The Texas Constitution requires that an estimate be made of state revenues for the upcoming biennial budget period and given to the legislature for its biennial session so that it can prepare a balanced budget? What state official is responsible for the preparation of this estimate and its reporting to the legislature?

Question1
Marks: 1
The structural weakening of the office of the governor and the creation of the plural executive in Texas was NOT the result of which of the following?
Choose one answer.

a. The reaction of Texans to Reconstruction

b. The desire of the founding fathers of Texas to closely copy the structure and operation of the executive branch of the federal government in Washington

c. The Constitution of 1876

d. The reaction of Texans to the governorship of E.J. Davis

Question2
Marks: 1
Legislators in Texas are
Choose one answer.

a. appointed by the governor.

b. elected in single-member districts in the House of Representatives and in at-large elections in the Texas Senate.

c. all elected in single-member districts.

d. subject to term limitation by the Texas Constitution of 1876.

e. all elected in at-large elections.

Question3
Marks: 1
Although the Governor prepares a budget to submit to the Texas Legislature at the beginning of a session, the members of the Legislature typically ignore the budget proposed by the Governor in favor of a budget drafted by the
Choose one answer.

a. State Commission on Budgetary Development and Analysis.

b. Comptroller.

c. State Treasurer.

d. Legislative Budget Board.

e. Congressional Budget Office.

Question4
Marks: 1
The governor of Texas may grant executive clemency.
Answer:
TrueFalse
Question5
Marks: 1
The vice president of the United States is, according to the U.S. Constitution, the president of the U.S. Senate; however, according to the rules of the U.S. Senate he has little authority over that body. The real head of the U.S. Senate is the Senate Majority Leader. Who is the President of the Texas Senate and the real leader of the Texas Senate?
Choose one answer.

a. the lieutenant governor of Texas is the president of the Texas Senate but the real leader of the Texas Senate is the Senate majority leader of the Texas Senate

b. the lieutenant governor is the president of the Texas Senate and is, under the rules of the Texas Senate, the real leader of the Texas Senate

c. the lieutenant governor of Texas is the president of the Texas Senate, however, the real leader of the Texas Senate is the leader of the majority party in the Texas Senate

d. the vice president of Texas is the president of the Texas Senate, however, the real leader of the Texas Senate is the Senate majority leader

e. the speaker of the Texas House also acts as the president of the Texas Senate and is its actual leader

Question6
Marks: 1
In what type of committee is the bulk of the work in the legislature done?
Choose one answer.

a. Joint committee

b. Standing committee

c. Combined committee

d. Special committee

e. Conference committee

Question7
Marks: 1
How long is a special session of the Texas Legislature?
Choose one answer.

a. up to 140 days

b. no more than two weeks

c. up to 30 days

d. as long as required to complete the agenda of the governor.

e. no more than one year

Question8
Marks: 1
How many members are there on the Texas Railroad Commission?
Choose one answer.

a. three

b. nine

c. 12

d. 15

e. six

Question9
Marks: 1
The principal responsibility of the Texas Secretary of State is
Choose one answer.

a. to negotiate treaties for Texas with foreign governments.

b. to regulate electric and telephone rates in Texas.

c. to act as the chief election officer for the State of Texas.

d. to collect taxes for the State of Texas.

e. to act as the head of the president of the Senate when the Texas legislature is in session.

Question10
Marks: 1
Before an appointment by the governor to an executive branch board or agency becomes effective, the governor’s nominee must first be reviewed and approved by
Choose one answer.

a. the judicial branch of Texas government, in the form of the Texas Supreme Court, in its oversight function of the executive and legislative branches of government.

b. a vote of the Texas Senate.

c. a vote of the full legislature.

d. a vote of the Texas House.

e. a joint conference committee made up of Texas Senators and Representatives.

