Lieutenant Governor of Indiana

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Lieutenant Governor of Indiana
Indiana-StateSeal.svg
Seal of Indiana
170905-Z-PM441-6534 (cropped 2).jpg
Incumbent
Suzanne Crouch
since January 9, 2017
Government of Indiana
Style Madam Lieutenant Governor
Term length 4 years
(term limited to serving no more than eight years in any twelve-year period)
Inaugural holder Christopher Harrison
November 7, 1816
Formation Constitution of Indiana
1816
Salary$103,076
Website http://www.in.gov/lg/

The lieutenant governor of Indiana is a constitutional office in the US state of Indiana. Republican Suzanne Crouch, who assumed office January 9, 2017, is the incumbent. The office holder's constitutional roles are to serve as the president of the Indiana Senate, become acting governor during the incapacity of the governor, and become governor should the incumbent governor resign, die in office, or be impeached and removed from office. Lieutenant governors have succeeded ten governors following their deaths or resignations. The lieutenant governor holds statutory positions, serving as the head of the state agricultural and rural affairs bureaus, and as the chairman of several state committees.

Contents

The lieutenant governor is elected on the same election ticket as the governor in a statewide election held every four years, concurrent with United States presidential elections. Should a lieutenant governor die while in office, resign, or succeed to the governorship, the constitution specifies no mechanism by which to fill vacancies in the lieutenant governor's office. Historically, the position has generally remained vacant during such events. The last attempt to fill such a vacancy in 1887 led to the outbreak of violence in the state legislature known as the Black Day of the General Assembly. However, in recent years the governor has appointed a lieutenant governor if a vacancy arises.

Requirements

The position of lieutenant governor was created with the adoption of the first Constitution of Indiana in August 1816. The position was filled by an October election. The position was retained and the current requirements established in the state's second and current constitution adopted in 1851. [1]

To become lieutenant governor, a candidate must have been a United States citizen and lived within Indiana for the period of five consecutive years before the election. The candidate must also be at least thirty years old when sworn into office. The lieutenant governor may not hold any federal office during his term, and must resign from any such position before being eligible to be sworn in as lieutenant governor. Before taking the office, the candidate must swear an oath of office administered by the chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, promising to uphold the constitution and laws of Indiana. [2]

Succession

Jesse D. Bright, Lieutenant Governor and US Senator from Indiana; he was exiled from the United States during the American Civil War Jesse D Bright.jpg
Jesse D. Bright, Lieutenant Governor and US Senator from Indiana; he was exiled from the United States during the American Civil War
Oliver P. Morton, Lieutenant Governor, Governor, and US Senator from Indiana Oliver Hazard Perry Morton - Brady-Handy.jpg
Oliver P. Morton, Lieutenant Governor, Governor, and US Senator from Indiana

The lieutenant governor serves as acting governor when the governor becomes incapacitated. In the state's early history, lieutenant governors would serve as acting governor while the governor was away from the capital. Christopher Harrison was the first lieutenant governor to serve as acting governor while Jonathan Jennings negotiated treaties far from the capital. [3]

If the governor dies in office, becomes permanently incapacitated, resigns, or is impeached, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. [4] In total, ten lieutenant governors become governor by succession. [5] The first occurrence was when Jonathan Jennings resigned to become a congressman and was succeeded by Ratliff Boon. [6]

In the event that both the governorship and lieutenant-governorship are vacant, the constitution stipulates that the Senate president pro tempore becomes governor. [7] Historically, governors appointed the pro tempore to serve as acting lieutenant governor as a formality. This practice ended in the early twentieth century. [8] Although the constitution did not specify a method to fill a vacancy in the lieutenant governorship, an attempt to fill a vacancy occurred in 1887. When the winner of the election attempted to be seated, the Senate erupted into violence known as the Black Day of the General Assembly; the lieutenant governor-elect was sworn in but never seated. [9]

Should the lieutenant governorship become vacant for any reason, including death, resignation, or succession, the governor may nominate a replacement who must be approved by both houses of the General Assembly. [7]

Authority

Constitutional

Indiana Statehouse, location of the Lieutenant Governor's office. StateCapitolIndiana.jpg
Indiana Statehouse, location of the Lieutenant Governor's office.

