Secretary of State of New Jersey
Encyclopedia
The Secretary of State of New Jersey is responsible for overseeing artistic
, cultural, and historical programs
within the U.S. state
of New Jersey
, as well as volunteerism and community service
projects within the state.
The New Jersey Division of Archives and Records Management, sometimes referred to simply as the "State Archives", is also under the authority of the Secretary of State. The State Archives is the repository for all vital statistics
, including marriage
and divorce
records and birth certificate
s, and also maintains a separate set of files for the registry of wills
. The Secretary of State oversees the Division of Tourism and the Division of Elections, and sets all tourism and election policy.
The Secretary is the Chief Elections Officer of New Jersey. Prior to April 1, 2008, the electoral division was under the New Jersey Attorney General
.
In New Jersey, registry of corporation
s is not the responsibility of the Secretary of State. The New Jersey Department of the Treasury
is responsible for the maintenance of corporate records.
In New Jersey, the Secretary of State serves a term of office concurrent with the that of the Governor
. Although the conventional wisdom is that the Secretary of State cannot be removed from office except "for cause" by the Governor or by way of legislative impeachment, a recent law review article argues that the Governor does not have the authority to remove the Secretary of State "for cause," and this issue has not been tested.
The current Secretary of State is Kim Guadagno
, who is simultaneously the state's Lieutenant Governor
.
New Jersey State Council on the Arts
The New Jersey State Council on the Arts was founded in 1966 to support artistic activities in the state of New Jersey. It is funded by the New Jersey State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts ....
, cultural, and historical programs
New Jersey Historical Commission
The New Jersey Historical Commission is a government agency of the U.S. state of New Jersey that is responsible for "preserving the historical record and advancing interest in and awareness of New Jersey's past."...
within the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, as well as volunteerism and community service
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
projects within the state.
The New Jersey Division of Archives and Records Management, sometimes referred to simply as the "State Archives", is also under the authority of the Secretary of State. The State Archives is the repository for all vital statistics
Vital statistics
Vital statistics are the information maintained by a government, recording the birth and death of individuals within that government's jurisdiction. These data are used by public health programs to evaluate how effective their programs are...
, including marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
and divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
records and birth certificate
Birth certificate
A birth certificate is a vital record that documents the birth of a child. The term "birth certificate" can refer to either the original document certifying the circumstances of the birth or to a certified copy of or representation of the ensuing registration of that birth...
s, and also maintains a separate set of files for the registry of wills
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
. The Secretary of State oversees the Division of Tourism and the Division of Elections, and sets all tourism and election policy.
The Secretary is the Chief Elections Officer of New Jersey. Prior to April 1, 2008, the electoral division was under the New Jersey Attorney General
New Jersey Attorney General
The Attorney General of New Jersey is a member of the executive cabinet of the state. The office is appointed by the Governor of New Jersey and term limited...
.
In New Jersey, registry of corporation
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
s is not the responsibility of the Secretary of State. The New Jersey Department of the Treasury
New Jersey Department of the Treasury
The mission of the New Jersey Department of the Treasury is to formulate and manage the state's budget, generate and collect revenues, disburse the appropriations used to operate New Jersey state government, manage the state's physical and financial assets, and provide statewide support services to...
is responsible for the maintenance of corporate records.
In New Jersey, the Secretary of State serves a term of office concurrent with the that of the Governor
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
. Although the conventional wisdom is that the Secretary of State cannot be removed from office except "for cause" by the Governor or by way of legislative impeachment, a recent law review article argues that the Governor does not have the authority to remove the Secretary of State "for cause," and this issue has not been tested.
The current Secretary of State is Kim Guadagno
Kim Guadagno
Kim Guadagno is the first Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey, having won the 2009 election as the running mate of Governor Chris Christie. She is also concurrently the Secretary of State of New Jersey.-Early life:...
, who is simultaneously the state's Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey
The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is a position that has existed since January 2010, following conjoint election with the Governor of New Jersey. The position was created as the result of a Constitutional amendment to the New Jersey State Constitution passed by the voters on November 8, 2005...
.
List of office holders
Holders of the office of Secretary of State include:- Charles PettitCharles PettitCharles Pettit was an American lawyer and merchant from New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He served as a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Confederation Congress from 1785 to 1787.-Biography:...
, 1776-1778 - Bowes ReedBowes ReedBowes Reed was a Revolutionary officer, politician, and public servant from New Jersey. He was the brother of Joseph Reed, a member of the Continental Congress and President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania .-Early life and career:Reed was born in 1740 in Trenton, New Jersey to...
