Q&A Hero

Q: The Legislative Budget Board, the Legislative Council, and the Legislative Audit Committee are examples of some of the tools of legislative oversight.

Q: According to the authors of the text, a much needed reform of the executive branch in Texas would result in the creation of a cabinet style government with the governor in charge.

Q: One of the most significant areas of authority for bureaucratic agencies is the exercise of administrative discretion.

Q: State agencies frequently utilize the client groups with whom they work to attempt to persuade the legislature to assist them with funds or laws.

Q: The iron triangle is the three-way relationship between legislative committees, client groups, and the agencies which are supposed to regulate or control them.

Q: Members of a typical state agency are appointed for six-year overlapping terms and serve without pay.

Q: Most of the state's laws are administered by board and commissions whose members are appointed by the governor rather than elected.

Q: An ex officio board is one where the members are appointed by the Governor.

Q: The main responsibility of the Texas Railroad Commission is supervision of the interstate railroads in Texas.

Q: Among the responsibilities of the Texas Secretary of State are supervising elections, keeping lists of lobbyists, keeping records on campaign expenditures, issuing corporate charters, and publishing the Texas Register.

Q: The Texas Department of Agriculture is limited in its power to that of regulating agriculture in Texas.

Q: Texas and Alaska are the only states that entered the Union with large amounts of public lands and only they have land offices.

Q: The Comptroller of Public Account is responsible for collecting taxes and handling state funds.

Q: The Attorney General is the chief prosecutor for the state of Texas.

Q: Governor Rick Perry is generally thought to be an example of how the governor's office should be conducted.

Q: The governor has the power to request that a fugitive from justice in Texas be returned to the state of Texas.

Q: Federal statutes designate the governor as the official who has the planning and grant approval authority for the state of Texas.

Q: The governor has the power to declare martial law and replace the local law enforcement with the state militia and/or law enforcement agencies.

Q: The governor's main power over legislation is largely negative.

Q: The governor has the sole power to call special sessions of the legislature and to determine what issues the legislature can consider.

Q: The governor has strong executive powers to supervise the operations of state government.

Q: The governor's budget is the document which starts the budget and planning process in Texas.

Q: Appointments by the governor of Texas require a two-thirds vote by the Texas Senate to confirm the appointment.

Q: In the event of a vacancy in a judicial position at the district level or above, the governor can appoint a replacement who serves until the next election.

Q: The governor of Texas has significant powers to remove officials from office.

Q: The state of Texas has never had a non-Anglo governor.

Q: The salary of the governor makes the governor of Texas among the highest paid governors in the nation.

Q: The lieutenant governor of Texas is paid the same salary as the governor.

Q: In the event that the governor dies, resigns, or is impeached and removed from office, the lieutenant governor becomes the governor of Texas.

Q: The only means to remove the governor is through the process of impeachment by the House of Representatives by a majority vote and removal after a trial by the Senate by a two-thirds vote.

Q: The governor of Texas is elected in the same election as the president of the United States.

Q: The governor of Texas has a four-year term of office with no limit on the number of terms that can be served.

Q: The governor of Texas must depend on leadership, bargaining skills, and persuasive ability rather than the formal powers of the office.

Q: The office of governor in Texas is among the strongest in terms of formal constitutional powers.

Q: Committee chairmanships in the Texas House and Texas Senate are assigned solely on the basis of seniority.

Q: The positions of the speaker pro tempore of the Texas House and president pro tempore of the Texas Senate are stepping stones for becoming the leadership of the their respective chambers.

Q: The powers of the lieutenant governor of Texas over the Texas Senate are prescribed in the Texas Constitution.

Q: The Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives is selected by the majority party caucus of the House.

Q: The lieutenant governor of Texas is elected by the members of the Texas Senate.

Q: Seniority in the Texas legislature is less important than seniority in the U.S. Congress.

Q: The most recent data suggests that members of the Texas legislature are over-whelming Roman Catholic in religious preference.

Q: Lawyers make up about one-third of the membership of the Texas legislature.

Q: Women hold an equal number of seats in the Texas legislature with men.

Q: In general, Texas legislators are middle-aged males who are either lawyers or businessmen.

Q: All former members of the Texas legislature are entitled to a pension.

Q: In addition to the salary, members of the legislature receive a daily per diem expense allowance.

Q: The base salary of Texas legislators is the lowest of the ten largest states in the union.

Q: Gerrymandering is the drawing of legislative districts to favor one party over another.

Q: If the legislature fails to redistrict itself, or the redistricting is declared illegal, the Legislative Redistricting Board does the redistricting.

Q: Both the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate utilize single-member districts.

