Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
The Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin is the first person in the order of succession
of Wisconsin
's executive branch, thus serving as governor in the event of the death, resignation, removal, impeachment
, absence from the state, or incapacity due to illness of the Governor of Wisconsin
. The position was first filled by John Edwin Holmes
on June 7, 1848, the year that Wisconsin became a state.
The current lieutenant governor is Rebecca Kleefisch
who was elected in 2010. Her term is scheduled to last until 2015, and she is not term limit
ed.
merely stated that in the event of the governor's death, resignation, removal from office, impeachment
, absence from the state or incapacity due to illness, "the powers and duties of the office [of Governor of Wisconsin] shall devolve upon the lieutenant governor". Lieutenant governors who served as governor during this period are referred to as "acting governor
s". In 1979, the constitution was amended
to make this more specific: in the event of the governor's death, resignation, or removal from office, the lieutenant governor becomes governor; in the event of the governor's impeachment, absence, or incapacity, the lieutenant governor becomes acting governor until the governor is again able to serve.
from the governor; because of this, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin have not always been of the same party
. After a 1967 amendment, however, the two have been nominated, and voted upon, as a single ticket. The 1967 amendment also increased the terms of both the governor and lieutenant governor to four years. There is no limit
to the number of terms a lieutenant governor may hold.
, Governor Philip La Follette
appointed Herman Ekern
lieutenant governor to fill the vacancy. This appointment was challenged in court, and ruled valid in the case State ex rel. Martin v. Ekern. In 1979 the constitution was amended to explicitly allow this: in the event of a vacancy in the office of the lieutenant governor, the governor nominates a candidate who becomes lieutenant governor for the remainder of the term upon his approval by the Wisconsin Assembly and Wisconsin State Senate
.
. He may also choose to resign from office. No lieutenant governor has ever been impeached; two have resigned.
Originally, the lieutenant governor also presided over the state senate
and cast a vote in the event of a tie; however, after an amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution
in 1979, the senate chooses a senator to be presiding officer.
in 1848, two of whom—Warren Knowles
and Jack Olson
—have served for non-consecutive terms.
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:...
of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
's executive branch, thus serving as governor in the event of the death, resignation, removal, 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....
, absence from the state, or incapacity due to illness of the Governor of Wisconsin
Governor of Wisconsin
The Governor of Wisconsin is the highest executive authority in the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The position was first filled by Nelson Dewey on June 7, 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state...
. The position was first filled by John Edwin Holmes
John Edwin Holmes
John Edwin Holmes was the first Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin. He was born in Glastonbury, Connecticut. He was ordained a Universalist minister in 1833 and preached for a short time in Michigan and Ohio. He soon began to study law in Illinois and joined the Democratic Party...
on June 7, 1848, the year that Wisconsin became a state.
The current lieutenant governor is Rebecca Kleefisch
Rebecca Kleefisch
Rebecca Kleefisch is a former television news anchor, turned American politician, and is currently serving as the 44th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin...
who was elected in 2010. Her term is scheduled to last until 2015, and she is not term limit
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
ed.
Succession to the governorship
Until 1979, the Wisconsin ConstitutionWisconsin Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Wisconsin is the governing document of the U.S. State of Wisconsin. It establishes the structure and function of state government, describes the state boundaries, and declares the rights of state citizens...
merely stated that in the event of the governor's death, resignation, removal from office, 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....
, absence from the state or incapacity due to illness, "the powers and duties of the office [of Governor of Wisconsin] shall devolve upon the lieutenant governor". Lieutenant governors who served as governor during this period are referred to as "acting governor
Acting governor
An acting governor is a constitutional position created in some U.S. states when the governor dies in office or resigns. In some states, the governor may also be declared to be incapacitated and unable to function for various reasons, including illness and absence from the state for more than a...
s". In 1979, the constitution was amended
Constitutional amendment
A constitutional amendment is a formal change to the text of the written constitution of a nation or state.Most constitutions require that amendments cannot be enacted unless they have passed a special procedure that is more stringent than that required of ordinary legislation...
to make this more specific: in the event of the governor's death, resignation, or removal from office, the lieutenant governor becomes governor; in the event of the governor's impeachment, absence, or incapacity, the lieutenant governor becomes acting governor until the governor is again able to serve.
