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The Governor and Lieutenant Governor are elected on separate ballots, which has occasionally resulted in the officeholders being of different political parties. The other positions which are popularly elected statewide are the Attorney General, the Comptroller of Public Accounts, the Agriculture Commissioner (this is the only position where the popular vote is based on statute as opposed to state Constitutional requirement), the Commissioner of the General Land Office, and the three members of the Railroad Commission (which, despite its name, no longer handles railroad matters; its main function is the regulation of fossil fuel production and transport). In addition, the members of the State Board of Education are elected from 15 single-member districts.
The Governor and Lieutenant Governor are elected on separate ballots, which has occasionally resulted in the officeholders being of different political parties. The other positions which are popularly elected statewide are the Attorney General, the Comptroller of Public Accounts, the Agriculture Commissioner (this is the only position where the popular vote is based on statute as opposed to state Constitutional requirement), the Commissioner of the General Land Office, and the three members of the Railroad Commission (which, despite its name, no longer handles railroad matters; its main function is the regulation of fossil fuel production and transport). In addition, the members of the State Board of Education are elected from 15 single-member districts.
In terms of real power, the Comptroller of Public Accounts may have the most of any executive branch member, due to a statutory role contained within the state's constitution: the Comptroller is required (prior to the start of each regular legislative session) to provide an estimate of funds that will be available (from all sources, whether available for general revenue or restricted to specific uses) for the next "biennium" (two year period beginning on September 1 following the end of the session, and ending on August 31 two years afterwards). The state's constitution restricts spending more than the certified amount except by 4/5ths vote in both chambers of the Texas Legislature. In addition, nearly all revenue is received through the Comptroller's office, nearly all expenses are paid through the office as well, and the office handles most statewide contracts which other agencies must use.
==Politics==
==Politics==