Texas Government Questions with CORRECT Answers (Verified Update)
Q1: What is meant by a "weak" governor?
Answer: Less power
Q2: What is the main source of this governor weakness?
Answer: Executive power is divided among a number of separately elected officials
Q3: Review the formal qualifications for holding the office of governor in Texas
Answer: At least 30 years of age. US citizen. Lived in Texas five years prior to election.
Q4: Texas has had two female governors. What were their names?
Answer: Miriam Ferguson and Ann Richards.
Q5: In 1974 Texans approved an amendment to change the term of office for the governor. What
was this change?
Answer: Before the rule was two consecutive two year terms. Changed term to four year.
Q6: What are gubernatorial elections held in off-years?
Answer: Minimize effect of presidential elections on the selection of Texas governor.
Q7: Explain the process of removing a governor from office.
Answer: Impeachment. Impeachment starts in Texas House of Representatives. Majority vote is
required. If House votes for impeachment, the trial takes place in senate. One or more
house members prosecute the case, and the chief justice of the supreme court of Texas
presides over the impeachment proceedings. A two-thirds vote of the senators present and
the voting is necessary to convict.
Q8: If the governor's office becomes vacant, who becomes governor?
Answer: Lieutenant governor.
Q9: According to the text, which power of the governor is considered most significant?
Answer: Power of appointment
Q10: What role does the senate play in the process of gubernatorial appointments?
Answer: The governor appoints people to office, but the senate must confirm them. Important
limitation on governor's power
, Q11: As commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard, the governor can declare martial law.
What is this, and in what circumstances is it most applied?
Answer: In event of riot, flooding, hurricane, a tornado, or another disaster to protect people and
property.
Q12: Under what circumstances is a governor permitted to make appointments to appellate and
district court seats?
Answer: When vacancies occur of the death, resignation, or retirement of the incumbent or as a
result of creation of new courts, the governor is responsible for appointing individuals to fill
these vacancies. The governor also fills vacancies before an election in the office of district
attorney.
Q13: Which members of the plural executive are elected and which is appointed?
Answer: Texans must elect seven people who make up the plural executive: the governor, lieutenant
governor, attorney general, comptroller of public accounts, commissioner of the General
Land Office, and commissioner of agriculture. The governor appoints the seventh person,
the secretary of state.
Q14: Which member of the plural executive is responsible for elections and voter registration?
Answer: Secretary of State
Q15: Which member of the plural executive is responsible for the collection of child support
payments?
Answer: Attorney General (AG)
Q16: . Which state agency is the oldest, and what is its main function?
Answer: Commissioner of the General Land Office.
Q17: Which state agency is responsible for monitoring weights and measures?
Answer: Agriculture Commissioner.
Q18: Which member of the plural executive is empowered to estimate state revenues for the
legislature? Why is this an important power?
Answer: Controller of Public Accounts. These estimates, issues monthly during legislative session are
vital to the appropriations process because the legislature is prohibited from spending more
than the comptroller estimates will be available.
Q1: What is meant by a "weak" governor?
Answer: Less power
Q2: What is the main source of this governor weakness?
Answer: Executive power is divided among a number of separately elected officials
Q3: Review the formal qualifications for holding the office of governor in Texas
Answer: At least 30 years of age. US citizen. Lived in Texas five years prior to election.
Q4: Texas has had two female governors. What were their names?
Answer: Miriam Ferguson and Ann Richards.
Q5: In 1974 Texans approved an amendment to change the term of office for the governor. What
was this change?
Answer: Before the rule was two consecutive two year terms. Changed term to four year.
Q6: What are gubernatorial elections held in off-years?
Answer: Minimize effect of presidential elections on the selection of Texas governor.
Q7: Explain the process of removing a governor from office.
Answer: Impeachment. Impeachment starts in Texas House of Representatives. Majority vote is
required. If House votes for impeachment, the trial takes place in senate. One or more
house members prosecute the case, and the chief justice of the supreme court of Texas
presides over the impeachment proceedings. A two-thirds vote of the senators present and
the voting is necessary to convict.
Q8: If the governor's office becomes vacant, who becomes governor?
Answer: Lieutenant governor.
Q9: According to the text, which power of the governor is considered most significant?
Answer: Power of appointment
Q10: What role does the senate play in the process of gubernatorial appointments?
Answer: The governor appoints people to office, but the senate must confirm them. Important
limitation on governor's power
, Q11: As commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard, the governor can declare martial law.
What is this, and in what circumstances is it most applied?
Answer: In event of riot, flooding, hurricane, a tornado, or another disaster to protect people and
property.
Q12: Under what circumstances is a governor permitted to make appointments to appellate and
district court seats?
Answer: When vacancies occur of the death, resignation, or retirement of the incumbent or as a
result of creation of new courts, the governor is responsible for appointing individuals to fill
these vacancies. The governor also fills vacancies before an election in the office of district
attorney.
Q13: Which members of the plural executive are elected and which is appointed?
Answer: Texans must elect seven people who make up the plural executive: the governor, lieutenant
governor, attorney general, comptroller of public accounts, commissioner of the General
Land Office, and commissioner of agriculture. The governor appoints the seventh person,
the secretary of state.
Q14: Which member of the plural executive is responsible for elections and voter registration?
Answer: Secretary of State
Q15: Which member of the plural executive is responsible for the collection of child support
payments?
Answer: Attorney General (AG)
Q16: . Which state agency is the oldest, and what is its main function?
Answer: Commissioner of the General Land Office.
Q17: Which state agency is responsible for monitoring weights and measures?
Answer: Agriculture Commissioner.
Q18: Which member of the plural executive is empowered to estimate state revenues for the
legislature? Why is this an important power?
Answer: Controller of Public Accounts. These estimates, issues monthly during legislative session are
vital to the appropriations process because the legislature is prohibited from spending more
than the comptroller estimates will be available.
