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Q:
Texas District Courts have sole jurisdiction over which type of case?
A. class C misdemeanors
B. class A & B misdemeanors
C. all felonies
D. civil cases
Q:
County courts can hear which of the following types of cases?
A. all misdemeanors
B. class "C" misdemeanors
C. class "A & B" misdemeanors
D. felonies
Q:
Justices of the Peace have the authority to
A. try class C misdemeanors
B. hear minor civil cases
C. marry people
D. all of the above
Q:
Justice of the Peace courts have jurisdiction over
A. Class A misdemeanors that are violations of federal laws committed within the city limits.
B. class C misdemeanors and civil cases where the amount in dispute is less than $5000
C. civil suits between two individuals where the amount in question is greater than $5000
D. third-degree felonies committed within the city limits.
Q:
The Texas Constitution requires that judges to all except which of the following courts be elected?
A. justice of the peace courts
B. municipal courts
C. county courts
D. Texas Supreme Court
Q:
Which statement is true?
A. all attorneys in Texas must be licensed by the State Bar of Texas
B. all attorneys in Texas must belong to and pay dues to the State Bar of Texas
C. all attorneys are subject to disciplinary action by the State Bar of Texas
D. all of the above are true statements
Q:
Which of the following statements is not true concerning the role of the Attorney General in the state's legal system?
A. the Attorney General is the states chief legal officer
B. the Attorney General is the state's chief prosecutor
C. the Attorney General renders legal opinions on such matters as proposed actions and laws
D. the Attorney General advises local governments on the Open Records Law
Q:
The Texas criminal justice system does an effective job of providing a fair trial to every defendant.
Q:
The Texas legislature used the state's budget surplus to avoid a show-down with the court system over public school finance.
Q:
The "Robin Hood Law" was designed to provide state funds to support low income public school districts.
Q:
The Texas Constitution requires the state to provide both equal rights and an "efficient" system of public education.
Q:
The Edgewood v Kirby case in 1987 ruled that Texas was meeting the requirements to provide an equal education regardless of income status.
Q:
Texas courts have been deeply concerned in the past with protecting the civil rights of members of minority groups.
Q:
The term "civil rights" refers to a citizen's rights to be treated fairly and equally under the law.
Q:
Partisan affiliation is the most predictable means of determining the philosophical preferences of candidates.
Q:
The majority of states select their judges by election.
Q:
Grand Jurors are selected on the basis of a random selection process.
Q:
The Texas Supreme Court is responsible for the licensing of attorneys in Texas.
Q:
Texas has two supreme courts. One court hears criminal cases and the other hears civil cases.
Q:
The Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court assigns cases to the Courts of Appeals.
Q:
The Courts of Appeals review cases in panels of three judges under normal circumstances.
Q:
Judges of the appellate courts in Texas serve six-year overlapping terms.
Q:
At least one court in each county must be designated as a juvenile justice court.
Q:
Both county court-at-law and district judges must be attorneys.
Q:
The courts that have exclusive jurisdiction over felonies are the district courts.
Q:
Special county courts called county courts-at-law have been established in 84 counties, having extended civil jurisdiction.
Q:
Each county in Texas is required to have a constitutional county court.
Q:
All elected trial court judges in Texas serve four-year terms.
Q:
Justice of the Peace Courts have both civil jurisdiction and criminal jurisdiction.
Q:
Justice of the Peace Court judges are required to be attorneys.
Q:
Municipal courts have only criminal jurisdiction involving class C misdemeanors and violations of city ordinances.
Q:
Judges of municipal courts are elected in most cities.
Q:
The majority of cases handled in municipal courts are related to traffic offenses.
Q:
The Texas Judicial system is characterized as disorganized with jurisdictions frequently overlapping and confused.
Q:
With the exception of municipal judges, all judges in Texas are appointed.
Q:
The majority of lawyers in Texas are minorities, either women, Hispanics, or Afro Americans.
Q:
One of the functions of the Attorney General's Office is to render advise to state and local government agencies as to what information is covered on the Open Records Law.
Q:
One of the Attorney General's functions is to render advisory opinions on the legality of proposed actions, rules, and laws.
Q:
According to the authors, judges are politicians in black robes.
Q:
The notion that what judges do is not political is a well-polished myth.
