Lieutenant Governor of Indiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lieutenant Governor of Indiana
Seal of Indiana
Incumbent Micah Beckwith since January 13, 2025
Government of Indiana
Style	Mr Lieutenant Governor
Term length	4 years, no term limits
Inaugural holder	Christopher Harrison November 7, 1816
Formation	Constitution of Indiana 1816
Succession	First
Salary	$194,501
Website	http://www.in.gov/lg/

The lieutenant governor of Indiana is an important elected official in the US state of Indiana. This job is set up by the state's constitution. The current lieutenant governor is Micah Beckwith, a Republican. He started his term on January 13, 2025.

The lieutenant governor has several key roles. They lead the Indiana Senate, which is part of the state's law-making body. They also step in as acting governor if the governor cannot do their job. If the governor leaves office (for example, by resigning or passing away), the lieutenant governor becomes the new governor. In Indiana's history, ten lieutenant governors have become governor this way.

Besides these main duties, the lieutenant governor also helps manage state departments. They lead groups focused on farming and rural areas. They also chair several state committees that work on different issues.

The lieutenant governor is chosen by voters across the state. They run for office on the same election ticket as the governor. This election happens every four years, at the same time as US presidential elections. If the lieutenant governor's office becomes empty, the governor can choose someone new. This person must then be approved by the state legislature.

Becoming Lieutenant Governor

The job of lieutenant governor was first created in August 1816. This happened when Indiana adopted its very first constitution. The first person to hold the job was elected in October of that year. The rules for becoming lieutenant governor today were set in Indiana's second constitution, which was adopted in 1851.

To become lieutenant governor, a person must meet certain requirements. They must be a United States citizen. They also need to have lived in Indiana for five years in a row before the election. Candidates must be at least thirty years old when they officially start the job.

A lieutenant governor cannot hold any federal government job while serving. They must quit any such job before being sworn in. Before taking office, the person must promise to follow Indiana's constitution and laws. This promise is called an oath of office. The chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court usually leads this oath.

What Happens if the Governor Can't Serve?

Jesse D. Bright was a Lieutenant Governor and US Senator from Indiana.

Oliver P. Morton served as Lieutenant Governor, Governor, and US Senator for Indiana.

The lieutenant governor steps in as acting governor if the governor is unable to perform their duties. In the early days of Indiana, lieutenant governors would often serve as acting governor when the governor was away from the capital city. For example, Christopher Harrison was the first lieutenant governor to act as governor. This happened while Governor Jonathan Jennings was away negotiating important agreements.

If a governor passes away, becomes permanently unable to serve, resigns, or is removed from office, the lieutenant governor becomes the new governor. This has happened ten times in Indiana's history. The first time was when Governor Jonathan Jennings resigned to become a congressman. Ratliff Boon then became governor.

If both the governor and lieutenant governor positions become empty, the state constitution has a plan. The leader of the Senate, called the president pro tempore, would then become governor.

What Does the Lieutenant Governor Do?

Leading the Senate

The Indiana Statehouse is where the Lieutenant Governor's office is located.

One of the lieutenant governor's main jobs is to lead the Indiana Senate. This is a very important part of the state's government. In the Senate, the lieutenant governor can talk about new laws and even suggest new laws. They can also vote to break a tie if the Senate is split on a decision.

As the leader of the Senate, the lieutenant governor helps decide which laws will be discussed. They also influence the Senate's schedule. The Senate usually meets for no more than 91 days every two years. This means the lieutenant governor has other duties for the rest of the year.

Taking Over as Governor

The second main job of the lieutenant governor is to be ready to become governor. This happens if the governor's office becomes empty. If a lieutenant governor becomes governor, then the lieutenant governor's job and the role of leading the Senate become open. The Senate president pro tempore then takes over these duties.

Other Important Roles

The Indiana General Assembly has given the lieutenant governor many other responsibilities. These extra duties started in 1932. That's when the lieutenant governor was made the head of the state's farming commission.

Since then, the lieutenant governor's powers have grown. They now lead several important state offices and groups. These include the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, which helps small towns and farming areas. They also lead the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, which helps with housing. Other roles include leading the Office of Energy and Defense Development and the Office of Tourism Development.

As the head of these groups, the lieutenant governor gets to choose many people for different jobs. For example, they appoint members to groups like the Corn Marketing Council and the Indiana Film Commission.

The lieutenant governor also helps out on other state committees. These include groups that deal with natural resources, air pollution, and water pollution.

The Indiana General Assembly decides how much the lieutenant governor earns each year. In 2007, the salary was $76,000.

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