The principal constitutional responsibility is to be the foremost official in the line of succession to the governor's office. In nearly half of the states, the lieutenant governor presides over the senate and serves as acting governor whenever the governor is absent from the state. State constitutions do not prescribe detailed duties for the office. This allows governors and lieutenant governors to exercise flexibility in integrating the office into the administration. In many states, the duties of lieutenant governor have been increased by legislation to include the lieutenant governor's service on state boards, commissions and task forces.
Many lieutenant governors serve as members of their governors' cabinet or advisory bodies.
In several states, statutory and constitutional provisions require the chief executive to partially define the duties of their lieutenant governor. In those states where the official next in line of succession to the governor is a secretary of state or senate president, the responsibilities are those traditionally assigned to the respective offices along with the succession and acting governor provisions.