Question11
Marks: 1
Which branch is the central policymaking institution of state government?
Choose one answer.

a. the Texas Supreme Court

b. the Joint Committee on Public Policy of the Texas House of Representatives

c. the plural executive

d. the Central Policy Commission of Texas

e. the Texas legislature

Question12
Marks: 1
Most of the legislative work of the Texas Legislature is conducted
Choose one answer.

a. by the governor.

b. in legislative committees.

c. on the floor of the Texas House.

d. during special sessions of the legislature.

e. in the House of Representatives.

Question13
Marks: 1
The largest area of tax revenue for State of Texas comes from
Choose one answer.

a. income taxes.

b. sales taxes.

c. severance taxes.

d. ad valorem taxes.

e. property taxes.

Question14
Marks: 1
There are how many members in the Texas House of Representatives?
Choose one answer.

a. 435

b. 32

c. 31

d. it varies from session to session depending on the state’s population

e. 150

Question15
Marks: 1
Probably the most contentious issue facing the State Board of Education is its periodic review of
Choose one answer.

a. textbook adoptions.

b. state budget requests.

c. teacher salaries.

d. state football programs.

e. University Interscholastic League literary competition rules.

Question16
Marks: 1
The Comptroller of Public Accounts is
Choose one answer.

a. the chief election officer of the State of Texas.

b. the chief tax collector for the State of Texas.

c. responsible for collecting overdue child support payments for Texans.

d. responsible for administering the Texas Veterans’ Land Board.

e. issuing corporation charters and monitoring public corporations in the State of Texas.

Question17
Marks: 1
How can the Texas Legislature override a legislative veto by the Governor?
Choose one answer.

a. the Texas Constitution forbids the Legislature to override a gubernatorial veto

b. by a vote of a conference committee

c. by a majority vote of the Texas Senate alone in the exercise of its advise and consent power

d. by a 2/3rds vote of members present from both houses

e. by a simple majority vote of members present from both houses

Question18
Marks: 1
What type of bill applies only to one unit of local government (example: the Legislature creates a new county-court-at-law for Harris County)?
Choose one answer.

a. general bill

b. a true bill

c. a resolution

d. a special bill

e. private bill

Question19
Marks: 1
The predominant occupation for members of today’s Texas legislature are
Choose one answer.

a. pharmacy and real estate.

b. business and finance.

c. medicine and insurance.

d. law and business.

e. education.education and sales.

Question20
Marks: 1
The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years by
Choose one answer.

a. the voters of the State of Texas.

b. the members of the Texas Senate.

c. the caucus of the majority party at the start of a new legislative session.

d. a vote of the full legislature.

e. a single-member district election in Travis County, home county for the Texas Legislature (in Austin).

Question21
Marks: 1
David Dewhurst is the
Choose one answer.

a. Texas Land Commissioner

b. Governor of Texas

c. Comptroller of Public Accounts

d. Lieutenant Governor of Texas

e. Texas Secretary of State

Question22
Marks: 1
Rick Perry is currently the
Choose one answer.

a. Lieutenant Governor of Texas.

b. Texas Secretary of State.

c. Comptroller of Public Accounts.

d. Governor of Texas.

e. Texas Agricultural Commissioner.

Question23
Marks: 1
Which of the following government entities does NOT rely on or operate primarily from property taxes?
Choose one answer.

a. County government

b. Independent school districts

c. State government

d. Municipal government

e. Community college districts

Question24
Marks: 1
Which of the following officials enforces the state’s weights and measures laws?
Choose one answer.

a. Texas Secretary of State

b. Governor of Texas

c. Texas Land Commissioner

d. Comptroller of Public Accounts

e. Texas Agriculture Commissioner

Question25
Marks: 1
What is the purpose served by an interim committee of the Texas Legislature?
Choose one answer.

a. to iron out differences between different versions of legislation passed by the House and the Senate

b. to meet and study issues in the period between regular legislative sessions

c. to draft a state budget for consideration be the full legislature

d. to consider overrides of gubernatorial vetoes

e. to assign bills to calendars for scheduling on the House floor

Question26
Marks: 1
The governor of Texas is considered to have military powers because he is commander-in-chief of
Choose one answer.

a. all U.S. military troops which are stationed in Texas at a given time.

b. the Austin Chapter of the American Legion.

c. the Texas National Guard.

d. the Fort Hood military installation in Central Texas.

e. the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University.

