kids encyclopedia robot

Lieutenant Governor of Illinois facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
Seal of Illinois.svg
Great Seal of the State of Illinois
Juliana Stratton 2023 (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Juliana Stratton
since January 14, 2019
Government of Illinois
Term length 4 years, no term limits
Inaugural holder Pierre Menard
Formation 1818
Succession First
Salary $139,200

The lieutenant governor of Illinois is the second most important leader in the State of Illinois government. Think of them as the governor's main helper. In Illinois, the lieutenant governor and the governor run for office together. This means people vote for them as a team.

Candidates for governor choose their running mates (the person they want as lieutenant governor) before the election. They appear on the ballot together. If the governor of Illinois cannot do their job, the lieutenant governor steps in as acting governor. If the governor leaves office for good, the lieutenant governor becomes the new governor. The current lieutenant governor is Juliana Stratton, who is a Democrat.

Before 1970, governors and lieutenant governors were elected separately. This sometimes led to them being from different political parties. Now, they run together to make sure they can work as a team.

What the Lieutenant Governor Does

The lieutenant governor of Illinois has many important jobs. These jobs are given to them by state laws.

Key Responsibilities

Some of their main duties include:

  • Leading the Governor's Rural Affairs Council. This group helps people in the countryside.
  • Being in charge of the Rural Bond Bank of Illinois. This bank helps rural areas get money for projects.
  • Leading the Illinois Main Street Program. This program helps improve downtown areas.
  • Chairing the Illinois River Coordinating Council. This group works to protect the Illinois River.

Other Important Tasks

The lieutenant governor can also take on other tasks. The governor might ask them to work on specific projects. Or, the lieutenant governor can start their own projects. For example, former Lt. Gov. Corrine Wood worked on women's health issues. The lieutenant governor also travels around the state. They speak for the governor and represent the state government. They are also part of the National Lieutenant Governors Association. This is a group for lieutenant governors across the country.

Before 1970, the lieutenant governor also led the Illinois Senate. Losing this role made the job seem less important to some. For example, Dave O'Neal resigned in 1981 because he found the job boring.

If the lieutenant governor's office becomes empty, it stays empty until the next election. This happened when Pat Quinn became governor. The office was empty until Sheila Simon was elected.

The lieutenant governor has offices in both Springfield and Chicago. These are the two main cities where state government work happens.

How to Become Lieutenant Governor

To be the lieutenant governor of Illinois, a person must meet certain requirements. They serve for four years. The new lieutenant governor starts their term in January after the election.

Qualifications Needed

To qualify, a person must be:

  • At least 25 years old.
  • A citizen of the United States.
  • A resident of Illinois for at least three years before the election.
  • They cannot hold other government jobs while serving as lieutenant governor.

Images for kids

  • Pierre Menard

    Pierre Menard, the first Lieutenant Governor of Illinois.

  • ZadokCasey

    Zadok Casey

  • William Lee Davidson Ewing bioguide

    William Lee D. Ewing

  • Gustav-Koerner

    Gustavus Koerner

  • John.Wood

    John Wood

  • Hoffmann photo 1860s

    Francis Hoffmann

  • William Bross

    William Bross

  • Painting of Lt. Governor John Dougherty

    John Dougherty

  • John.L.Beveridge.1 (1)

    John Lourie Beveridge

  • John Early Illinois

    John Early

  • Andrew Shuman (1830–1890)

    Andrew Shuman

  • John.Marshall.Hamilton

    John Marshall Hamilton

  • William J. Campbell

    William J. Campbell

  • Reception to the members of the Ninety-sixth Regiment, Illinois Infantry Volunteers (1893) (14762787595)

    John Smith

  • Lyman Beecher Ray

    Lyman Ray

  • Joseph B. Gill (page 10 crop)

    Joseph B. Gill

  • William Northcott

    William Northcott

  • The Forum (1919) (14781691365)

    Lawrence Sherman

  • John G. Oglesby 2 (1)

    John G. Oglesby

  • O'HARA, BARRATT LT. GOV. LCCN2016859345 (1)

    Barratt O'Hara

  • Fred E. Sterling - 3409861149 (3x4)

    Fred E. Sterling

  • Thomas F. Donovan 12818 (3x4)

    Thomas Donovan

  • John H. Stelle (IL)

    John H. Stelle

  • Hugh W. Cross, circa 1945 (3x4)

    Hugh W. Cross

  • Sherwood Dixon 1949 (3x4)

    Sherwood Dixon

  • John William Chapman 1953 (3x4)

    John William Chapman

  • Samuel H. Shapiro (IL)

    Samuel Shapiro

  • Paul Simon (US Senator from Illinois) (1)

    Paul Simon

  • Attorney General Neil Hartigan (cropped)

    Neil Hartigan

  • Dave O’Neal

    Dave O'Neal

  • George Ryan, 1989(crop)

    George Ryan

  • Kustra Navy Week 2016 Cropped

    Bob Kustra

  • PatQuinnin2006 (a)

    Pat Quinn

  • Sheila Simon (a)

    Sheila Simon

  • Evelyn Sanguinetti 2015 (cropped)

    Evelyn Sanguinetti

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Lieutenant Governor of Illinois Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.