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
Salary	$194,501
Website	http://www.in.gov/lg/

The lieutenant governor of Indiana is an important job in the state of Indiana. It's a position created by the state's constitution. The current lieutenant governor is Micah Beckwith, a Republican. He will start his job on January 13, 2025.

The lieutenant governor has several key roles. They lead the Indiana Senate, which is part of the state's lawmaking body. They also step in as acting governor if the governor can't do their job. If the governor resigns, dies, or is removed from office, the lieutenant governor becomes the new governor. Many lieutenant governors have become governor this way.

The lieutenant governor is chosen in the same election as the governor. This statewide election happens every four years. It takes place at the same time as the United States presidential elections. If the lieutenant governor's job becomes empty, the governor can now choose someone new. This choice must be approved by the state's lawmaking body. In the past, filling this job was tricky. In 1887, an attempt to fill a vacancy even led to a big argument in the state legislature. This event is known as the Black Day of the General Assembly.

Becoming Lieutenant Governor

The job of lieutenant governor was first created in August 1816. This happened when Indiana adopted its first state constitution. The first person to hold the job was chosen in an election that October. The rules for becoming lieutenant governor were updated in 1851.

To become lieutenant governor, a person must be a United States citizen. They must also have lived in Indiana for five years in a row before the election. Candidates must be at least 30 years old when they start the job. The lieutenant governor cannot hold any federal job while in office. They must quit any such job before being sworn in. Before starting, they take an oath of office. This is a promise to follow the laws and constitution of Indiana. The chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court usually gives this oath.

Stepping In for the Governor

Jesse D. Bright, who was a Lieutenant Governor and U.S. Senator from Indiana.

Oliver P. Morton, who served as Lieutenant Governor, Governor, and U.S. Senator for Indiana.

The lieutenant governor steps in as acting governor if the governor is unable to do their job. In Indiana's early days, lieutenant governors often served as acting governor. This happened when the governor was away from the state capital. Christopher Harrison was the first lieutenant governor to act as governor. He filled in while Governor Jonathan Jennings was away negotiating important treaties.

If the governor dies, 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. He left to become a congressman, and Ratliff Boon became governor.

If both the governor and lieutenant governor jobs become empty, the state constitution has a plan. The leader of the Senate, called the Senate president pro tempore, becomes governor. In the past, governors would sometimes formally appoint this person to act as lieutenant governor. This practice stopped in the early 1900s.

Even though the constitution didn't say how to fill an empty lieutenant governor spot, there was an attempt in 1887. When the person who won the election tried to take their seat, the Senate became very chaotic. This event was called the Black Day of the General Assembly. The lieutenant governor-elect was sworn in, but never actually took their seat. Today, if the lieutenant governor's job becomes empty, the governor can choose a replacement. This person must be approved by both parts of the state legislature.

What the Lieutenant Governor Does

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

The lieutenant governor has two main types of duties: constitutional and statutory.

Constitutional Duties

The lieutenant governor's most important job is to lead the Indiana Senate. In the Senate, they can talk about new laws and suggest ideas for laws. They can also vote to break a tie if the Senate is split on a decision. As the leader, 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.

Their second main job is to be ready to become governor if needed. If the lieutenant governor becomes governor, both their old job and their role as Senate leader become empty. The Senate president pro tempore then takes over these duties.

Statutory Duties

Many of the lieutenant governor's powers come from laws passed by the Indiana General Assembly. These are called statutory powers. The first extra powers were given in 1932. At that time, the lieutenant governor became the head of the state's farming commission. Since then, their powers have grown a lot.

Today, the lieutenant governor leads several important state offices and committees. These include the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. They also lead the Office of Energy and Defense Development, and the Office of Tourism Development. As the head of these groups, the lieutenant governor can appoint people to many jobs. For example, they choose members for the Corn Marketing Council and the Indiana Film Commission.

The lieutenant governor also serves on other important groups. These include the Natural Resources Committee and the Air Pollution Control Board. The state legislature sets the lieutenant governor's yearly salary. In 2007, it was $76,000.

List of Lieutenant Governors

There have been 53 lieutenant governors of Indiana since it became a state in 1816. These leaders have come from different political parties over the years. The first lieutenant governor was Christopher Harrison, who started in 1816. The current lieutenant governor is Suzanne Crouch, who has served since 2017. The next lieutenant governor will be Micah Beckwith, starting in 2025.

Images for kids

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  Christopher Harrison

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  Ratliff Boon

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  David Wallace

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  Jesse D. Bright

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  Paris C. Dunning

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  Jim Lane

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  Ashbel P. Willard

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  Abram A. Hammond

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  Oliver P. Morton

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  John R. Cravens

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  Conrad Baker

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  William Cumback

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  Leonidas Sexton

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  Isaac P. Gray

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  Mahlon Dickerson Manson

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  Robert S. Robertson

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  Ira Joy Chase

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  Francis M. Griffith

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  Mortimer Nye

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  William S. Haggard

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  Newton W. Gilbert

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  Emmett Forrest Branch

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  M. Clifford Townsend

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  Henry F. Schricker

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  Harold W. Handley

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  Crawford F. Parker

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  Robert D. Orr

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  John Mutz

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  Frank O'Bannon

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  Joe Kernan

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  Kathy Davis

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  Becky Skillman

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  Sue Ellspermann

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  Eric Holcomb

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  Suzanne Crouch