Question27
Marks: 1
The impeachment process for a high Texas state official begins with articles of impeachment (the charges, or official allegations) being brought by the
Choose one answer.

a. Texas Senate.

b. Texas House of Representatives.

c. Governor of Texas.

d. Attorney General of Texas.

e. Supreme Court of Texas.

Question28
Marks: 1
Police powers are attributed to the Texas governor since he has the authority to appoint members of
Choose one answer.

a. Criminal Science Institute (CSI) of Texas.

b. Texas Rangers.

c. the director of the Texas Bureau of Investigation.

d. the board of the Department of Public Safety.

e. state investigatory grand jury.

Question29
Marks: 1
With regard to the creation and adoption of the biennial budget for the State of Texas, the Governor of Texas
Choose one answer.

a. has tremendous influence over the preparation, creation and adoption of the budget of the state each biennial session.

b. greatly influences the creation and adoption of the budget for the state through the Government Office of Management and Budget.

c. influences the creation and adoption of the state’s biennial budget through his selection and appointment of the Texas Secretary of the Treasury.

d. has sole constitutional power in the state to develop and set the state biennial budget; he then sends the completed budget to the legislature for implementation and distribution based upon his (the governor’s) specific and strict directions

e. has little official power and influence over the creation and final adoption of the biennial state budget during the regular legislative session.

Question30
Marks: 1
Which of the following is true concerning regular sessions of the Texas Legislature?
Choose one answer.

a. The Legislature meets in regular session starting in January for 160 days every odd-numbered year.

b. The Legislature meets in regular session every year, holding 140-day sessions in odd-numbered years and 160-day sessions in even-numbered years.

c. The Legislature meets in regular session starting in January every year, adjourning at the end of the year in early December.

d. The Legislature meets in regular session for 260 days every other year.

e. The Legislature meets in regular session starting in January for 140 days every odd-numbered year.

Question31
Marks: 1
Respond to the following statement: “The state income tax in Texas is set at 6.25% of a person’s annual income.”
Choose one answer.

a. True

b. False–The income tax is set at 2% of a person’s annual income. When added to the federal income tax requirement, a Texas citizen pays 8.25% of her income in income taxes.

c. False–there is no state income tax.

d. False–the state income tax is based on the biennial income of a Texas citizen.

Question32
Marks: 1
The state agency which regulates telephone and electric rates in Texas is called
Choose one answer.

a. the Legislative Budget Board.

b. the Public Utility Commission.

c. the Texas Railroad Commission.

d. Texas State Board of Insurance.

e. the Sunset Advisory Board.

Question33
Marks: 1
A committee which has members from both the House and the Senate to serve a unique, particular function is called a
Choose one answer.

a. joint committee.

b. combined committee.

c. conference committee.

d. special committee.

e. standing committee.

Question34
Marks: 1
In Texas, the more than ____ agencies have substantial independence from the governor, which means that each agency has more latitude and independence than federal agencies in deciding what was meant by the legislature and in applying the law to unforeseen circumstances.
Choose one answer.

a. 100

b. 50

c. 10

d. 900

e. 200

Question35
Marks: 1
Who is the current Commissioner of Agriculture for the State of Texas?
Choose one answer.

a. Earl Butz

b. Todd Staples

c. Jim Hightower

d. Hank Gilbert

e. Susan Combs

Question36
Marks: 1
Regular formal review and subsequent legislative affirmation to determine that if a state agency or program is to continue is known as
Choose one answer.

a. senatorial courtesy.

b. sunset review.

c. sunshine legislation.

d. administrative oversight and review.

e. redistricting.

