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The '''Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey''' is a political position in the [[executive branch]] of the [[Government of New Jersey|state government]] of [[New Jersey]] that has existed since January 2010. It is the second highest-ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a [[Ticket (election)|ticket]] with the [[Governor of New Jersey|governor]] for a four-year term. The position was created as the result of a [[constitutional amendment]] to the [[New Jersey State Constitution]] that was passed by a voter referendum on November 8, 2005. While the amendment itself took effect as of January 17, 2006, and made some interim changes to the succession to the governorship, the first [[Lieutenant governor (United States)|lieutenant governor]] was not elected until the next gubernatorial election held on November 3, 2009. Republican [[Kim Guadagno]] is the first to serve in the post, as she was chosen by Governor [[Chris Christie]] to be his running-mate in 2009 election.
The '''Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey''' is a political position in the [[executive branch]] of the [[Government of New Jersey|state government]] of [[New Jersey]] that has existed since January 2010. It is the second highest-ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a [[Ticket (election)|ticket]] with the [[Governor of New Jersey|governor]] for a four-year term. The position was created as the result of a [[constitutional amendment]] to the [[New Jersey State Constitution]] that was passed by a voter referendum on November 8, 2005. While the amendment itself took effect as of January 17, 2006, and made some interim changes to the succession to the governorship, the first [[Lieutenant governor (United States)|lieutenant governor]] was not elected until the next gubernatorial election held on November 3, 2009. Republican [[Kim Guadagno]] is the first to serve in the post, as she was chosen by Governor [[Chris Christie]] to be his running-mate in 2009 election.


==History==
⚫
Previously, only two individuals have held the post of Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey—both during the colonial period. The first, [[Richard Ingoldesby]] (d. 1719) was appointed the Lieutenant Governor to [[Edward Hyde, 3rd Earl of Clarendon|Edward Hyde, Lord Cornbury]] and [[John Lovelace, 4th Baron Lovelace]]. Ingoldesby became acting governor briefly after the sudden death of Lord Lovelace in 1709. The second Lieutenant Governor, [[Thomas Pownall]] (1722-1805), was appointed to the post in 1755 under Royal Governor [[Jonathan Belcher]] (1681/2–1757). When Belcher died in August 1757, Pownall did not assume the governorship as only a few weeks before Belcher's death he was appointed to the post of [[List of colonial governors of Massachusetts|Royal Governor of Massachusetts]]. The colony was then administered by [[John Reading (New Jersey)|John Reading]] (1686–1767) as acting governor—continuing the previous convention of the president of the [[Governor's Council]] (the council's oldest member) assuming the governorship in an acting capacity.
===Colonial lieutenant governors===
{{See also|List of colonial governors of New Jersey}}
[[File:Thomas Pownall.jpg|thumb|right|Thomas Pownall (1722–1805) was one of two men to serve as Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey (1755–1757) during the colonial period.]]
The current Lieutenant Governor, Kim Guadagno, is the first to serve in the second creation of the post. Previously, only two individuals have held the post of Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey briefly—both during the colonial period. For most of the colonial period, the province would be administered by an "acting governor" who was typically the president of the [[Governor's Council]], the upper house of the colonial legislature who would assume the post in the event of the resignation, prolonged absence, or death of the Royal Governor. The president of the council was an honorary post given to the council's oldest member.


⚫
The first, [[Richard Ingoldesby]] (d. 1719) was appointed the Lieutenant Governor to [[Edward Hyde, 3rd Earl of Clarendon|Edward Hyde, Lord Cornbury]] and [[John Lovelace, 4th Baron Lovelace]]. Ingoldesby became acting governor briefly (1709–1710) after the sudden death of Lord Lovelace in 1709. The second Lieutenant Governor, [[Thomas Pownall]] (1722-1805), was appointed to the post in 1755 under Royal Governor [[Jonathan Belcher]] (1681/2–1757).<ref name="FisherNJasRoyalProvince">Fisher, Edgar Jacob. ''New Jersey as a Royal Province, 1738 to 1776''. (New York: Columbia University Press, 1911), 43–44.</ref> When Belcher died in August 1757, Pownall did not assume the governorship as only a few weeks before Belcher's death he was appointed to the post of [[List of colonial governors of Massachusetts|Royal Governor of Massachusetts]].<ref name="FisherNJasRoyalProvince" /><ref>Schutz, John. ''Thomas Pownall, British Defender of American Liberty; a Study of Anglo-American Relations in the Eighteenth Century''. (Glendale, California: A. H. Clark, 1951), 55–58, 78–87.</ref> The colony was then administered by [[John Reading (New Jersey)|John Reading]] (1686–1767) as acting governor—continuing the previous convention of the president of the [[Governor's Council]] (the council's oldest member) assuming the governorship in an acting capacity.
==Background==

