of the first of its kind in the nation, Texas passed which of the following Acts that requires a periodic review of state agencies?

Sunset Review Act

A legislative agency that prepares the two-year budget and appropriations bill for the Texas Legislature is the

Legislative Budget Board (LBB)

The basic business of the Texas Legislature in reviewing and shaping bills submitted is the work of which of the following:

Committees

Who can introduce bills for consideration by the Texas Legislature?

Only legislators

Which of the following is NOT an option for the Governor once a bill has been passed by the Texas Legislature?

Amend it

Floor action in the Texas Legislature refers to which of the following in the legislative process?

Review, debate and amendment by a Chamber

Which of the following is NOT a qualification for being elected to the Texas House of Representatives?

Having already served at least two terms in the Legislature

The Texas Legislature consist of 150 members in the House of Representatives and ____ members in the Texas Senate.

31

Your reading identified five basic steps for a bill to become a law. Which of the following is NOT a step in that process?

Budget Board Approval

Which of the following is a requirement for serving as Governor of the State of Texas?

resident of the State for at least 5 years

Which of the following is not a member of the plural executive in Texas?

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Texas elects governors every four years during _________________ national elections.

midterm

Which part of the executive branch of government in Texas oversees the day to day operations of government programs and services in the state?

State boards and agencies

Appointment power is one of the most significant powers given to the Governor of Texas by the State's Constitution. Which of the following is a type of appointment the Governor can make?

Officials and members of state boards, commissions, and councils

Texas has a ________________ system which limits the power of the Governor. Except for the Secretary of State, all executive officers are elected independently making them directly answerable to the public, not the Governor.

plural executive branch

The Governor of Texas has line-item veto power, which applies only to which of the following within bills?

only items that are spending measures

The Governor of Texas can accomplish much in office by using informal powers. Which of the following is considered an informal power of the Governor?

developing strong relationships with other elected officials

Which of the following members of the plural executive is the presiding officer in the Texas Senate, first in line of succession for Governor, member of the Legislative Redistricting Board, Chair of the Legislative Budget Board, elected to 4 years terms by the public with no term limits.

Lieutenant Governor

Which of the following is a frequently used duty of the Governor of Texas?

Signing or vetoing bills passed by the Texas Legislature

In Texas, local governments, including school districts, cities, counties and special districts, are financed through ____________ taxes, which multiply the appraised value of the property by a tax rate set by the governing body of the local government.

Ad valorem

The largest source of revenue for the State of Texas is:

Federal funding

The largest source of funding from state taxes in Texas is:

Sales tax

The two largest areas of state spending are which of the following:

Health Services and Education

Responsibility for preparing an initial draft of the budget is shared by the governor, through the Governor's Office of Budget, Planning, and Policy (GOBPP) and the legislature through the Legislative Budget Board (LBB).

True

While the draft budgets are being prepared, the comptroller's office prepares the ___________________, a detailed forecast of the revenue that the state is expected to take in over the next biennium, with a defined ceiling on what the legislature can spend.

Biennial Revenue Estimate

Which of the following is identified as an ongoing issue in state financing in Texas? Check all answers that apply.

Stability of the oil and gas industry, Cost of higher education, Health care, Pressure on allowance of casino gambling and recreational marijuana, Financing public education

The Texas Constitution gives the governor line-item veto authority--the authority to veto individual items in the appropriations bill. If the legislature is still in session when that authority is exercised (theoretically possible, but unlikely), it may override any vetoed line-items by a

two-thirds majority vote in each Chamber

The _____________ tax burdens low-income families more than higher-income families, since it is based on how much each family spends. Low-income families typically spend three-quarters of their income on things subject to the ______________ tax, middle-class families spend less than half of their income on items subject to _____________ tax, and the richest families spend one-quarter or less of their income on _____________-taxable items.

Sales

The budget passed by the 88th Texas Legislature this year for the coming biennium (two-year cycle) was just over _____________ billion.

$320

_______________________ is the power for a higher court to review a lower courts decision.

Appellate jurisdiction

Civil cases involving more than $200 and criminal cases for which the penalty can involve the state prison system or the death penalty begin with a trial in

State District Court

Which type of law in Texas overules all other types of law?

Constitutional law

The Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court is required by law to report on the state of the Texas Judiciary every

Regular session of the Texas Legislature

The two highest state courts in Texas are the Texas Supreme Court and the _________________________ .

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

While Constitutional County Courts are the governing body of a county, the Court also has some judicial responsibiliites including

Holding hearings on beer and wine license applications

Justice and Municipal Courts do not require an elected judge to have experience practicing law. Which County-level court does not require a license to practice law to serve?