Question37
Marks: 1
The Attorney General of Texas is LEAST involved in which of the following activities?
Choose one answer.

a. initiating lawsuits against parents delinquent on child support payments

b. issuing legal opinions interpreting state laws before issues relating to the laws are adjudicated by the courts

c. defending the state against lawsuits

d. prosecuting individuals accused of serious crimes

e. acting as the constitutional lawyer for agencies, boards, and commissions of the state of Texas.

Question38
Marks: 1
In total, how many states in the U.S. (including Texas) have NO personal income tax?
Choose one answer.

a. None; all states, including Texas, tax the personal income of residence of their states

b. seven

c. 31

d. two

e. 15

Question39
Marks: 1
The Lieutenant Governor is most analogous to what officer in the federal government?
Choose one answer.

a. Vice President

b. President

c. Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate

d. Secretary of State

e. Speaker of the U.S. House

Question40
Marks: 1
The Texas Legislature cannot pass a state budget which creates a budget deficit. This is required by
Choose one answer.

a. the Texas Constitution.

b. a resolution passed by the Texas Legislature in 1980.

c. the United State Constitution.

d. the Texas Supreme Court in a constitutional ruling in the early part of the 1950s.

e. the U.S. Congress.

Question41
Marks: 1
The Governor may use the line-item veto on which of the following bills?
Choose one answer.

a. a bill to increase criminal penalties on drug possession

b. the governor no longer has the line-item veto power–the Texas line-item veto was declared illegal by a federal court ruling

c. a bill declaring the Southern Baptist religion the official state religion of Texas

d. a bill to raise the minimum drinking age

e. a bill to appropriate money to operate state prisons

Question42
Marks: 1
Which of the following is solely and completely responsible for regulating railroad freight and railroad passenger service in the state of Texas?
Choose one answer.

a. Texas Agriculture Commissioner

b. No commission or agency or department in Texas government has this power

c. Texas Railroad Commission

d. General Land Commission

e. Texas Secretary of State

Question43
Marks: 1
Which of the following has as its primary responsibly oil and gas regulation in Texas?
Choose one answer.

a. Texas Agriculture Commissioner

b. Texas Department of Energy

c. Public Utility Commission

d. Texas Railroad Commission

e. Texas Department of Petroleum Development

Question44
Marks: 1
Who calls special legislative sessions in Texas?
Choose one answer.

a. The Governor may call a special session, but only with the approval of the Legislature by a majority vote of both houses

b. Either the Speaker or Lieutenant Governor may call a special session

c. Only the Governor may call a special session

d. The Legislature calls itself into special session by a 2/3rds vote of both houses

e. The Texas Secretary of State calls special sessions with the approval of the Lieutenant Government and Speaker of the House

Question45
Marks: 1
Which of the following statements is true about the term of office for the governor of Texas?
Choose one answer.

a. The governor is elected by a vote of the Texas Senate every two years at the start of the session of the Texas Legislature in January of odd numbered years

b. Governors may serve no more than four two-year terms consecutively

c. The term of office for governor of Texas is four years and the Texas Constitution sets no limit on the number of terms a governor may serve

d. The governor serves a two-year term of office and there is no limit set by the Texas Constitution as to how many terms he or she may serve

e. The governor serves an elected four year term but is limited by constitutional amendment to serving no more than ten years (two full elected terms and up to two additional years if first assuming the office due to the death, resignation, or impeachment and conviction of the preceding governor

Question46
Marks: 1
Greg Abbott is the
Choose one answer.

a. Texas Attorney General.

b. Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

c. Texas Commissioner of Agriculture.

d. Comptroller of Public Accounts.

e. Lieutenant Governor of Texas.

Question47
Marks: 1
Which of the following officials may the Governor normally appoint?
Choose one answer.

a. the Lieutenant Governor

b. the Texas Attorney General

c. the Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court

d. the Texas Secretary of State

e. a member of the Railroad Commission

Question48
Marks: 1
The first Republican to be elected governor in Texas following the Reconstruction administration of Gov. E.J. Davis was
Choose one answer.

a. Preston Smith.

b. James Ferguson.

c. Rick Perry.

d. Bill Clements.

e. George W. Bush.

