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Under the provisions of the state 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 discreation in following Senate procedural rules.
The dual role of serving both in the executive and legislative branches of government effectively makes this 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.