POLS 207, ROBLYER EXAM 4 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
/. Plural Executive vs. Bureaucracy - Answer-✅Plural executive = free range
(widespread power), bureaucracy = worker bees (government employees)
/.Texas governors and lt. governors - Answer-✅Texas governors are weak, lt.
governors strong
/.What positions do governors usually come from? - Answer-✅Public affairs (lawyers or
business). People like a good-looking, charismatic gov.
/.Competition in gubernational elections - Answer-✅Very tight, usually 40/60% or tighter
/.Growth of the executive branch - Answer-✅Most growth has occurred. States want
more power as long as the feds pay the bill.
/.Executive vs. Legislative jobs - Answer-✅Executive is professional full time.
Legislatures are part-time and non-professional
/.How is a governor removed from office? - Answer-✅13 states have recall, 49 states
have impeachment. Only one Texas gov. has been impeached.
/.Governor duties, ranked by % - Answer-✅1. Administrator (28%)
2. Legislator (17%)
3. Ceremonial duties (14%)
4. Chief negotiator (14%)
5. Public opinion leader (9%)
6. Party leader (9%)
/.What duty do Texas govs. have a hard time controlling? - Answer-✅Administrative
duties
/.Two types of gubernational powers - Answer-✅1. Institutional powers (written in
constitution)
2. Personal powers (how stuff gets done)
/.What type of powers do Texas governors shine in? What powers do they lack in? -
Answer-✅Texas governors shine in personal powers, they don't have a lot of
institutional powers.
, /.Appointment power - Answer-✅Power to choose statewide executive officials. Key
factor in determining strength
/.Tenure power - Answer-✅Ability to remain in office, including re-election restrictions.
/.Managerial powers - Answer-✅Oversight of administration, coordination and executive
orders.
/.Fiscal powers - Answer-✅Supervises preparation of state budget
/.Legislative powers - Answer-✅Veto power (Texas has line-item veto) and call of
special sessions
/.What do personal powers depend on? - Answer-✅Personality of gov. Uses media,
public contact, skillful diplomacy and persuasion (bully pit).
/.Lt. Governor - Answer-✅*Elected separately from gov.
*Control of upper Senate
*Co-Chair in LBB
*vice-chair in audit committee and legislative edu. board
*4 year term
/.Comptroller - Answer-✅*controls anything finance
*very powerful (knows where $ goes)
*4 year term
/.Land commissioner - Answer-✅*4 year term
*controls pub. land & resources (energy)
*Gov. gets part of profit of land
/.Railroad commission - Answer-✅*3 seats, staggered 6 yr. term
*regulates oil, gas, trucking and mining
*implements laws of land
/.Agricultural commissioner - Answer-✅*4 year term
*enforces laws for ag. state laws
*food inspection, animal quarantine, &gas pumps
*protect industries or people?
/.Attorney general - Answer-✅*4 year term
*chief lawyers of state
*has effect of law from power of formal opinions/interpretations
ANSWERS
/. Plural Executive vs. Bureaucracy - Answer-✅Plural executive = free range
(widespread power), bureaucracy = worker bees (government employees)
/.Texas governors and lt. governors - Answer-✅Texas governors are weak, lt.
governors strong
/.What positions do governors usually come from? - Answer-✅Public affairs (lawyers or
business). People like a good-looking, charismatic gov.
/.Competition in gubernational elections - Answer-✅Very tight, usually 40/60% or tighter
/.Growth of the executive branch - Answer-✅Most growth has occurred. States want
more power as long as the feds pay the bill.
/.Executive vs. Legislative jobs - Answer-✅Executive is professional full time.
Legislatures are part-time and non-professional
/.How is a governor removed from office? - Answer-✅13 states have recall, 49 states
have impeachment. Only one Texas gov. has been impeached.
/.Governor duties, ranked by % - Answer-✅1. Administrator (28%)
2. Legislator (17%)
3. Ceremonial duties (14%)
4. Chief negotiator (14%)
5. Public opinion leader (9%)
6. Party leader (9%)
/.What duty do Texas govs. have a hard time controlling? - Answer-✅Administrative
duties
/.Two types of gubernational powers - Answer-✅1. Institutional powers (written in
constitution)
2. Personal powers (how stuff gets done)
/.What type of powers do Texas governors shine in? What powers do they lack in? -
Answer-✅Texas governors shine in personal powers, they don't have a lot of
institutional powers.
, /.Appointment power - Answer-✅Power to choose statewide executive officials. Key
factor in determining strength
/.Tenure power - Answer-✅Ability to remain in office, including re-election restrictions.
/.Managerial powers - Answer-✅Oversight of administration, coordination and executive
orders.
/.Fiscal powers - Answer-✅Supervises preparation of state budget
/.Legislative powers - Answer-✅Veto power (Texas has line-item veto) and call of
special sessions
/.What do personal powers depend on? - Answer-✅Personality of gov. Uses media,
public contact, skillful diplomacy and persuasion (bully pit).
/.Lt. Governor - Answer-✅*Elected separately from gov.
*Control of upper Senate
*Co-Chair in LBB
*vice-chair in audit committee and legislative edu. board
*4 year term
/.Comptroller - Answer-✅*controls anything finance
*very powerful (knows where $ goes)
*4 year term
/.Land commissioner - Answer-✅*4 year term
*controls pub. land & resources (energy)
*Gov. gets part of profit of land
/.Railroad commission - Answer-✅*3 seats, staggered 6 yr. term
*regulates oil, gas, trucking and mining
*implements laws of land
/.Agricultural commissioner - Answer-✅*4 year term
*enforces laws for ag. state laws
*food inspection, animal quarantine, &gas pumps
*protect industries or people?
/.Attorney general - Answer-✅*4 year term
*chief lawyers of state
*has effect of law from power of formal opinions/interpretations