Question49
Marks: 1
This process of redrawing the boundaries of legislative and congressional districts by the state legislature is called
Choose one answer.

a. district resolution.

b. district development.

c. congressional reapportionment.

d. redistricting.

e. redlining.

Question50
Marks: 1
The Texas Constitution requires that an estimate be made of state revenues for the upcoming biennial budget period and given to the legislature for its biennial session so that it can prepare a balanced budget? What state official is responsible for the preparation of this estimate and its reporting to the legislature?
Choose one answer.

a. governor

b. attorney general

c. chairman of the Legislative Budget Board

d. treasurer

e. comptroller

 
 
51
Marks: 1
How many members are there on the State Board of Education?
Choose one answer.

a. six

b. three

c. 12

d. nine

e. 15

Question52
Marks: 1
The governor’s State of the State address is
Choose one answer.

a. an important aspect of the governor’s “bully pulpit” because it is broadcast live on network television during prime-time to the people of Texas.

b. an informal tradition initiated by Gov. E. J. Davis during Reconstruction and is an official state holiday.

c. given by the governor every year at the start of the Texas legislative session in January.

d. called for by the Texas Constitution and is given before a joint session of the Texas Legislature following the start of the regular session.

e. is no longer given in person by the governor in the form of a speech delivered before the legislature but instead is a printed message sent to both legislative bodies and posted at the front entrance to each chamber.

Question53
Marks: 1
The only unicameral legislature in the United States is
Choose one answer.

a. is found in Nebraska.

b. the U.S. Congress.

c. is in Texas.

d. now banned by the U.S. Constitution.

e. now gone, abandoned when the State of Texas moved to a bicameral organization in the 1970s.

Question54
Marks: 1
Spending bills (i.e., appropriation bills) in Texas must originate
Choose one answer.

a. in the Legislative Budget Board

b. in the Texas Senate.

c. with the governor.

d. with the Comptroller of Public Accounts.

e. in the Texas House.

Question55
Marks: 1
How is the Speaker of the Texas House chosen?
Choose one answer.

a. The Speaker is appointed by the Governor and is approved by the Senate in its advice and consent powers

b. The Secretary of State serves ex officio as Speaker of the Texas House

c. The Speaker is a state representative elected by the full House to serve as speaker

d. The Speaker is elected statewide

e. The Lieutenant Governor acts, as part of his constitutional duties, as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

Question56
Marks: 1
Jerry Patterson is the current
Choose one answer.

a. Lieutenant Governor of Texas.

b. Texas Secretary of State.

c. Texas Land Commissioner.

d. Comptroller of Public Accounts

e. Governor of Texas.

Question57
Marks: 1
While the Texas Governor has some appointment powers over the executive branch,
Choose one answer.

a. he lacks any significant independent removal power over his appointments.

b. he has complete authority to appoint judges for life terms to all the courts of the state judicial branch at any time at all levels throughout the state of Texas.

c. he had complete power over the length of service of those appointments, holding the power to independently dismiss any of his appointments at any time without any consultation by or approval from the Texas Legislature.

d. he has ultimate authority in times of crisis over all the military personnel and bases of the United States quartered in Texas including the power to make field promotions of officers and commanders.

e. has significant power to make committee assignments for members of the Texas Legislature.

Question58
Marks: 1
A committee created whenever a bill is passed in different versions by the House and Senate is called a
Choose one answer.

a. joint committee.

b. combined committee.

c. conference committee.

d. special committee.

e. standing committee

Question59
Marks: 1
Removal powers of the governor over appointees to state boards and commissions are
Choose one answer.

a. similar to that of an employer in the private sector–he may fire any member of a state board or commission except when that firing is considered racially motivated or retaliatory.

b. limited to only those members of state boards and commissions from previous administrations.

c. limited to only those specifically appointed by the governor, with approval of the Senate (two-thirds vote).

d. unlimited. As chief executive officer of the state, he has the power to appoint and dismiss any member of the state executive branch or its agencies and commissions.

e. denied to the governor. Once the governor appoints someone to a state board or commission that person cannot be removed from office except by impeachment.