Q: The process of redrawing legislative and congressional districts is done by a non-partisan board called the Legislative Redistricting Board.

Q: Special sessions of the Texas legislature may be called by the governor or by a majority of the members of the legislature.

Q: Regular session of the Texas legislature are limited to 140 days every two years.

Q: With the exception of Nebraska, all of the state legislatures in the United States have bicamerial legislatures.

Q: What are three of the procedural reforms suggested to improve the legislative process in Texas?

Q: What are three of the handicaps faced by members of the Texas legislature?

Q: What are the three statutory committees of the Texas legislature?

Q: Discuss the basic steps of the legislative process in Texas? How do bills normally come to the floor of the House of Representatives? How does the procedure differ in the Senate?

Q: Outline the selection, powers, duties, and roles of the presiding officers of the Texas legislature.

Q: How does the tenure and turnover of the Texas legislature affect how the institution performs its role?

Q: What are the formal qualifications for members of the Texas legislature? What are the personal characteristics of the typical member of the Texas Legislature?

Q: What is the compensation of members of the Texas legislature? How does this compare with other urban states?

Q: How have factionalism and party identification affected the operation and leadership of the Texas legislature?

Q: Discuss the redistricting of congressional districts in 2003? What was the outcome of this effort?

Q: How are the legislative districts for members of the Texas legislature decided? What is the role of the Legislative Redistricting Board, who is on it, and when do they act?

Q: What are the formal functions of the legislature? How do the constitutional limitations on the legislature affect how it is able to perform those functions?

Q: For members of the legislature to be able to become independent of all but the public's interests, they would have to be able to do the following: A. impose significant restrictions on allowing lawyer-legislators to represent clients before state agencies B. adopt rules which would prohibit members of the legislature from accepting fees from persons who appear before them to ask for special consideration for legislation C. development significant sources of information independent of the executive branch and the lobby D. all of the above are necessary

Q: Which of the following reforms in the committee process was not suggested by the authors? A. reducing the number of committees B. additional and more independent committee staffing C. increased use of joint committees D. all of the above have been suggested

Q: If the Governor vetoes a proposed piece of legislation, it can become law only if A. it is repassed in different session of the legislature B. it is repassed in the chamber which originated it by a 2/3 vote C. it is repassed in both houses by a majority vote D. it is repassed in both houses by a 2/3 vote during the same session in which it was vetoed

Q: Bill drafting and policy research is done by the staff of the A. Legislative Budget Board B. Legislative Council C. Legislative Audit Committee D. none of the above do bill drafting and policy research

Q: The Legislative Audit Committee is an example of which type of committee? A. Standing Committee B. statutory Committee C. Conference Committee D. Interim Committee

Q: The normal method by which bills come to the floor of the Senate for a vote is A. The Lt. Governor calls the bill up for a vote B. Suspension of the Rules by a 2/3 vote of the members of the Senate C. The bill is scheduled by the Calendar Committee D. Bills are placed on the Senate Calendar by bill number and come up in numerical sequence

Q: A parliamentary procedure under which a member of the Texas Senate can delay floor debate on a bill through "extended debate" is know as A. tagging the bill B. amending the bill C. filibustering the bill D. dogging the bill

Q: Bills are scheduled to come to the floor of the House of Representatives A. by the Speaker of the House B. by the leadership of the majority party in the House C. by the Calendar Committee D. by the standing committee which reported the bill to the floor of the House

Q: Members of conference committee are selected by A. the Speaker in the House and the Lt Governor in the Senate B. the members of the standing committee that reported the bill C. the chairpersons of the standing committees that considered the bills D. The Staff Director of the Legislative Council

Q: Which of the following is used to work out differences between different House and Senate versions of legislation? A. subcommittee B. conference committee C. standing committee D. statutory committee

Q: Committee chairs are selected in what manner in the Texas Senate? A. chairs are elected by the members of the committee B. chairs are selected by the party caucus C. chairs are appointed on the basis of seniority D. chairs are appointed by the Lt. Governor

Q: In the House of Representatives, bills are referred to the standing committees by A. the Governor of Texas B. the Lt Governor of the State C. the Speaker of the House D. the sponsor of the bill

Q: Which of the following statements about Speaker Pro-tem of the House is untrue? A. the job is a training ground for future Speaker of the House candidates B. generally held by a person classified as a minority C. appointed (selected) by the Speaker D. the job is a respected position, but carries little or no power

Q: Which of the following is not a constitutional power of the Speaker of the House? A. the power to refer bills to committee B. the power to bring bills to the floor of the House of Representatives C. the power to appoint members of committees D. none of the above are powers granted by the Texas Constitution