Term
| How long is the texas governor term? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| is there a constitutional limit on the number of terms that a governor can serve in texas? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what 3 thrings does the tx constitution NOT list as grounds for the impeachment of the governor? |
|
Definition
| malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance in office |
|
|
Term
| when does the lieutenant governeor become governor? |
|
Definition
| when the governor dies, resigns, or is removed by office by impeachment/conviction |
|
|
Term
| Has texas ever had a non anglo governor? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| who is the only female governor texas has ever had? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| texas has a highly fragmented executive branch that results in what? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| who are officials appointed by the governor? |
|
Definition
| secretary of state, commission of education and commissioner of insurance |
|
|
Term
| the practice of what means that the senate win ordinarily not confirm the appointment of an individual to whom the senetor from the appointee's district individuals? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what is the governor's strongest legislative power? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| The governors role as chief intergovernmental diplomat has increased in importance in recent years as a result of _____? |
|
Definition
| federal statutes designating the governor as the official who has the planning and grant-approval authority for the state.. |
|
|
Term
| as chief of party, the governor usually does what? |
|
Definition
| leads his/her party's state delegation to national party conventions |
|
|
Term
| what do texas's short biennial legislative session permit? |
|
Definition
| it permits the governor to make many interim appointments when the legislature is not in session |
|
|
Term
| when the texas governor calls for a special session of the legislature, he sets up what for the session? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what must the governor submit by law to the legislature within 20 days after the legislature convenes in regular session? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| the governor's power with regard to the clemency(mercy) is restricted to one 30 day reprieve for whom? |
|
Definition
| an individual sentenced to death |
|
|
Term
| to be a strong chief legislator, a texas governor relies mainly on what 3 things? |
|
Definition
| his message power, his session power, and his veto power |
|
|
Term
| in what proceedings must the house of reps first empeach, then the senate acts as a trial court? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what do the governors fringe benefits include? |
|
Definition
| an official mansion, a car, use of a state-owned aircraft, and offices and professional staff. |
|
|
Term
| who could most accurately be described as a populist particularly in regard to staffing the governor's office? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| who does the primary responsibility for preparing the executive budget lie with? |
|
Definition
| the budget planning and plicy division |
|
|
Term
| what does the tx consitution stipulate that the governor must be? |
|
Definition
| a 30 yr old, amer. citizen who is a resident of texas for at least 5 years preceeding the election |
|
|
Term
| the legislature in 2003 passed bills which strengthened the power of governors office. what did the bill give the governor control of? |
|
Definition
| economic development, health and human servies, and the chairmanships of manny state boards. |
|
|
Term
| what are 2 methods of removing an official from office? |
|
Definition
| address and quo warranto proceedings |
|
|
Term
| when is the governor's veto power absolute? |
|
Definition
| when the legislature adjours prior to the exercise of the veto |
|
|
Term
| the governor in texas can use his/her item veto power to do what/ |
|
Definition
| to delete individual items from an appropriation bill without having to veto it in its entirelly |
|
|
Term
| what is one of the texas governors power as the commander in chief? |
|
Definition
| power to declare marital law in the state |
|
|
Term
| in texas what kind of political culture does the stae administration reflect the policy preferences of? |
|
Definition
| individualistic-traditionalistic |
|
|
Term
| how many agencies, institutions, and independent programs funded by general appropriations and about how many agencies derive their revenue from other sources? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| who is one of the most powerful officers in texas govt whose greatest power is issuing advisory opinions regarding the constitutionality or legality of legislative or administrative actoins? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| members of appointed boards and commissions in texas serve what kind of terms and how long, without pay? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what are the traditinal characteristics of bureaucracy? |
|
Definition
| they include hierarchical authority, defined jursdictions, specialists, extensive rules and regulations, and political neutrality. |
|
|
Term
| what kind of relationship do the texas department of transporation and the texas good roads and transportation have> |
|
Definition
| agency/clienetele relatoinship |
|
|
Term
| what is administrative dddiscretion? |
|
Definition
| it refers to the ability of bureaucrats to use their own judgment to determine how laws are to be interpreted and carried out. |
|
|
Term
| how do bureaucrats directly influence legislation> |
|
Definition
| by drafting bills, furnishing information to legislators, and by lobbying |
|
|
Term
| what does legislative oversight refer to. |
|
Definition
| refers to any situation in which the legislature oversees state agencies through the exercise of their powers to control the budget, to audit agency expenditures, to control state. |
|
|
Term
| what is the responsibility of the sunset advisory commission? |
|
Definition
| it had the responsibility of reviewing all statutory boards, commissions, and departments ( except colleges and universities) on a 12 year scale |
|
|
Term
| who are the 12 members in the sunset advisory commissino that conduct the sunset reviews? |
|
Definition
| 5 senetors, 5 reps, 2 citizens with the chairmanship rotating between the House and the seneate every two years |
