Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
Encyclopedia
The Lieutenant Governor of Illinois is the second highest executive of the State of Illinois
. In Illinois, the lieutenant governor and governor
run on a joint ticket, and are directly elected by popular vote. Candidates for lieutenant governor run separately in the primary from candidates for governor. When the Governor of Illinois
becomes unable to discharge the duties of that office, the lieutenant governor becomes acting governor. If the Governor dies, resigns or is removed from office, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. Under the Illinois Constitution
, the Attorney General
, currently Lisa Madigan
, is next in line of succession
to the Governor's office after the lieutenant governor, but does not succeed to the Lieutenant Governor's office. Historically, the lieutenant governor has been from either the Democratic Party or Republican Party. As of January 10, 2011, the lieutenant governor is Sheila Simon
.
Coordinating Council.
In addition to these duties, the lieutenant governor can take on other duties as assigned by the governor or initiate duties of his or her own. An example of this is work by former Lt. Gov. Corrine Wood on women's health issues. The lieutenant governor also serves as a surrogate speaker for the governor around the state and as a representative for state government. The lieutenant governor is a member of the National Lieutenant Governors Association
.
Prior to the adoption of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, the lieutenant governor also served as the President of the Senate
. Losing this position made the lieutenant governor's job less significant, and contributed to the "boredom" cited by Jim Thompson
's first lieutenant governor, Dave O'Neal
, who resigned from the office on July 31, 1981.
Under the Illinois state Constitution Article V section 7. "If the Lieutenant Governor fails to qualify or if his office becomes vacant, it shall remain vacant until the end of the term." Illinois thus had no Lieutenant Governor during the two-year interim between Pat Quinn
's elevation to the Governor's office upon Rod Blagojevich
's impeachment
conviction, and Sheila Simon's election and inauguration as Lieutenant Governor.
Like the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor has suites of offices in both Springfield and Chicago.
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. In Illinois, the lieutenant governor and governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
run on a joint ticket, and are directly elected by popular vote. Candidates for lieutenant governor run separately in the primary from candidates for governor. When the Governor of Illinois
Governor of Illinois
The Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state....
becomes unable to discharge the duties of that office, the lieutenant governor becomes acting governor. If the Governor dies, resigns or is removed from office, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. Under the Illinois Constitution
Illinois Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Illinois is the governing document of the state of Illinois. There have been four Illinois Constitutions; the fourth and current version was adopted in 1970.-History:...
, the Attorney General
Illinois Attorney General
The Illinois Attorney General is the highest legal officer of the state of Illinois in the United States. Originally an appointed office, it is now an office filled by election through universal suffrage...
, currently Lisa Madigan
Lisa Madigan
Lisa Madigan has been the 41st Attorney General of the US state of Illinois since 2003, when she became the first female attorney general for Illinois...
, is next in line of succession
Order of succession
An order of succession is a formula or algorithm that determines who inherits an office upon the death, resignation, or removal of its current occupant.-Monarchies and nobility:...
to the Governor's office after the lieutenant governor, but does not succeed to the Lieutenant Governor's office. Historically, the lieutenant governor has been from either the Democratic Party or Republican Party. As of January 10, 2011, the lieutenant governor is Sheila Simon
Sheila Simon
Sheila J. Simon is an American politician and educator who is the 46th and current Lieutenant Governor of the state of Illinois. She was a Professor of Law at the Southern Illinois University School of Law. Simon is the daughter of former U.S...
.
Duties
The lieutenant governor of Illinois handles a variety of responsibilities which have been delegated to the office via statute. These duties include serving as Chairman of the Governor's Rural Affairs Council, Chairman of Rural Bond Bank of Illinois, head of the Illinois Main Street Program, and Chairman of the Illinois RiverIllinois River
The Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the State of Illinois. The river drains a large section of central Illinois, with a drainage basin of . This river was important among Native Americans and early French traders as the principal water route...
Coordinating Council.
In addition to these duties, the lieutenant governor can take on other duties as assigned by the governor or initiate duties of his or her own. An example of this is work by former Lt. Gov. Corrine Wood on women's health issues. The lieutenant governor also serves as a surrogate speaker for the governor around the state and as a representative for state government. The lieutenant governor is a member of the National Lieutenant Governors Association
National Lieutenant Governors Association
The National Lieutenant Governors Association is the non-profit, nonpartisan professional association for elected or appointed officials who are first in line of succession to the governors in the 50 U.S. states and the five organized territories...
.
Prior to the adoption of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, the lieutenant governor also served as the President of the Senate
President of the Illinois Senate
This is a complete list of the Presidents of the Illinois Senate as of 2007. Each was chosen since the Illinois General Assembly's thirty-second session in 1881. Prior to 1973, the Senate was led by the Lieutenant Governor and so the elected officers listed, until then, were known as President pro...
. Losing this position made the lieutenant governor's job less significant, and contributed to the "boredom" cited by Jim Thompson
James R. Thompson
James Robert Thompson, Jr. , also known as Big Jim Thompson, was the 37th and longest serving Governor of the US state of Illinois...
's first lieutenant governor, Dave O'Neal
Dave O'Neal
David C. O’Neal was the 41st Lieutenant Governor of Illinois from 1977 to 1981. For six years he served as Saint Clair County Sheriff, the first Republican to hold that office in twenty years.-Background:...
, who resigned from the office on July 31, 1981.
Under the Illinois state Constitution Article V section 7. "If the Lieutenant Governor fails to qualify or if his office becomes vacant, it shall remain vacant until the end of the term." Illinois thus had no Lieutenant Governor during the two-year interim between Pat Quinn
Pat Quinn (politician)
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Quinn III is the 41st and current Governor of Illinois. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Previously elected three times to statewide office, Quinn was the sitting lieutenant governor and became governor on January 29, 2009, when the previous governor, Rod Blagojevich,...
's elevation to the Governor's office upon Rod Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich
Rod R. Blagojevich is an American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago...
's impeachment
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
conviction, and Sheila Simon's election and inauguration as Lieutenant Governor.
Like the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor has suites of offices in both Springfield and Chicago.
Qualifications
The Lieutenant Governor of Illinois serves four-year terms. Inauguration takes place on the second Monday in January following a gubernatorial election. A lieutenant governor is- required to be at least twenty-five years old,
- required to be a United States citizen,
- required to have been a resident of Illinois for the three years previous to election,
- barred from other government positions during the term.