The lieutenant governor has two constitutional functions. The primary function is to serve as the president of the Indiana Senate. In the Senate the lieutenant governor is permitted to debate on legislation, introduce legislation, and vote on matters to break ties. As presiding officer in the Senate, lieutenant governors also have partial control over what legislation will be considered, and influence on the legislative calendar. Unless a special session is called by the governor, the Senate meets for no more than 91 days in any two years period, leaving the lieutenant governor free from his or her senatorial duties in the remainder of the year. [10]

The secondary function is to serve as a successor to the governorship should it become vacant, or act as governor if necessary. If a lieutenant governor should succeed to the governorship, the office of lieutenant governor and president of the Senate become vacant; the duties are taken over by the Senate president pro tempore. [10]

Statutory

The majority of the powers exercised by the lieutenant governor are statutory and have been assigned by the Indiana General Assembly. The first additional powers granted to the lieutenant governor were added in 1932 when the office holder was made the head of the state's agricultural commission. The office's powers have since expanded to include the chairmanship of the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, Office of Energy and Defense Development, and the Office of Tourism Development. [10] As head of the various office and committees, the lieutenant governor controls many patronage positions and is permitted to fill them by appointment. Important positions filled by the lieutenant governor include the members of the Corn Marketing Council, the Main Street Council, Steel Advisory Commission, and the Indiana Film Commission. [11]

In addition to the chairmanship of the committees, the lieutenant governor is also a participating member of the Natural Resources Committee, State Office Building Commission, Air Pollution Control Board, Water Pollution Control Board, and Solid Waste Management Board. [11]

The annual salary of the lieutenant governor is set by the Indiana General Assembly and was $76,000 in 2007. [12] [13]

List of lieutenant governors of Indiana

There have been forty-nine lieutenant governors of Indiana since Indiana became a state in 1816.

   Democratic-Republican (3)   Democratic (22)   Whig (3)   Republican (27)   Independent (1)