Q:
Judges, like legislators and other elected officials, cannot completely detach themselves from the political process.
Q:
In what ways do bureaucrats seek to influence the content and meaning of the statutes which are passed by the legislature?
Q:
What are the major sources of bureaucratic power in Texas? How do top bureaucrats seek to enhance their power?
Q:
Name the five officials who head up an executive agency in Texas who are elected state-wide. Select one of these offices and discuss the responsibilities and powers of this office.
Q:
What characteristics of the Texas executive system create the confusion in how the state administration is organized?
Q:
What are the five formal roles of the governor?
Q:
How effective is the governor as chief executive? What are the things that limit the ability of the governor to manage the administrative structure of the state?
Q:
Which of the following is an untrue statement concerning the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission?
A. the agency has had little or no effect on the structure, powers, or operation of state agencies
B. the agency has been significant in causing the merger of twelve agencies
C. the agency has been responsible for a saving of $766 million of tax money and increased revenues to the state since its inception
D. the agency has been responsible for the abolition of 32 agencies
Q:
Which of the following tends to limit the amount of legislative oversight exercised by the Texas Legislature?
A. the power of special interest groups which are allied to the agency
B. the part-time pay and short sessions of the legislature
C. the high degree of turnover in the legislature and on the staffs of the legislative committees
D. all of the above
Q:
Administrative discretion means that
A. department heads have freedom to interpret the meaning of the law
B. department heads have the ability to select between different courses of action
C. department heads have the opportunity not to act in cases where the law is unclear
D. all of the above are true
Q:
Oversight of executive agencies is accomplished by all of the following except:
A. sunset reviews
B. legislative oversight through the Legislative Budget Board and committees
C. media attention
D. the election of all of the executive department heads (long ballot)
Q:
Sources of bureaucratic power include all except the following:
A. support by the client groups that are serviced by the agency
B. support by key members of the legislature
C. support by the governor
D. support by the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission
Q:
The principle of hierarchy means that
A. agencies are structured like a pyramid, with authority focused at the top
B. agencies are structured so each level is independent
C. agencies are structured so that the major power rests with the bottom of the agency
D. agency heads are appointed for life
Q:
An ex offico board or commission is one whose
A. members hold their position by virtue of another office
B. members are appointed by the governor
C. members are appointed by the legislature
D. members have purchased their office
Q:
The major responsibility of the Texas Railroad Commission is
A. the licensing of all railroads that operate within Texas
B. the licensing of all airlines that operate within Texas
C. regulation of the oil and gas industry, including pipelines
D. licensing of all interstate trucking companies that operate within Texas
Q:
The department which has the main responsibility for certifying weights and measures used by institutions which sell bulk products by weight or volume is the
A. Consumer Protection Division of the Texas Attorney General's Office
B. Texas Department of Agriculture
C. Texas Railroad Commission
D. State Land Office
Q:
The official whose duties includes supervision of the Veteran's Land Fund is the
A. Comptroller of Public Accounts
B. Adjutant General
C. Attorney General
D. Commissioner of the General Land Office
Q:
What office is charged with the collection of most taxes and the payment of most bills?
A. Secretary of State
B. State Treasurer of Texas
C. Comptroller of Public Accounts
D. Attorney General
Q:
Which of the following is not a function of the Texas Attorney General?
A. enforcement of anti-trust and consumer protection laws
B. serves as the state's lawyer to defend executive agencies in civil cases
C. prosecutes criminal cases for the state of Texas
D. issues advisory opinions on legal questions involving state and local governments
Q:
Which of the following is true about the organization of state administrative agencies in Texas?
A. there is no single, uniform organizational pattern
B. there are numerous exceptions to the traditional structure of hierarchical organization
C. the actual number of state agencies depends on who counts and how
D. all of the above are correct statements
Q:
With regard to the Governor's veto power, which of the following statements is true?
A. The Governor seldom uses the veto power because he/she is generally overridden when it is used
B. Although the Governor has a veto, it is seldom used because of the threat of veto
C. The threat of a veto carries great weight because vetos are seldom overridden by the Legislature
D. The Legislature has no power to override a Governor's veto
Q:
When the Governor calls a special session of the Legislature, the agenda of the session is determined by
A. the Speaker of the House
B. the Lt. Governor
C. the majority party caucus in both houses
D. the governor
Q:
The message power and the veto power are examples of the Governor's _____ powers.
