Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
The lieutenant governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The lieutenant governor is elected for a four-year term in the same year as the governor. Each party picks a candidate for lieutenant governor independently of the gubernatorial primary. The winners of the party primaries are then teamed together as a single ticket for the fall general election.[2] The lieutenant governor presides in the Pennsylvania State Senate and is first in the line of succession to the governor; in the event the governor dies, resigns, or otherwise leaves office, the lieutenant governor becomes governor.[3][4] The lieutenant governor casts tie breaking votes in the state senate.
| Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
 Flag of Pennsylvania | |
 | |
| Residence | State House |
| Term length | Four years, renewable once |
| Inaugural holder | John Latta |
| Formation | 1873 |
| Salary | $157,765 (2014)[1] |
| Website | ltgovernor.state.pa.us |
The office of lieutenant governor was created by the Constitution of 1873. As with the governor's position, the Constitution of 1968 made lieutenant governors eligible to succeed themselves for one additional four-year term.[5] The position's only official duties are serving as president of the state senate and chairing the Board of Pardons and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council. Lieutenant governors often work on additional projects and have a full schedule of community and speaking events.[6]
Until 2019, Pennsylvania was the only state that provided an official residence, State House at Fort Indiantown Gap, for its lieutenant governor.[6] Constructed in 1940 and previously the governor's "summer residence", it became available for Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor in 1968 when the current governor's residence was completed in Harrisburg.[5] It was transferred to the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs after legislation to do so passed in 2019.[7][8]
Austin Davis is the current lieutenant governor, having taken office on January 17, 2023.
List of lieutenant governors
edit- Parties
Democratic (11) Republican (24)
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List of acting lieutenant governors
edit- Jake Corman – From May 17, 2022, to May 23, 2022, Corman served as acting lieutenant governor while Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman had a pacemaker implanted and recovered.[9][10]
- Kim Ward – John Fetterman resigned as lieutenant governor to serve in the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2023, Ward served as acting lieutenant governor until January 17, 2023, when Lieutenant Governor-elect Austin Davis was sworn in.[11]
Vice-presidents of Pennsylvania
editFrom 1777 to 1790 the executive branch of Pennsylvania's state government was headed by a Supreme Executive Council consisting of a representative of each county and of the City of Philadelphia. The Vice President of the Council—also known as the Vice-President of Pennsylvania—held a position analogous to the modern office of lieutenant governor. Presidents and vice-presidents were elected to one-year terms and could serve up to three years—the full length of their regular term as Counsellor. Ten men served as Vice-President during the time of the Council's existence.
- George Bryan 1777–1779
- Matthew Smith 1779
- William Moore 1779–1781
- James Potter 1781–1782
- James Ewing 1782–1784
- James Irvine 1784–1785
- Charles Biddle 1785–1787
- Peter Muhlenberg 1787–1788
- David Redick 1788
- George Ross 1788–1790
References
edit- ^ Dawson, Mike (February 20, 2014). "Jay Paterno seeking election as Pa. lieutenant governor". Centre Daily Times. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ "Pennsylvania Election Process". The Morning Call. January 21, 2005. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ "The Constitution of Pennsylvania: Article IV §13 — When Lieutenant Governor to act as Governor". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
- ^ "The Constitution of Pennsylvania: Article IV §14 — Vacancy in office of Lieutenant Governor". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
- ^ a b "RG-64, Records of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Agency History". Pennsylvania State Archives. Archived from the original on November 22, 2002. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ^ a b Walmer, Daniel (April 21, 2017). "Pa. has US's only Lt. Gov. mansion. Is it worth the cost?". Lebanon Daily News. Gannett. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ Murphy, Jan (December 18, 2019). "Pa. lawmakers are looking to change the picking and the perks of future lieutenant governors". The Patriot-News. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
- ^ White, Jaxon (December 30, 2023). "Shapiro purchased automatic dog door, massage sofa and big-screen TVs for Governor's Residence". LNP. Retrieved March 15, 2024 – via WESA.
in 2019 the General Assembly gave the property at Fort Indiantown Gap to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
- ^ "Lt. Gov. Fetterman Submits Written Declaration to General Assembly" (Press Release). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania • The Governor. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
- ^ Vigna, Paul (May 18, 2022). "Jake Corman to temporarily take over as acting lieutenant governor". PennLive Patriot-News. Advanced Local Media LLC. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
- ^ Micek, John L. (January 3, 2023). "The Pa. Legislature returns: Three storylines to follow today | Tuesday Morning Coffee". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Retrieved January 3, 2023.