When Vikki Goodwin was elected the first Democratic lieutenant governor of Texas since 1999 on Tuesday night, she appeared poised to inherit one of the most powerful positions in state government.

But come January when the Austin state representative is sworn in, most of the position's power may come immediately under threat.

That's because most of the lieutenant governor's massive influence in recent history has largely derived from the chamber rules approved by state senators at the start of each legislative session.