<P> The term of office was two years from 1846 to 1972 . Voters then increased it to four years, effective for the 1974 election . </P> <P> The Lieutenant Governor assumes the powers of the Governor of Texas when the governor is out of the state or otherwise unable to discharge the office . The Lieutenant Governor is elected separately from the Governor, rather than on the same ticket; it is therefore possible for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor to be from different political parties (which was the case during Governor George W. Bush's first term and also during Bill Clements's two non-consecutive terms). The Lieutenant Governor becomes Governor if the elected Governor resigns, dies or is removed from office via impeachment and conviction . Former Governor Rick Perry took office upon George W. Bush's resignation on December 21, 2000 . Bush became US President on January 20, 2001 . When Perry became lieutenant governor on 19 January 1999, he became the first Republican since Albert Jennings Fountain in 1873 to serve as lieutenant governor, and the first Republican to be elected as Lieutenant Governor since James W. Flanagan in 1869 . </P> <P> Texas is one of the few states that vests significant power in the office of lieutenant governor, making it among the most influential . By contrast, the lieutenant governor position in other states has few (if any) legislative responsibilities, akin to the Vice President of the United States . The consequence is that the Governor of Texas is weaker than other states' governors . </P>

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