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Lieutenant Governor Of Texas




Under the provisions of the Texas Constitution , the Lieutenant Governor is President of the Texas Senate . By the rules of the Senate, the Lieutenant Governor establishes all special and standing committees, appoints all chairpersons and members, and assigns all Senate legislation to the committee of his choice.

The Lieutenant Governor decides all questions of Parliamentary Procedure in the Senate. He also has broad discretion in following Senate procedural rules.

The dual role of serving both in the executive and legislative branches of government effectively makes this arguably the most powerful position in Texas State Politics .

The Lieutenant Governor is an ''ex officio'' member of several statutory bodies. These include the Legislative Budget Board, the Legislative Council, the Legislative Audit Committee, the Legislative Education Board, the Cash Management Committee and the Bond Review Board. He is Chairperson of the Legislative Budget Board and Legislative Council, which have considerable sway over state programs, the budget and policy.

In the case of a vacancy in the Lieutenant Governor's office, the Senate elects one of its members to act as ''President of the Senate'' until the next statewide office election, in effect becoming the Lieutenant Governor. A Senator elected as presiding officer in this way retains his district seat and the voting privileges entailed with his Senate election.


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EXTERNAL LINK


  • [http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/ltgov/Duties.htm Duties and Powers of the Lieutenant Governor]