Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
| Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| 2013 FY Budget: | $393,500 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Wisconsin Constitution, Article V, Section 1 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
 | |
| Name: | Rebecca Kleefisch |
| Officeholder Party: | Republican |
| Assumed office: | January 3, 2011 |
| Compensation: | $76,261 |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 4, 2014 |
| Last election: | November 2, 2010 |
| Other Wisconsin Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
Contents |
Current officer
- See also: Current Lieutenant Governors
The 44th and current lieutenant governor is Rebecca Kleefisch, a Republican elected in 2010.
Authority
The state Constitution addresses the office of the governor in Article V, the Executive Department.
Under Article V, Section I:
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The executive power shall be vested in a governor who shall hold office for 4 years; a lieutenant governor shall be elected at the same time and for the same term. |
Qualifications
| Governors |
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| Current Governors |
| Gubernatorial Elections |
| 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010 Lists of candidates |
| Current Lt. Governors |
| Lt. Governor Elections |
| 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010 |
| Breaking news |
In order to be eligible for the office of lieutenant governor, a candidate must be :
- a citizen of the United States
- a qualified elector of Wisconsin
Additionally general requirements to hold office in Wisconsin stipulate that no candidate may:
- hold any office, honor or profit under any foreign power
- hold any federal office
- be a convicted felon
- be convicted of any misdemeanor involving a violation of the public trust
Elections
- See also: Gubernatorial election cycles by state
- See also: Election of lieutenant governors
Wisconsin elects lieutenant governors in the midterm elections, that is, even years that are not Presidential election years. For Wisconsin, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 are all gubernatorial election years. Legally, the lieutenant gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the first Monday in the January following an election. Thus, January 3, 2011 and January 5, 2015 are inaugural days.
By law, lieutenant governors are elected on a shared ticket with the gubernatorial candidate in both the primary and the general election.
The lieutenant governor of Wisconsin is elected in a direct election—the candidate with the most votes becomes lieutenant governor. In the event that two candidates receive an equal number of votes which is higher than that received by any other candidate, the members of the state legislature vote between the two at their next session.
Term limits
- See also: States with gubernatorial term limits
There is no limit to the number of terms a lieutenant governor may hold. However, the lieutenant governor can be removed from office through an impeachment trial or resignation.
History
1979 Lt. Governor referendum
The voters of Wisconsin approved a referendum in a April 1979 referendum that changed the Lieutenant Governor's Office. Before the changes approved by voters, the Lieutenant Governor served as the President of the Wisconsin State Senate[1]. Also, the 1979 referendum approved a line of succession that is stated in the Wisconsin Constitution which designates the Lieutenant Governor and the Wisconsin Secretary of State as the respective successors of the office in the event of the Governor's registration or death[2].
The proposition that made that change, Wisconsin Question 3, was passed narrowly by the voters of Wisconsin on April 3, 1979 by a margin of 372,734 to 327,008 votes[3].
Vacancies
Details of vacancies are addressed under Article V, Sections 7 and 8.
If the lieutenant governor becomes governor, he or she is required to nominate a new lieutenant governor. However, the successor must be confirmed by the Senate and the Assembly.
If the actual elected lieutenant governor is unable to continue serving or is removed, dies, or resigns, the Governor nominates a replacement, subject to confirmation by the Senate and then the entire Assembly.
Duties
Should the governor designate the lieutenant governor to a board or commission the lieutenant governor is given all the authority and responsibility granted by law to the governor.
The Lieutenant Governor becomes the Governor upon the death, resignation, or removal of the elected Governor of Wisconsin. She also become Acting Governor upon the absence, illness, or inability to serve of the elected Governor.
At one time, the Lieutenant Governor was the President of the Senate and could cast a tie breaking vote; however, following the Amendment in 1979, the elected Senators now choose their own presiding officer.
State budget
The budget for the Lieutenant Governor's Office in Fiscal Year 2013 was $393,500.[4]
Compensation
The lieutenant governor's pay is set by law and may not be increased or diminished effective during the current term.
In 2012, the Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor was paid an estimated $76,261. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.
Contact information
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
19 East, State Capitol
P.O. Box 2043
Madison, WI 53702
Phone:608-266-3516
Fax:608-267-3571
E-mail: ltgov@wisconsin.gov
See also
- Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch
- Governor of Wisconsin
- Governor Scott Walker
- Wisconsin Attorney General
- Wisconsin Secretary of State
External links
References
- ↑ The Wheeler Report "Obituary of former Wisconsin Lt. Governor Russell Olson", April 19, 2010(See April 19, 2010 Summary)
- ↑ State of Wisconsin "Wisconsin Constitution"(See Article V, Sections 7 and 8)
- ↑ University of Wisconsin-Madison Library "Digital Library-Blue Book Collection(See Pages 888 to 890)
- ↑ Wisconsin Department of Administration, "2013-15 Executive Budget - Office of the Lt. Governor," accessed April 3, 2013
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