A. executive powers
B. judicial powers
C. legislative powers
D. military powers
Q:
Regarding the clemency powers of the Texas Governor, which of the following is true?
A. the Governor has broad powers to pardon, parole, and commute sentences
B. the Governor has limited powers to parole individuals
C. the only unrestricted clemency power of the Governor is the power to issue one reprieve per individual in death penalty cases
D. the Governor can issue paroles only upon the the recommendation of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles
Q:
The governor's planning power is significantly enhanced by which of the following:
A. the legislature has designated the governor as the chief planning officer of the state
B. the governor's budget is the most important tool in the budget process
C. the federal government has designated the governor as the chief planning officer of the state
D. the Texas Constitution designates the governor as the chief planning officer of the state
Q:
With regard to the power of the Governor over the budget
A. the Governor may submit a budget to the Legislature
B. the Governor has a line item veto over any appropriations item
C. the Governor may bargain with the Legislature over the content of appropriations items
D. all of the above are correct
Q:
The governor's formal removal powers are best described as follows:
A. the governor has unlimited removal powers
B. the governor can remove, for cause, any non-elected executive official
C. the governor can recommend, for cause, the removal of any official which that governor was responsible for the appointment.
D. the governor can only recommend the impeachment of executive officials
Q:
Senatorial courtesy refers to
A. the authority of the Senate to confirm or reject a Governor's appointment
B. the custom which allows an individual Senator to block a Governor's appointment of a person who resides within that Senator's district
C. the Senate's power to block the appointment of persons to the Governor's staff
D. the way in which members of the Senate are expected to treat each ot
Q:
Which is not a factor which makes the governor of Texas an institutionally weak?
A. a limit of only one term in office
B. independent elections of other key executive officers
C. inability to appoint all members of state boards and commissions soon after taking office
D. lack of an effective removal power
Q:
Concerning terms of office for the Governor of Texas?
A. there is no limit on the number of terms that a Governor can serve
B. Governors are limited to two four-year terms
C. Governors are limited to one four-year term
D. Governors are limited to three two-year terms
Q:
The salary of the governor of Texas is set by
A. the state constitution
B. a special compensation commission
C. the Texas Ethics Commission
D. the Texas legislature
Q:
If a governor dies, resigns, or is incapacitated while in office, the office is filled in what manner?
A. the lieutenant governor becomes the governor
B. the secretary of state becomes the governor
C. the Legislature elects a new governor
D. a new election is held to fill the office
Q:
Which of the following is generally not true of candidates for the Governor of Texas? (there have been exceptions)
A. politically liberal
B. wealthy
C. Protestant
D. male
Q:
Which of the following is not a constitutional qualification to be governor of Texas?
A. U.S. citizen
B. Texas resident for five years immediately preceding the election
C. Minimum age of 30
D. previous political experience as an elected officer in Texas government
Q:
Compared to other urban states, the staff of the Governor of Texas
A. ranks as much smaller than most of the other urban states
B. ranks as about the same size as the staffs of most other urban states
C. ranks as one of the largest staffs of governor's staffs in the nation
D. the governor of Texas does not have a paid staff
Q:
Regarding the compensation (pay)of the Governor of Texas, the office ranks as
A. one of the lowest paid governors in the US
B. the highest paid governor in the US
C. has slipped to the rank of 23rd
D. generally ranks in the bottom ten with regard to pay
Q:
Regarding the election in which the Governor of Texas is elected
A. the Governor is elected in a non-partisan election held in May of the even year
B. the Governor is elected in a partisan election in the same year as the President of the US
C. the Governor is elected in a partisan election in November of even year in a non- presidential year
D. the Governor and the members of the Legislature are elected in elections which are held at different times of the year
Q:
A whistle-blower is member of the news media that blows the whistle on governmental excesses.
Q:
The legislature has strengthened the rights of the public to have access to the records of public agencies and required that governmental bodies hold their meetings in public.
Q:
The Sunset Advisory Commission was established by the legislature to periodically review agencies and recommend to the legislature whether they should be abolished, revised, or renewed.