|
|
Term
| what is a whistle blower> |
|
Definition
| an act that was passed in 1983 to ensure the job securty of state employees who report illegal or unethical conduct in their agency |
|
|
Term
| except in the category of corrections, texas has more or fewer public employees per 10,000 population than any other state? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what happened after WWII? |
|
Definition
| the scope of government grew fast; newly franchised and politically active citizens demanded government intervention to improve the quality of their lives and the complex society created a need for government expansion |
|
|
Term
| what happened in the year 2000 nationally and 2002 in texas> |
|
Definition
| the republican party captured the executive branch and a majority of both houses of the legislative branch |
|
|
Term
| what is the sunshine law, why is it named so> |
|
Definition
| it is named so because it forces agencies to shed light on their deliberations and procedures in order to prevent or expose bureaucratic ineptitude, corruption, or unnecessary secrecy |
|
|
Term
| what are the 4 reasons texas is confusing? |
|
Definition
| 1) there is no single, uniform organizational pattern (2)there are numerous exceptions to the traditional bureaucratic characteristic of hierarchy; (3) the number of state agencies dpeends upon one's method of counting and (4) there are at least 5 different types of top policy makers in state agencies. |
|
|
Term
| when does the office of the attorney general in texas represent the state and its agencies in court> |
|
Definition
| when the state is a party to the case |
|
|
Term
| who is responsible for the administration of the state tax system? |
|
Definition
| the comptroller of public accounts in texas |
|
|
Term
| what is the commissioner of the gerneral land office in texas responisble for? |
|
Definition
| supervising the leasing of state-owned lands for such purposes sa oil production and grazing |
|
|
Term
| who certifies elections and maintains records on campaign expenditures? |
|
Definition
| secretary of state in texas |
|
|
Term
| reglation of the oil and gas industry in texsa is the responsibility of whom? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| according to who, hierarchical authority, defined jurisdictions, and extensive rules and regulations are all characteristics of bureaucracy? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what is a clientele group? |
|
Definition
| an interest group that benefits from the programs of the administrative agency |
|
|
Term
| except in the case of a few high-profile agencies such as the texas department of transportation and the parks and wildlife department, satte agencies usually receive great or little support from the public? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| In the civil service system workers are hired based on what? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| in the civil service system workers are evaluated on what? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| in a civil service system workers are insulated from what? |
|
Definition
| undue interference from politicians |
|
|
Term
| in a civil service system workers are imerfectly accountable to who? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| most cases handled in municipal courts in texas involve what? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| most justices of the peace are not what? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| how many constitutional county courts are there as required by the texas constitution? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what are the principal trial courts of the state? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what kind of terms are judges of the court of criminal appeals and justices of the supreme court elected to? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| who has the power to approve the establishment of new schools of law in the state? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| only who are not chosen in partisan elections? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what is a multi-judged courts that operate without juries? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what is the important factor in allowign citizens to predict how judges will decide cases? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| The texas attorney general's authority to issue advisory opinions permits state agencies to determine what? |
|
Definition
| the constitutionality of proposed legislatoin or rules without going to court |
|
|
Term
| why do grand juries determine whether sufficient evidence exists?? |
|
Definition
| to issue a formal indictment against a person accused of a crime |
|
|
Term
| what is the call to participate on a trial jury determined by? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| do poor and wealthy defendants have an equal chance of being incarcerated or executed? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| How does the court system in texas split its highest appellate jursidiction? |
|
Definition
| between two supreme courts, one for the civil cases and another for the criminal cases |
|
|
Term
| the department of public safety is one of only eight state police agencies across the nation empowered to do what> |
|
Definition
| conduct criminal investigations |
|
|
Term
| why is it not uncommon for contributors to these campaigns to be among the lawyers who will be practicing in these judges' courts if they win office election? |
|
Definition
| because texas requires judicial candidates to finance their election campaigns with private funds |
|
|
Term
| what does the mythical vision most americans hold of judges look like? |
|
Definition
| they see them as incorruptible , objective, impartial, and nonpolitical |
|
|
Term
| what are the functions of the judiciary? |
|
Definition
| punishing criminals ,settling disputes, interpreting statutory law, ,and awarding damages in civil cases. |
|
|
Term
| when do judges engage in politics> |
|
Definition
| when they apply a statue, interpret the constitution, make judicial decisions, and run for office |
|
|
Term
| do municipal courts have any civil jurisdiction? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what do municipal courts mainly deal with? |
|
Definition
| violations of traffic laws |
|
|
Term
| what are justices of the peace in texas responsible for? |
|
Definition
| for adjudicating minor criminal cases, adjudicating minor civil cases, serving as notaries public, and performing marriages |