Constitutional County Court

Municipal Court judges are the only judges not elected by the citizens.

True

One major argument against the election of judges is that

judicial elections require a growing amount of fundraising in election campaigns.

Most judges in Texas are selected through

Partisan elections

More liberal urban voters have shown a higher level of comfort with government regulation and authority that _________________ voters generally oppose.

rural

Preemption laws are state laws ___________ the powers of local governments.

Limiting

Cities can be organized in two basic ways, depending on their size. Cities with a population of less than ______________ people can only exist as general law cities. A general law city has only the powers specifically granted by the legislature, which do not include broad annexation or regulatory powers.

5000

Cities with a population greater than ____________________ may elect home rule status. Home rule cities can do virtually anything they want that isn’t prohibited by the legislature

5000

Counties are general-law forms of government, created specifically by the state, whereas ______________, on the other hand, are created by their citizens, who apply for a charter to create one.

cities

Each of Texas' 254 counties is run in part by a five-member Commissioners court consisting of a ________________, elected at-large, and four county commissioners elected from each of four precincts.

county judge

Which of the following is an example of a special district in Texas?

water district

__________________ districts are governmental entities with specific geographic boundaries that are created to provide specific services such as drainage, water and sewer service, or firefighting.

Special

Cities in Texas can be organized in a variety of ways. The most common structure is the council-manager form of government. Some large cities in Texas have a _____________________ system.

strong mayor

____________ officials are elected in partisan elections

County

What are the main criteria used to evaluate the performance of Texas legislators?

Attendance, voting record, responsiveness to constituents, success in passing bills, ethics, and ability to secure benefits for their district.

What are the primary functions of the Texas Legislature?

Making laws, representing the people, overseeing the executive branch, approving the state budget, and serving as a check on other branches.

What factors most influence how Texas legislators vote?

Party affiliation, constituent opinions, interest group pressure, personal beliefs, and leadership direction.

Why are committees powerful in the Texas Legislature?

They review and amend bills, hold hearings, and decide which bills advance — most bills die in committee.

How can citizens influence the legislative process in Texas?

By contacting legislators, testifying at hearings, voting, joining interest groups, and participating in political campaigns.

What are some ongoing issues facing the Texas Legislature?

Limited legislative sessions, low pay for legislators, lobbyist influence, and lack of diversity among representatives.

What are the main roles of the Texas governor?

Chief executive, commander-in-chief of the state militia, policy leader, party leader, and ceremonial head of state.

What formal powers does the Texas governor have?

Veto power, line-item veto in budget bills, power to call special sessions, limited appointment power, and granting pardons or reprieves.

What is meant by the “plural executive” in Texas?

Power is divided among several independently elected officials (e.g., Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller), reducing the governor’s authority.

What are criticisms of Texas’s plural executive system?

It causes fragmentation, lack of coordination, and political rivalry among executive officials.
Reform idea: Give the governor more appointment and budget authority.

Why is reorganizing the Texas bureaucracy difficult?

Because many agencies are protected by law, politics, or public support; consolidation efforts often face opposition from entrenched interests.

What are the main sources of Texas’s revenue?

Sales tax, property tax, oil and gas severance taxes, fees, and federal funds.
Note: Texas does not have a state income tax.

What fiscal challenges does Texas face today?

Reliance on volatile sales taxes, underfunded education and healthcare, and regional inequality in revenue generation

What are the basic functions of the Texas judiciary?

Interpreting laws, resolving disputes, protecting rights, and enforcing the rule of law.

What are the major components of Texas’s judicial system?

Trial courts, appellate courts, the Texas Supreme Court (civil cases), and the Court of Criminal Appeals (criminal cases).

How is Texas’s court system structured?

It has five main levels — local/municipal courts, county courts, district courts, courts of appeals, and two high courts.

How can citizens participate in the Texas court system?

By serving on juries, voting for judges, filing lawsuits, and serving as witnesses or plaintiffs.

What are major issues facing the Texas judiciary?

Partisan judicial elections, campaign donations influencing judges, judicial overload, and access to justice for poor citizens.

What are the two main types of city governments in Texas?

• Mayor–Council form (used by smaller cities)

• Council–Manager form (used by most large cities)

Home Rule cities have local autonomy; General Law cities follow state law.

What are major issues facing Texas municipalities?

Urban growth, affordable housing, infrastructure strain, and conflicts with state laws limiting local authority.

What are special districts in Texas?

Independent local governments providing specific services (e.g., school districts, water districts, hospital districts).

What reforms could improve the effectiveness of Texas local governments?

Regional cooperation between cities, greater transparency, fiscal reform, and modernizing infrastructure planning