Question60
Marks: 1
Texas’s biggest employers are
Choose one answer.

a. oil and gas companies.

b. in the medical field.

c. farmers and ranchers.

d. governments.

e. in the insurance industry.

Question61
Marks: 1
The Texas Secretary of State is
Choose one answer.

a. Esperanza “Hope” Andrade.

b. John Steen.

c. also, by law, the Lieutenant Governor of the State.

d. Geoffrey Connor.

e. Roger Williams.

Question62
Marks: 1
Who was the lieutenant governor of Texas to succeed Governor George W. Bush when Bush resigned as governor to become president of the United States?
Choose one answer.

a. Rick Perry

b. Ted Cruz

c. Bill Ratliff

d. David Dewhurst

e. William “Bill” Hobby

Question63
Marks: 1
The judicial power of the governor consists of his ability
Choose one answer.

a. appoint judges and justices to state courts when there is a vacancy on a court due to a death, resignation, or removal of the judge or justice.

b. to reduce prison overcrowding by executive order.

c. to order the death penalty be imposed following the conviction of a defendant for capital murder.

d. review and reverse decisions of lower courts when the decisions are appealed directly to his office.

e. appoint all judges and justices to all the courts on all levels in the State of Texas.

Question64
Marks: 1
The base sales tax rate for the State of Texas is
Choose one answer.

a. 6.25%.

b. 8.25%.

c. tied directly to the federal treasury bills rate.

d. 7.25%.

Question65
Marks: 1
Who, among the following elected officials, is NOT a member of the Legislative Redistricting Board?
Choose one answer.

a. Attorney General of Texas

b. Lieutenant Governor of Texas

c. Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

d. Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives

e. Governor of Texas

Question66
Marks: 1
Regarding the structural powers of the Governor of Texas, how do they compare with the powers of other state governors?
Choose one answer.

a. The official powers of the Governor or Texas are about average in comparison with other governors.

b. The official powers of the Governor of Texas are among the weakest in the nation.

c. The official powers of the Governor of Texas are among the strongest in the nation.

d. They are somewhat above average in comparison with the other governors’ powers.

Question67
Marks: 1
Which of the following in NOT a type of committee in the Texas legislature?
Choose one answer.

a. Joint committee

b. Special committee

c. Standing committee

d. Conference committee

e. Irregular committee

Question68
Marks: 1
The Veterans’ Land Board provides low interest property loans to Texas veterans. This board is supervised by the
Choose one answer.

a. Commissioner of the Veterans’ Land Board of Texas.

b. Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office.

c. Chairman of the Texas Veterans Administration.

d. Comptroller of Public Accounts.

e. Lieutenant Governor.

Question69
Marks: 1
Governors elected after Reconstruction until the late 1970s were all
Choose one answer.

a. liberal Democrats.

b. conservative-to-moderate Democrats.

c. conservative to ultra-conservative Republicans.

d. former lieutenant governors.

e. members of the Tea Party of Texas.

Question70
Marks: 1
The only Texas governor to be impeached by the Texas House and convicted of the impeachment charges in the Texas Senate was
Choose one answer.

a. George W. Bush.

b. E.J. Davis.

c. William Clements.

d. James Ferguson.

e. Miriam Ferguson.

Question71
Marks: 1
In order to become a Texas State Senator, one must be at least ___ years old to be elected and a resident of Texas for __ years preceding the election.
Choose one answer.

a. 42/seven

b. 19/two

c. 35/six

d. 26/five

e. 24/one

Question72
Marks: 1
The U.S. Supreme Court decided a case in its 2013 regarding affirmative action in higher education that modified but did not overturn its prior 2003 decision in Grutter v. Michigan. That case was
Choose one answer.

a. Marbury v. Madison.

b. Ruiz v. Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

c. Brown v. Board of Education.

d. Fisher v. The University of Texas.

e. Hopwood v. Texas.