# ImageLt. GovernorTook officeLeft officeParty Governor Notes
1  Christopher Harrison.jpg Christopher Harrison November 7, 1816December 17, 1818 Democratic-Republican Jonathan Jennings [N 1] [N 2] [N 3]
2  Ratliffboonindiana.jpg Ratliff Boon December 8, 1819September 12, 1822Democratic-Republican Jonathan Jennings [N 2] [N 4]
3  Ratliffboonindiana.jpg Ratliff Boon December 5, 1822January 30, 1824Democratic-Republican William Hendricks [N 2] [N 4]
4  John H. Thompson December 7, 1825 [14] December 3, 1828Jacksonian William Hendricks [N 5]
5  Milton Stapp December 3, 1828December 7, 1831Independent James B. Ray
6  Gov David Wallace Portrait.jpg David Wallace December 7, 1831December 6, 1837 Whig Noah Noble
7  David Hillis December 6, 1837December 9, 1840Whig David Wallace
8  Samuel Hall December 9, 1840December 6, 1843Whig Samuel Bigger
9  Jesse D Bright.jpg Jesse D. Bright December 6, 1843March 4, 1845 Democratic James Whitcomb [N 2] [N 6] [N 7]
10  Governor of indiana paris c dunning.gif Paris C. Dunning December 9, 1846December 26, 1848Democratic James Whitcomb [N 4] [N 8]
11  Portrait of James Henry Lane, by Brady (1).jpg Jim Lane December 5, 1849January 10, 1853Democratic Joseph A. Wright
12  Ashbel Parsons Willard.jpg Ashbel P. Willard January 10, 1853January 12, 1857Democratic Joseph A. Wright
13  Govabramhammond.gif Abram A. Hammond January 12, 1857October 3, 1860Democratic Ashbel P. Willard [N 4] [N 9]
14  OHPTMorton.jpg Oliver P. Morton January 14, 1861January 16, 1861 Republican Henry S. Lane [N 4]
—  John R. Cravens.jpg John R. Cravens January 16, 1861October 9, 1863Republican Oliver P. Morton acting [N 10]
—  Governor of indiana paris c dunning.gif Paris C. Dunning October 9, 1863January 9, 1865Democratic Oliver P. Morton acting [N 11]
15  Conradbakerindiana.jpg Conrad Baker January 9, 1865January 23, 1867Republican Oliver P. Morton [N 4] [N 1]
16  Will Cumback.jpg William Cumback January 11, 1869January 13, 1873Republican Conrad Baker [N 2] [N 12] [N 13]
17  LSexton.jpg Leonidas Sexton January 13, 1873January 13, 1877Republican Thomas A. Hendricks
18  Isaacpuseygrayindiana.jpg Isaac P. Gray January 13, 1877November 2, 1880Democratic James D. Williams [N 4]
—  Fredrick Vieche November 20, 1880January 8, 1881Democratic Isaac P. Gray acting [N 14]
19  Thomas Hanna January 10, 1881January 12, 1885Republican Albert G. Porter
20  MDManson.jpg Mahlon Dickerson Manson January 12, 1885August 3, 1886Democratic Isaac P. Gray [N 2]
21  Robert Stoddart Robertson 1865 public domain USGov (cropped).jpg Robert S. Robertson January 10, 1887January 13, 1889Republican Isaac P. Gray
–  Alonzo G. Smith November 8, 1886January 14, 1889Democratic Isaac P. Gray acting [N 15]
22  Gov ira chase of indiana.gif Ira Joy Chase January 14, 1889November 24, 1891Republican Alvin Peterson Hovey acting [N 4] [N 16]
—  Francis M. Griffith (Indiana Congressman).jpg Francis M. Griffith November 23, 1891January 9, 1893Republican Ira Joy Chase acting [N 17]
23  Mortimer Nye (1899).jpg Mortimer Nye January 9, 1893January 11, 1897Democratic Claude Matthews
24  William Selkirk Haggard.jpg William S. Haggard January 11, 1897January 14, 1901Republican James A. Mount
25  Newton W. Gilbert (Governor General of the Philippines).jpg Newton W. Gilbert January 14, 1901January 9, 1905Republican Winfield T. Durbin
26  Hugh Thomas Miller January 9, 1905January 11, 1909Republican Frank Hanly
27  Frank J. Hall January 11, 1909January 13, 1913Democratic Thomas R. Marshall
28  William P. O'Neill January 13, 1913January 8, 1917Democratic Samuel M. Ralston
29  Edgar D. Bush January 8, 1917January 10, 1921Republican James P. Goodrich
30  Emmett F. Branch (Indiana governor).jpg Emmett Forrest Branch January 10, 1921April 30, 1924Republican Warren T. McCray [N 4]
—  James J. Nejdl April 30, 1924January 12, 1925Republican Warren T. McCray acting [N 18]
31  F. Harold Van Orman January 12, 1925January 14, 1929Republican Edward L. Jackson
32  Edgar D. Bush January 14, 1929January 9, 1933Republican Harry G. Leslie
33  M. Clfford Townsend (Indiana governor).jpg M. Clifford Townsend January 9, 1933January 11, 1937Democratic Paul V. McNutt
34  Henry Schricker 1943 (cropped).jpg Henry F. Schricker January 11, 1937January 13, 1941Democratic M. Clifford Townsend
35  Charles M. Dawson January 13, 1941January 8, 1945Democratic Henry F. Schricker
36  Richard T. James January 8, 1945January 10, 1948Republican Ralph F. Gates
37  Rue J. Alexander April 14, 1948January 2, 1949Republican Henry F. Schricker [N 2]
38  John A. Watkins January 10, 1949January 12, 1953Democratic Henry F. Schricker
39  Harold W. Handley (Indiana Governor) 2.jpg Harold W. Handley January 12, 1953January 14, 1957Republican George N. Craig
40  Crawford parker (cropped) (cropped).jpg Crawford F. Parker January 14, 1957January 9, 1961Republican Harold W. Handley
41  Richard O. Ristine January 9, 1961January 11, 1965Republican Matthew E. Welsh
42  Robert L. Rock January 11, 1965January 13, 1969Democratic Roger D. Branigin
43  Richard E. Folz January 13, 1969January 8, 1973Republican Edgar Whitcomb
44  Robert D. Orr.jpg Robert D. Orr January 8, 1973January 12, 1981Republican Otis R. Bowen
45  Reagan Contact Sheet C40112 (cropped2).jpg John Mutz January 12, 1981January 9, 1989Republican Robert D. Orr
46  Frank O'Bannon.jpg Frank O'Bannon January 9, 1989January 13, 1997Democratic Evan Bayh
47  South Bend Mayor Joe Kernan (1).jpeg Joe Kernan January 13, 1997September 13, 2003Democratic Frank O'Bannon [N 1] [N 4]
48  Kathy Davis Lt Governor (1).png Kathy Davis October 20, 2003January 10, 2005Democratic Joe Kernan
49  Becky Skillman speaking, May 12, 2007.JPEG Becky Skillman January 10, 2005January 14, 2013Republican Mitch Daniels
50 Lt Gov Sue Ellspermann.jpg Sue Ellspermann January 14, 2013March 2, 2016Republican Mike Pence [N 19]
51 Holcomb Official Headshot (cropped).jpg Eric Holcomb March 3, 2016January 9, 2017Republican Mike Pence
52 170905-Z-PM441-6534 (1).jpg Suzanne Crouch January 9, 2017Republican Eric Holcomb

