Lieutenant Governor of Montana

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The Lieutenant Governor of the State of Montana is an elected Constitutional officer, the second ranking officer of the Executive branch, and the first officer in line to succeed the Governor of Montana. The Lieutenant Governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and is limited to two terms in any 16 year span.

Current officeholder

See also: Current Lieutenant Governors

The 29th and current lieutenant governor is John Bohlinger, a Republican elected in 2004 and 2008.

Authority

The state Constitution addresses the office of the lieutenant governor in Article VI, the Executive Department.

Under Article VI, Section I:

The executive branch includes a governor, lieutenant governor...

Qualifications

Governors
Current Governors
Gubernatorial Elections
2012 • 2011 • 2010 Lists of candidates
Current Lt. Governors
Lt. Governor Elections
2012 • 2011 • 2010
Breaking news

A candidate for lieutenant governor must be:

• at least 25 years of age or older at the time of election
• a citizen of the United States
• have resided within the state at least two years at his election

Elections

See also: Gubernatorial election cycles by state

See also: Election of lieutenant governors

Montana elects lieutenant governors in the Presidential elections, that is, in leap years. For Montana, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 are all lieutenant gubernatorial election years. Legally, the lieutenant gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the first Monday in the January following an election. Thus, January 7, 2013 and January 2, 2017 are inaugural days.

Vacancies

Details of vacancies are addressed under Article VI, Section 6.

If the lieutenant governor's chair is vacant due to death, resignation, removal, disability, or succession to the governorship, the Governor shall appoint a new lieutenant governor.

If both the governor and lieutenant governor's chair are vacant, the legally provide line of succession goes into effect until the next scheduled general election, when both office will be elected.

Duties

Montana's Lieutenant Governor acts as governor in the event of the death, resignation, removal, impeachment, absence from the state, or incapacity due to illness of the governor of Montana. The lieutenant governor performs the duties provided by law and those delegated to him/her by the governor. However, the lieutenant governor cannot be delegated any duties specifically granted to the governor, as per the state constitution.

The lieutenant governor welcomes international visitors when the governor is unable to do so, serves on a number of state committees, and assists on a number of administration policy initiatives. Additionally, the lieutenant governor provides advice and counsel to the governor.

The office has such other responsibilities and duties as the Governor shall assign.

Compensation

See also: Comparison of lieutenant gubernatorial salaries

The lieutenant governor's pay is set by law and may not be increased or diminished effective during the current term.

As of 2010, the lieutenant governor is paid $79,007 a year, the 29th highest lieutenant gubernatorial salary in America.

Contact information

Office of the Lt. Governor
Montana State Capitol Bldg.
PO Box 200801
Helena, MT 59620-1901
Phone:406-444-3111
Fax:406-444-4648

See also

• Montana Lieutenant Governor John Bohlinger
• Governor of Montana
• Montana Attorney General
• Montana Secretary of State

External links

• Office of the Montana Lieutenant Governor
• About the office of the Montana Lieutenant Governor