===Modern creation of the office===
Prior to the creation of the Lieutenant Governor's office, the Governor of New Jersey was the only state-wide (non-[[Federal government of the United States|federal]]) elected office in the state. Thus, unlike many other states that have elections for [[cabinet (government)|cabinet]]-level positions, the New Jersey State Constitution allows the governor to appoint them. In the event of a gubernatorial vacancy, the [[New Jersey]] Constitution had specified that the President of the [[New Jersey Senate]] (followed by the Speaker of the [[New Jersey General Assembly]]) would assume the role of Acting Governor and retain their powerful role in the Senate (or Assembly). An Acting Governor would then assume the powerful governorship while retaining the reins of power in their house of the legislature.
Prior to the creation of the Lieutenant Governor's office, the Governor of New Jersey was the only state-wide (non-[[Federal government of the United States|federal]]) elected office in the state. Thus, unlike many other states that have elections for [[cabinet (government)|cabinet]]-level positions, the New Jersey State Constitution allows the governor to appoint them. In the event of a gubernatorial vacancy, the [[New Jersey]] Constitution had specified that the President of the [[New Jersey Senate]] (followed by the Speaker of the [[New Jersey General Assembly]]) would assume the role of Acting Governor and retain their powerful role in the Senate (or Assembly). An Acting Governor would then assume the powerful governorship while retaining the reins of power in their house of the legislature.


Revision as of 19:03, 22 July 2013

Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey
Seal of New Jersey
StyleThe Honorable
Term lengthFour years, no term limit
Inaugural holderKim Guadagno
2010
FormationNew Jersey State Constitution amendment
SuccessionFirst

The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is a political position in the executive branch of the state government of New Jersey that has existed since January 2010. It is the second highest-ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four-year term. The position was created as the result of a constitutional amendment to the New Jersey State Constitution that was passed by a voter referendum on November 8, 2005. While the amendment itself took effect as of January 17, 2006, and made some interim changes to the succession to the governorship, the first lieutenant governor was not elected until the next gubernatorial election held on November 3, 2009. Republican Kim Guadagno is the first to serve in the post, as she was chosen by Governor Chris Christie to be his running-mate in 2009 election.

History

Colonial lieutenant governors

See also: List of colonial governors of New Jersey
Thomas Pownall (1722–1805) was one of two men to serve as Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey (1755–1757) during the colonial period.

The current Lieutenant Governor, Kim Guadagno, is the first to serve in the second creation of the post. Previously, only two individuals have held the post of Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey briefly—both during the colonial period. For most of the colonial period, the province would be administered by an "acting governor" who was typically the president of the Governor's Council, the upper house of the colonial legislature who would assume the post in the event of the resignation, prolonged absence, or death of the Royal Governor. The president of the council was an honorary post given to the council's oldest member.

The first, Richard Ingoldesby (d. 1719) was appointed the Lieutenant Governor to Edward Hyde, Lord Cornbury and John Lovelace, 4th Baron Lovelace. Ingoldesby became acting governor briefly (1709–1710) after the sudden death of Lord Lovelace in 1709. The second Lieutenant Governor, Thomas Pownall (1722-1805), was appointed to the post in 1755 under Royal Governor Jonathan Belcher (1681/2–1757).[1] When Belcher died in August 1757, Pownall did not assume the governorship as only a few weeks before Belcher's death he was appointed to the post of Royal Governor of Massachusetts.[1][2] The colony was then administered by John Reading (1686–1767) as acting governor—continuing the previous convention of the president of the Governor's Council (the council's oldest member) assuming the governorship in an acting capacity.

Modern creation of the office

Prior to the creation of the Lieutenant Governor's office, the Governor of New Jersey was the only state-wide (non-federal) elected office in the state. Thus, unlike many other states that have elections for cabinet-level positions, the New Jersey State Constitution allows the governor to appoint them. In the event of a gubernatorial vacancy, the New Jersey Constitution had specified that the President of the New Jersey Senate (followed by the Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly) would assume the role of Acting Governor and retain their powerful role in the Senate (or Assembly). An Acting Governor would then assume the powerful governorship while retaining the reins of power in their house of the legislature.