Question73
Marks: 1
There are three members of the Texas Railroad Commission. All three are
Choose one answer.

a. appointed to their positions by the Governor of Texas (with the approval of the Texas Senate).

b. required by the Texas Constitution of 1876 to have worked for at least a ten-year period in the railroad industry in Texas.

c. required by law to serve only one six-year term in office.

d. elected in single-member district elections from three separate sections of the state by the people of Texas with the approval of the vote of both chambers of the legislature.

e. elected to their positions by the people of Texas.

Question74
Marks: 1
As a result of the Texas Constitution of 1876, Texas has a
Choose one answer.

a. bicameral executive system of government.

b. unitary executive system of government.

c. cabinet system in operation in the executive branch of government.

d. nonpartisan unicameral system of government.

e. plural executive system operating the executive branch of government.

Question75
Marks: 1
How is the Lieutenant Governor of Texas normally chosen?
Choose one answer.

a. The Lieutenant Governor is a member of the House selected by the Texas House to serve as Lieutenant Governor

b. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years by the Texas delegates to the Elector College at their electoral meeting held every four years held prior to voting for the presidential selection.

c. The Lieutenant Governor is elected statewide directly by the citizens of Texas

d. The Lieutenant Governor is appointed by the Governor and is approved by the Senate in its advice and consent power

e. The Lieutenant Governor is a member of the Texas Senate elected by the full Senate to serve as Lieutenant Governor

Question76
Marks: 1
Redistricting–the process of redrawing the boundaries of legislative and congressional districts–generally occurs every ten years in the Texas legislature following the
Choose one answer.

a. presidential elections.

b. results of the most recent election of the U.S. House of Representatives and of the Texas House of Representatives.

c. directives issued by the Senate Committee on Redistricting and the Census.

d. report from Congress on reapportionment based on the national census.

e. report of the Interstate Redistricting Commission.

Question77
Marks: 1
Currently, the Texas Legislature is
Choose one answer.

a. meeting in special session.

b. meeting in regular session.

c. meeting as a Committee of the Whole to revise the Texas Constitution of 1876.

d. not in session.

Question78
Marks: 1
A bill may be formally introduced by
Choose one answer.

a. any member of the Texas legislature or a member of the Texas delegation to the U.S. Congress.

b. the Speaker or the Lieutenant Governor only.

c. any member of the legislature or the governor.

d. any member of the legislature in the member’s own chamber.

e. any current or former member of the legislature.

Question79
Marks: 1
Members of the Texas Public Utilities Commission are
Choose one answer.

a. appointed to their positions by a vote of the Texas Legislature.

b. are appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Energy and have full authority over the production of and development of all energy resources within the state of Texas.

c. ex officio officeholder, serving in their PUC positions as a part of their duties as Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and Comptroller of Public Accounts.

d. elected to their positions by a direct, statewide vote of the people of Texas.

e. appointed to their positions by the Governor of Texas (with the approval of the Texas Senate).

Question80
Marks: 1
The chief legal officer of the State of Texas is the
Choose one answer.

a. Secretary of State.

b. Comptroller.

c. Legal Counsel to the Governor of Texas.

d. Attorney General.

e. Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court.

Question81
Marks: 1
The Texas Legislature is a creation of
Choose one answer.

a. the Constitutional Convention of 1787.

b. Article I of the United States Constitution.

c. the annexation agreement between the United States and the Republic of Texas.

d. the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Lopez v. Texas.

e. the Texas Constitution of 1876.

Question82
Marks: 1
Texas has a biennial budget because
Choose one answer.

a. the Texas Legislature is a bicameral body.

b. the U.S. Constitution in Article I and II requires it.

c. the Texas Constitution requires that the state legislature pass a balanced budget.

d. the governor has a two year term of office.

e. the Texas Legislature meets once every two years.