Lieutenant_Governor_of_Louisiana

Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana

Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana

Second highest state office in Louisiana

The lieutenant governor of Louisiana (French: Lieutenant-Gouverneur de la Louisiane) is the second highest state office in Louisiana. The current lieutenant governor is Billy Nungesser, a Republican. The lieutenant governor is also the commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism.

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Paul J. Hardy, who served from 1988 to 1992, was the first Republican to be elected to the position since the Reconstruction Era.

History

The office was established by the Louisiana Constitution of 1845.[1] Prior to that, the successor to the governor in the event of his death or resignation was the President of the Louisiana State Senate.[2] A number of state senate presidents succeeded governors before the 1845 Constitution was adopted, including Henry S. Thibodaux, Armand Beauvais and Jacques Dupre.

The lieutenant governor presided over the Louisiana Senate from 1845 until the adoption of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974.[citation needed] Under the new constitution, the lieutenant governor was—effective in 1976—primarily tasked with serving as acting governor in the governor's absence from the state and succeeding to gubernatorial office in the event it became vacant. The document also allowed the governor and the Louisiana State Legislature to delegate responsibilities upon the lieutenant governor at their discretion.[3] In 1986, the legislature placed the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism under the lieutenant governor's purview, enabling them to appoint the department's leaders.[4][5]

Selection

Only qualified voters in Louisiana are eligible to be elected lieutenant governor. Any potential lieutenant governor must be at least 25 years of age and have resided in the state for the five previous years.[6] The lieutenant governor is elected on their own ticket separate from the governor.[5]

In the event the lieutenant governor's office becomes vacant, the governor is empowered to nominate a new incumbent subject to the approval of both houses of the legislature.[7]

Duties and responsibilities

The constitution directs the lieutenant governor to assume the office of governor if the previous incumbent vacates the office. If the incumbent governor is unable to act as governor, or is temporarily absent from the state, the lieutenant governor assumes the governor's powers and duties as acting governor.[5][8] The constitution also designates the lieutenant governor an ex officio member of each committee, board, and commission on which the governor serves.[5][9]

Aside from these duties, the lieutenant governor can exercise powers delegated to them by the governor or as provided by law.[5][9] Accordingly, state law designates the lieutenant governor as the commissioner of the Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism.[5][10] In this capacity they appoint the department's secretary and several other leading officers, subject to the confirmation of the State Senate.[5]

List of lieutenant governors

Parties

  Independent (0)   Democratic (46)   Republican (8)

1846–1860

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Civil War era

Lieutenant governors of Confederate Louisiana

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Lieutenant governors of Union-held territory in Louisiana

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Resumption of U.S. statehood

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See also

References

  1. [1]
    Dawson 1990, p. xvii.
  2. [2]
    Dawson 1990, p. xvi.
  3. [3]
    "New Lieutenant Governor Role Seen". The Shreveport Times. Associated Press. August 27, 1975. p. 5-A.
  4. [4]
    Hill, John (July 6, 1986). "Money not only issue Legislature tackled". The Times. Gannett News Service. p. 12-B.
  5. [5]
    "Branches of Government : Executive Branch : Statewide Elected Officials". Louisiana.gov. Government of Louisiana. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  6. [6]
    Qualifications of Candidates 2022, p. 1.
  7. [7]
    Hargrave 2011, p. 75.
  8. [8]
    Hutchinson, Piper (June 21, 2023). "Louisiana's governor and lt. governor are out of the country. Who's running the state?". Louisiana Illuminator. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  9. [9]
    Hargrave 2011, p. 72.
  10. [10]
    "Branches of Government : Executive Branch : Officers". Louisiana.gov. Government of Louisiana. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  11. [11]
    Louisiana. Report of the Secretary of State to His Excellency W.W. Heard, Governor of the State of Louisiana. May 12th, 1902. [Baton Rouge]: Baton Rouge news Pub. Co., State printers, 1902. p 325
  12. [12]
    Calhoun, Milburn, and Bernie McGovern. Louisiana Almanac, 2002-2003 Edition. Gretna, LA: Pelican Pub. Co, 2001. PP 462-63
  13. [13]
    s:Louisiana State Constitution of 1852 The Constitution of 1852 shortened this term.
  14. [14]
    Hyde, Samuel C. Pistols and Politics: The Dilemma of Democracy in Louisiana's Florida Parishes, 1810-1899. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1998. p.71
  15. [15]
    Died in office
  16. [16]
    When William Wood Farmer died in office in 1854, Robert C. Wickliffe, as president pro temp, became lieutenant governor.
  17. [17]
    s:Louisiana State Constitution of 1852 The Constitution of 1852 Set this to in end in 1856
  18. [18]
    Resigned
  19. [19]
    When Charles Homer Mouton resigned from office, William F. Griffin, as president pro temp, became lieutenant governor.
  20. [20]
    Vacated the lieutenant governorship by trying to declare himself governor
  21. [21]
    As President pro tempore of the Senate became lieutenant governor when Paul N. Cyr vacated the lieutenant governorship
  22. [22]
    Became Governor on January 25, 1932

Works cited
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