This situation has occurred twice in recent years: when Christine Todd Whitman stepped down in 2001 to assume the position of administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; and when James E. McGreevey resigned amid scandal on November 15, 2004. At both occasions, New Jersey's constitution (along with Arizona, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming) had no position of Lieutenant Governor. After Whitman's resignation, Donald DiFrancesco, then John Bennett, and finally Richard Codey became Acting Governors. In McGreevey's case, Codey again became the Acting Governor. In each of these situations, the Acting Governor concurrently served as President of the State Senate.[citation needed]

While concerns had long been raised[by whom?] regarding the succession in the event of a vacancy, these two resignations in a span of a few years raised greater public attention to the issue. Justifications for the creation of a Lieutenant Governor position focused on three primary issues:[citation needed]

  • Unelected / Nonrepresentative Successor - The Senate President is chosen by the members of the New Jersey Senate, and was not elected by voters statewide to be a potential gubernatorial successor. Those eligible to become Senate President are elected to the Senate by the voters in only one of the forty legislative districts statewide.
  • Separation of Powers - In a state with an extremely powerful position of Governor, having the Senate President assume the role of Acting Governor is a breach of the separation of powers of the executive and legislative branches.
  • Political party disparity - There is no guarantee that the Senate President (or the Lieutenant Governor) will follow the legislative platform of his predecessor. As the Senate President may not even be from the same party, there is even greater concern that the policies of the Acting Governor might be in conflict with those of the preceding governor.

Lieutenant Governor amendment

With these concerns in mind, on Election Day, November 8, 2005, the voters passed an amendment to the New Jersey State Constitution that creates the position of Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey effective with the 2009 elections. The amendment also provides that in the event of a permanent vacancy in the office of Governor after January 17, 2006 and before the first Lieutenant Governor had taken office in 2010, the President of the Senate, followed by the Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly, would become Governor but will then vacate his or her Senate (or Assembly) seat by the action of assuming the office.

The amendment provides a new order of succession:

In the event of a vacancy in the office of Governor resulting from the death, resignation or removal of a Governor in office, or the death of a Governor-elect, or from any other cause, the Lieutenant Governor shall become Governor, until a new Governor is elected and qualifies.
In the event of simultaneous vacancies in both the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor resulting from any cause, the President of the Senate shall become Governor until a new Governor or Lieutenant Governor is elected and qualifies. In the event that there is a vacancy in the office of Senate President, or the Senate President declines to become Governor, then the Speaker of the General Assembly shall become Governor until a new Governor or Lieutenant Governor is elected and qualifies. In the event that there is a vacancy in the office of Speaker of the General Assembly, or if the Speaker declines to become Governor, then the functions, powers, duties and emoluments of the office shall devolve for the time being upon such officers and in the order of succession as may be provided by law, until a new Governor or Lieutenant Governor is elected and qualifies. (Article V, Section I, paragraph 6)

The amendment also provides:

The Governor shall appoint the Lieutenant Governor to serve as the head of a principal department or other executive or administrative agency of State government, or delegate to the Lieutenant Governor duties of the office of Governor, or both. The Governor shall not appoint the Lieutenant Governor to serve as Attorney General. The Lieutenant Governor shall in addition perform such other duties as may be provided by law. (Article V, Section I, paragraph 10)

First election, 2009

During the week before the July 27, 2009, deadline for the gubernatorial candidates to designate their running mates,[3] Republican candidate Chris Christie selected Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno,[4] while Democratic incumbent Governor Jon Corzine chose State Senator Loretta Weinberg.[5] On July 27, independent gubernatorial candidate Chris Daggett selected as his running mate Frank J. Esposito, a Kean University history professor who once served as interim president of the university.[6]

  Democratic (0)   Republican (1)

# Lt. Governor Term start Term end Party Governor Terms
1 bgcolor=Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color|  Kim Guadagno January 19, 2010 present Republican Chris Christie

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Fisher, Edgar Jacob. New Jersey as a Royal Province, 1738 to 1776. (New York: Columbia University Press, 1911), 43–44.
  2. ^ Schutz, John. Thomas Pownall, British Defender of American Liberty; a Study of Anglo-American Relations in the Eighteenth Century. (Glendale, California: A. H. Clark, 1951), 55–58, 78–87.
  3. ^ http://www.politickernj.com/max/31580/elec-certifies-daggett-matching-funds
  4. ^ Stile, Charles. "Christie announces lieutenant governor pick", The Record (Bergen County), July 20, 2009. Accessed July 21, 2009.
  5. ^ http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/corzine_picks_sen_loretta_wein.html
  6. ^ http://www.politickernj.com/editor/31794/daggett-picks-kean-university-administrator-lg
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