Lieutenant gubernatorial elections and term of office
Under the original terms of the state constitution, the lieutenant governor was elected for a two-year term on a separate ticketTicket (election)
A ticket refers to a single election choice which fills more than one political office or seat. For example, in the U.S., the candidates for President and Vice President run on the same "ticket", because they are elected together on a single ballot question rather than separately.A ticket can also...
from the governor; because of this, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin have not always been of the same party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
. After a 1967 amendment, however, the two have been nominated, and voted upon, as a single ticket. The 1967 amendment also increased the terms of both the governor and lieutenant governor to four years. There is no limit
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
to the number of terms a lieutenant governor may hold.
Vacancy
The original constitution made no provision for a vacancy in the office of the lieutenant governor; in the event of the lieutenant governor's death, resignation, or service as acting governor, the lieutenant governorship usually remained vacant until the end of the term. In 1938, following the resignation of lieutenant governor Henry GundersonHenry Gunderson
Henry A. Gunderson was a Wisconsin politician who served as the Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin.Henry A. Gunderson was born in Columbia County, Wisconsin in 1878, the son of Norwegian immigrants. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1900, and in 1903 he received a law degree...
, Governor Philip La Follette
Philip La Follette
Philip Fox La Follette was an American politician from the US state of Wisconsin. He served three terms as the Governor of Wisconsin and helped create the Wisconsin Progressive Party.-Early life and family:...
appointed Herman Ekern
Herman Ekern
Herman L. Ekern was a Wisconsin politician who served as Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin. He was one of the founders of Lutheran Brotherhood.-Background:...
lieutenant governor to fill the vacancy. This appointment was challenged in court, and ruled valid in the case State ex rel. Martin v. Ekern. In 1979 the constitution was amended to explicitly allow this: in the event of a vacancy in the office of the lieutenant governor, the governor nominates a candidate who becomes lieutenant governor for the remainder of the term upon his approval by the Wisconsin Assembly and Wisconsin State Senate
Wisconsin State Senate
The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly...
.
Removal
A lieutenant governor may be removed from office through an impeachement trialImpeachment
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....
. He may also choose to resign from office. No lieutenant governor has ever been impeached; two have resigned.
Lieutenant gubernatorial powers
If the governor appoints the lieutenant governor to a statutory board, committee or commission on which he is entitled membership as his representative, the lieutenant governor has all the authority in that position that would be granted the governor.Originally, the lieutenant governor also presided over the state senate
Wisconsin State Senate
The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly...
and cast a vote in the event of a tie; however, after an amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution
Wisconsin Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Wisconsin is the governing document of the U.S. State of Wisconsin. It establishes the structure and function of state government, describes the state boundaries, and declares the rights of state citizens...
in 1979, the senate chooses a senator to be presiding officer.
Lieutenant gubernatorial facts
Forty-one individuals have held the office of lieutenant governor since Wisconsin's admission to the UnionUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1848, two of whom—Warren Knowles
Warren P. Knowles
Warren Perley Knowles , born in River Falls, Wisconsin, was an American lawyer and politician from New Richmond, Wisconsin.-Biography:...
and Jack Olson
Jack B. Olson
Jack B. Olson was an American businessman, politician, and Republican from the U.S. state of Wisconsin.Olson was born in Kilbourn in Columbia County, Wisconsin on August 29, 1920, to Jane Zimmerman Olson and Grover Olson. He graduated from Wisconsin Dells High School and attended Western Michigan...
—have served for non-consecutive terms.