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Was acting governor.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Resigned from office.
  3. ↑ James Beggs was elected Senate President pro tempore by the Senate to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Christopher Harrison. He held the position until the election of Ratliff Boon (Funk, p. 206).
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Was elevated to the governorship during his term.
  5. ↑ Served two terms.
  6. ↑ Became a United States senator.
  7. ↑ Godlove S. Orth, a Whig, was elected Senate President pro tempore by the Senate to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Jesse B. Bright. He held the position until the election of Paris C. Dunning (Funk, p. 206).
  8. ↑ James G. Read was elected Senate President pro tempore by the Senate to fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Paris C. Dunning to the governorship. He held the position until the election of Jim Lane (Funk, p. 206).
  9. ↑ The Senate did not elect a Senate president pro tempore following Hammond's succession as governor and the position remained vacant until the election of Oliver Morton (Funk, p. 206).
  10. ↑ After Morton's elevation to the governorship, John R. Cravens served as acting lieutenant governor from 1861 to 1863 (Funk, p. 206).
  11. ↑ After the resignation of John R. Cravens, Paris C. Dunning served as acting lieutenant governor from 1863 to 1865 (Funk, p. 206).
  12. ↑ After Conrad Baker's elevation to the governorship, William Cumback served as acting lieutenant governor until his election in 1869.
  13. ↑ George W. Finley served as acting lieutenant governor following the resignation of William Cumback until the election of Leonidas Sexton (Funk, p. 206).
  14. ↑ Fredrick Vieche served as acting lieutenant governor following the elevation of Isaac Gray to the governorship until the election of Thomas Hanna.
  15. ↑ At the general election in November 1886 both parties entered candidates to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Mahlon Manson. Robert S. Robertston, Republican, was elected and sworn into office on January 10, 1886. The Democrat-controlled Senate refused to seat him, declaring that the seat was not vacant and the election was invalid. The Senate then elected Alonzo G. Smith to serve as acting lieutenant governor until the election of Ira Chase. The Indiana Supreme Court ordered the senate to seat Robertson, but violence broke out when he attempted to enter the chamber, preventing him from ever taking office (Funk, p. 204).
  16. ↑ Francis M. Griffin served as acting lieutenant governor following the elevation of Ira Chase to the governorship. He served until the election of Mortimer Nye.
  17. ↑ Francis M. Griffin served as acting lieutenant governor following the elevation of Ira Chase to the governorship. He served until the election of Mortimer Nye (Funk, p. 204).
  18. ↑ James J. Nejdl served as acting lieutenant governor following the elevation of Emmett Branch to the governorship until the election of Harold Van Orman.
  19. ↑ Sue Ellspermann resigned to become president of Ivy Tech Community College.

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References

  1. ↑ Gugin, p. 10
  2. ↑ Constitution of Indiana, 5-7
  3. ↑ Gugin, p. 47
  4. ↑ Constitution of Indiana, 5-10(b)
  5. ↑ Gugin, p. 12
  6. ↑ Gugin, p. 49
  7. 1 2 Constitution of Indiana, 5-10(c)
  8. ↑ Gugin, p. 14
  9. ↑ Gugin, pp. 176–177
  10. 1 2 3 Indiana Chamber, p. 13
  11. 1 2 Indiana Chamber, p. 14
  12. ↑ Indiana Chamber, p. 12
  13. ↑ "Information Maintained by the Office of Code Revision Indiana Legislative Services Agency". State of Indiana. November 22, 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
  14. ↑ "Lt. Governor: Previous Lt. Governors". In.gov. Retrieved December 11, 2016.

Bibliography

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