The Texas Legislature is looking more like the U.S. Congress. Last week the Republican-controlled state House approved new rules that prevent Democrats from serving as committee chairs, a move that reflects the Legislature’s rapid shift toward the Washington-style politics that shut the minority party out of powerful leadership posts.

Although Democrats will be prohibited from chairing the main legislative committees, the chamber voted to expand the powers they can have as vice chairs.

Conservative activists in the GOP caucus called any power sharing with the minority party a betrayal of Republican voters.