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Lieutenant Governor of Indiana
Indiana-StateSeal.svg
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.

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.

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.

Succession

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

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

In the event that both the governorship and lieutenant-governorship are vacant, the constitution stipulates that the Senate president pro tempore becomes governor. Historically, governors appointed the pro tempore to serve as acting lieutenant governor as a formality. This practice ended in the early twentieth century. 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.

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.

Authority

Constitutional

StateCapitolIndiana
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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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

List of lieutenant governors of Indiana

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

      Democratic-Republican (4)       Democratic (22)       Whig (3)       Republican (27)       Independent (1)

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