|
|
Term
| what did the most publicized advisory opinion issued in recent years by the attorney general deal with? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what are mid term vacancies in district courts in texas filled by? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what kind of courts operate without a jury? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what may a justice of peace judge serve as? |
|
Definition
| a coroner to certify cause of death despite having no medical training |
|
|
Term
| only which two states split their highest appellate jurisdiciton btwn two courts? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what is the final appellate jurisdiction in civil cases? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what is the highest appeals court for criminal matters in texas? |
|
Definition
| the court of criminal appeals |
|
|
Term
| what is state bar of texas authorized by the legislature to do? |
|
Definition
| to repreimand or disbar any pracicing attorney in the state for fraudulent, dishonest, or unethical conduct. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a case when an accused person enters a plea of guilty after negotiating a lesser charge |
|
|
Term
| when can district or appellate judges in texas be removed from office by impeachment? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| in texas, who do the legislature and agencies commonly seek the advice of on issues regarding the constitutionality of legislative proposals, rules, and procedures? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what do lower court trial juries consist of? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| how many members does the district courts consist of? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| how does the texas fair defense act attempt to remedy the problem of unequal justice? |
|
Definition
| by establishing a public defenders system in felony cases |
|
|
Term
| what category is the right of freedom of speech included in? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what is the process of applying the first amendment protections of the us constitution to the states/ |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| the question of citizen ownership and use of firearms, under both the american and texas consitutions, is a question of what, not a question of civil liberties? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what cases show how far texas has progressed in granting equal rights to all its citizens? |
|
Definition
| cases of tulia and jasper |
|
|
Term
| the brutal death of james byrd, jr. in jasper and the events following his death illustrate what> |
|
Definition
| that racism in texas is neither dominant nor respectable |
|
|
Term
| in the case ruiz v. estelle a federal judge found that the texas department of correctinos was quilty of what? |
|
Definition
| "cruel and unusual punishments" against prisoners in the administration of the state's prison system |
|
|
Term
| do a majority of texas support the death penalty for those convited of murder? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what age does texas permit the execution of people who commit murder? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a civil wrong defined in civil law rather han criminal law. it requres court system to provide a remedy in the form of an action for damages such as personal injury and medical malpracice |
|
|
Term
| what are the outcomes of the tort reform movemtn |
|
Definition
| us citizens have less ability to file flass0actionsuits; the fees of trial lawyers are limited in some cases; companies whose products meet government statndards are immune from law suits and civil courst are less imporant and have less discretion. |
|
|
Term
| what aspects do tort reformers want to change? |
|
Definition
| the texas laws regulating civil suits, including punitive damages, joint and several liability, venue, and damages under the deceptive trade practices act |
|
|
Term
| why is the judicial system designed? |
|
Definition
| to protect the rights of citizens in a democratic society and process the criminal cases that occur within its jurisdiction |
|
|
Term
| texas's pro-life position is evidenced by what? |
|
Definition
| three recent laws passed by the legislature intended to discourge or obstruct women from having abortions |
|
|
Term
| what does the term civil liberties refer to> |
|
Definition
| to the individual freedoms from government interference in a democratic society and treating the members of all groups equally. |
|
|
Term
| the arrest of 50 austin anti war protesters did not violate what amendement? |
|
Definition
| the first amendment for disrupting thelives of others |
|
|
Term
| ferderal courts have declared the use of a nondenominational prayer, the reading of the bible, the recitation of the lords prayer, and the broadcast of a prayer over the public-address system before a football game as an officially sanctioned activiy in public schools to be what? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| what does the national rifle association argue> |
|
Definition
| that there is a constitutional right to keep and bear arms based on the second amendment |
|
|
Term
| why did the 2003 legislature avoid the topic of aborition as its agenda? |
|
Definition
| because abortion is so controversial |
|
|
Term
| what has been the result of wide variatins in the value of taxable property among districts? |
|
Definition
| inequities in the amount of money available to local school districts in texas |
|
|
Term
| what do opponents of the death penalty argue? |
|
Definition
| that innocent people are sometimes executed; capital punishment is racially biased; it costs more to execute a criminal than to imprison someone for life; finally, two wrongs dont make a right |
|
|
Term
| what were among the state restrictions that violated the civil rights of blacks and mexican americans? |
|
Definition
| jim crow laws, black codes, poll taxes |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the us supreme court temporarily stopped the states from carrying out captial punishment in large part because of its finding that the death penalty was applied in a racially biased manner |
|
|
Term
| how many murderers did texas execute btween 1982 and 2006? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| under tort reform legislation passed in 2003, what awards in medical malpractice suits are capped at $250,000? |
|
Definition
|
|