, 1778-1794 - Samuel W. StocktonSamuel W. StocktonSamuel Witham Stockton was an American lawyer, diplomat and public servant who served as Secretary of State of New Jersey from 1794 to 1795.-Biography:...
, 1794-1795 - John BeattyJohn Beatty (delegate)John Beatty was an American physician and statesman from Princeton, New Jersey.-Biography:Born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, he rose to the rank of major in the 6th Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He was captured at the surrender of Fort...
, 1795-1805 - James LinnJames LinnJames Linn was a United States Representative from New Jersey. Born in Bedminster Township, he pursued preparatory studies and graduated from Princeton College in 1769. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1772 and commenced practice in Trenton...
, 1805-1820 - Daniel Coleman, 1820-1830
- James D. Westcott, 1830-1840
- Charles G. McChesney, 1840-1851
- Thomas S. Allison, 1851-1861
- Whitfield S. Johnson, 1861-1866
- Horace N. Congar, 1866-1870
- Henry C. Kelsey, 1870-1897
- George Wurts, 1897-1902
- Samuel D. Dickinson, 1902-1912
- David S. Crater, 1912-1915
- Thomas F. Martin, 1915-1926
- Joseph F. S. Fitzpatrick, 1926-1931
- Thomas A. Mathis, 1931-1941
- Joseph A. Brophy, 1941-1946
- Lloyd B. MarshLloyd B. MarshLloyd Bertram Marsh was an American Republican Party politician who served as Secretary of State of New Jersey and Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee....
, 1946-1954 - Edward J. PattenEdward J. PattenEdward James Patten was an American lawyer and politician. Patten, a Democrat, represented the now-redistricted New Jersey's 15th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for seventeen years, lasting from 1963 until 1980.-Background:Patten was born and attended public...
, 1954-1962 - Robert J. BurkhardtRobert J. BurkhardtRobert James Burkhardt was an American Democratic Party politician who served as Secretary of State of New Jersey and chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee....
, 1962-1970 - Paul J. Sherwin, 1970-1972
- Robert M. Falcey (acting), 1972-1974
- J. Edward Crabiel, 1974-1977
- Francis J. Carragher (acting), 1977
- George W. LeeGeorge W. Lee (New Jersey)George W. Lee is an American Democratic Party politician, who served as Acting Secretary of State of New Jersey in 1977.Lee, who had also served as Burlington County Democratic chairman, pleaded guilty to breaking election laws during Governor of New Jersey Brendan Byrne's 1977 re-election...
(acting), 1977 - Donald LanDonald LanDonald Lan is an American Democratic Party politician who served as Secretary of State of New Jersey from 1977 to 1982. He was appointed to the post by Governor Brendan Byrne...
, 1977-1982 - Jane BurgioJane BurgioJane Grey Burgio , an American Republican politician, served as Secretary of State of New Jersey and as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly.-Biography:...
, 1982-1990 - Joan Haberle, 1990-1992
- Daniel DaltonDaniel DaltonDaniel Anthony Thomas Dalton is a former English cricketer. Dalton was a right-handed batsman who bowled left-arm medium pace...
, 1992-1994 - Lonna HooksLonna HooksLonna Hooks is the former Secretary of State of New Jersey. She served for four years in the Cabinet of former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman...
, 1994-1998 - DeForest SoariesDeForest SoariesReverend DeForest Blake "Buster" Soaries, Jr. is an African-American Baptist minister, Republican Party politician, author and public advocate, from Montclair, New Jersey. He is the former Secretary of State of New Jersey and former chairman of the federal Election Assistance Commission...
, 1998-2001 - Regena ThomasRegena ThomasRegena Thomas is the former Secretary of State of New Jersey and a political consultant. She served in the cabinets of former Gov. James McGreevey and former Gov. Richard Codey....
, 2002-2006 - Nina Mitchell WellsNina Mitchell WellsNina Mitchell Wells is a former Secretary of State of New Jersey. She served in the cabinet of Governor Jon Corzine. Prior to assuming her cabinet post in January 2006, Wells served as a vice president at Schering-Plough and as an assistant dean at Rutgers School of Law—Newark...
, 2006-2010 - Lt. Governor Kim GuadagnoKim GuadagnoKim Guadagno is the first Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey, having won the 2009 election as the running mate of Governor Chris Christie. She is also concurrently the Secretary of State of New Jersey.-Early life:...
, 2010-