Lieutenant Governor of California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lieutenant Governor of California |
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| Government of California | |
| Style | Madam Lieutenant Governor (Informal) The Honorable (Formal) Madam President (When presiding over California Senate) |
| Member of | Constitutional California State Senate Statutory California Community Colleges Board of Governors California State Lands Commission California State University Board of Trustees University of California Board of Regents |
| Residence | None official |
| Seat | Sacramento, California California State Capitol |
| Appointer | Popular vote |
| Term length | Four years, renewable once |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of California |
| Inaugural holder | John McDougal 1849 |
| Succession | First (gubernatorial line of succession) |
| Salary | $130,490 |
The Lieutenant Governor of California is an important leader in the California government. They are the second-highest executive officer, right after the Governor. People vote for the Lieutenant Governor, who serves a four-year term. They can be elected for a maximum of two terms.
Their main jobs include stepping in as acting Governor if the Governor is away. They also lead the California State Senate meetings. The Lieutenant Governor also helps make decisions for many state groups and agencies.
California is one of 17 states where the Governor and Lieutenant Governor are elected separately. This means they don't run as a team. Because of this, California often has a Governor and a Lieutenant Governor from different political parties.
California has had 41 Lieutenant Governors since it became a state in 1850. The current Lieutenant Governor is Eleni Kounalakis, a Democrat. She started her term on January 7, 2019. She is the first woman ever elected to this important job in California.
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What Does the Lieutenant Governor Do?
The Lieutenant Governor is a very important leader in California. Their main duties involve helping with the state's government and its future. They focus on key areas like education, natural resources, and growing the economy.
Leading the State Senate
The California Constitution says the Lieutenant Governor is the president of the California State Senate. This means they lead meetings in the Senate. They also step in as acting Governor when the Governor is out of California. When acting as Governor, they can sign laws or make important appointments.
Usually, the Lieutenant Governor only leads Senate meetings when asked. They also mostly handle routine tasks when the Governor is away. This is part of an agreement to keep things running smoothly.
Helping Higher Education
The Lieutenant Governor plays a big role in California's colleges and universities. They are the only elected official who helps make policies for the entire higher education system.
They are a full voting member on several important boards. These include the Board of Regents of the University of California. They also serve on the Board of Trustees of California State University. Plus, they are on the Board of Governors of the California Community College System.
Protecting Natural Resources
The Lieutenant Governor is also part of the California State Lands Commission. This group manages a lot of California's land and water. This includes school trust lands and public trust lands like riverbeds and bays.
The Lieutenant Governor and the state controller take turns leading this commission each year. When the Lieutenant Governor is the chair, they also help protect the ocean.
Boosting California's Economy
The Lieutenant Governor leads the Commission for Economic Development. This group works to help California's economy grow. They try to bring new businesses to the state. They also work to increase exports and create new jobs. This helps make California's industries stronger.
Other Important Tasks
The Lieutenant Governor also helps with other special projects. These projects are often created by the Governor or through public votes. For example, the Lieutenant Governor serves on a task force that helps with agriculture and water issues. They also appoint some members to a committee that oversees stem cell research in California.
See also
- List of lieutenant governors of California
- List of current United States lieutenant governors
- Impeachment in California
