Exam 8: The Executive Branch

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a.Responsibilities: Executive responsibilities such as serving as acting governor when the governor is out of the state and succeeding a governor who resigns,is incapacitated,or is impeached.The real power of the office is derived from its place in the legislative process.
b.Senate power: "Constitutional President of the Senate"; has the right to debate and vote on all issues when the Senate sits as a "Committee of the Whole"; like the Speaker of the House,the lieutenant governor signs all bills and resolutions; the constitution grants the lieutenant governor the power to cast a deciding vote in the Senate when there is a tie; the lieutenant governor appoints all chairs to committees and assigns bills to committees when a committee-approved bill will be brought up for a vote by the full Senate.
c.Constitutional power: The constitution names the lieutenant governor to the Legislative Redistricting Board; chair of the Legislative Budget Board; member of other boards and committees,including the Legislative Audit Committee,the Legislative Education Board,the Cash Management Committee,and the Bond Review Board; the Senate grants the lieutenant governor significant power to decide parliamentary questions and procedural rules; the lieutenant governor sets up standing and special committees.
d.Personal style: Some,like Bob Bullock,yield a strong leadership approach and was feared and respected by friends and foes alike,though Bullock's politics were flexible.Dan Patrick is alleged to be both a bully and an ideologue.