Question

It is said that the Lt. Governor of Texas has more power than the Governor. How could this be? Discuss.

Answer 1

The United States constitution and the fifty state constitutions, including the Texas construction derive their authority directly from the popular Sovereignty. The US Constitution and the fifty states constitutions all mandate similar Institutions, all employ separation of powers, checks and balances, bicameralism and the explicit protection of individual liberties through a bill of rights. All have a chief executive ,a bicameral or to house legislature ,judicial system of trial and appellate courts . All explicitly protect the rights and liberties of the citizens .

Despite the structural similarity, States vary widely in how they understand the balance of power in American Federalism. These debates are as old as the nation; older than Texas.

Article 4 of the Texas constitution describes an executive branch in which power is both limited and fragmented. All the the Governor is described as the state's ' chief executive officer' he or she shares executive authority with five other statewide elected officials , two policy making boards, and dozens of independent boards and commissions. The Lieutenant Governor, Comptroller of public accounts, Attorney General ,agriculture commissioner, commisioner of general land office and Texas rail road Commission are all elected statewide.

Even if the Governor has Limited powers, so does everyone else in Texas politics and no one has more power than the Governor . But it is common to suggest that the Texas Lieutenant Governor has been regarded as" uniquely powerful" in the country and more powerful thanTexas Governor. Following are the main reasons.

*Under the Texas constitution , Lieutenant governor presides over the state senate.

* He or she has traditionally has exterted a strong and Independent leadership over the Senate.

*. Lieutenant Governor have the right to make all committee appointments.

* Lieutenant government determines whether the bills are going to be sent and what committees and the timing.

* Every bill has to come through a state Senate committee before reaching the floor for a vote.Getting passed by the Senate committee is tough enough, but it is impossible if the bill never gets out of committee -which makes the lieutenant governor's power to to send the bill very important. Infact, lieutenant governor controls the flow of legislation.

* It is Lieutenant Governor who sits on every important state board .

* As the chair of the budget board, Lieutenant Governor plays a more important role in the development of the state budget than does the Governor.

Thus it's clear that Lieutenant Governor of Texas has unique legislative responsibilities in contrast to Lieutenant Governors of other states . It's the main reason he or she is considered to be more powerful than the governor. Ann Richand's tenure itself proved how limiting governor's position can be if he or she doesn't have an ally in the Lieutenant governor.