Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut

Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut
Post	Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut
Flagcaption	Flag of Connecticut
Insigniacaption	Great Seal of the State of Connecticut
Incumbent	Susan Bysiewicz
Incumbentsince	2019
Department	Connecticut State Senate
Style	The Honorable
Status	Lieutenant Governor
Residence	Connecticut Governor's Residence
Seat	Hartford, Connecticut
Nominator	Political parties
Appointer	Popular election
Termlength	Four years
Formation	1818
Inaugural	Oliver Wolcott Jr.

Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut The Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut is the second-highest constitutional officer in the state, elected with the Governor of Connecticut and first in the line of succession. The office combines executive, legislative, and ceremonial functions, serving as presiding officer of the Connecticut State Senate and as a member of various state boards and commissions.

Duties and Powers

The lieutenant governor presides over the Connecticut State Senate, casting tie-breaking votes when needed, and participates in deliberations of state boards such as the State Bond Commission, the Capitol Preservation Commission, and the Board of Pardons and Paroles. The office holds authority to execute duties delegated by the Governor of Connecticut and to serve on interagency councils related to climate, public health, and economic development, often interacting with agencies like the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development and the Connecticut Department of Public Health. In legislative contexts, the lieutenant governor coordinates with leaders such as the President pro tempore of the Connecticut Senate and the Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives on procedural and administrative matters.

Election and Term of Office

The lieutenant governor is elected on a joint ticket with the Governor of Connecticut in statewide general elections, following the Connecticut State Constitution provisions and state election statutes administered by the Connecticut Secretary of the State. Candidates emerge from party processes including the Connecticut Democratic Party, the Connecticut Republican Party, and third parties such as the Connecticut Working Families Party and the Libertarian Party of Connecticut. Terms are four years, coinciding with gubernatorial terms set by amendments adopted in the 20th century, and involve primary contests, nominating conventions, and ballot access governed by the Connecticut Elections Enforcement Commission and the Federal Election Commission for related federal interactions.

Succession and Acting Governor

Under the Connecticut Constitution, the lieutenant governor succeeds to the governorship in the event of death, resignation, removal, or incapacitation of the governor, as occurred in instances involving figures such as John N. Dempsey and Oliver Wolcott Jr. historically. The office assumes the role of acting governor under temporary disability or absence, with succession protocols coordinated with the Connecticut General Assembly and the Connecticut Supreme Court if legal disputes arise. Succession also involves interaction with the Attorney General of Connecticut and could entail emergency powers defined in statutes like the Connecticut Emergency Management and Homeland Security Act.

History of the Office

Established under early Connecticut charters and redefined in the 1818 Constitution of 1818 and later the Connecticut Constitution of 1965, the lieutenant governorship evolved from colonial-era roles tied to the Colony of Connecticut and the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut. Notable historical developments include shifts in selection procedures, the synchronization of gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial terms, and the expansion of duties into modern policy arenas such as transportation, education, and urban development. The office has intersected with movements and events like the abolitionist movement, industrialization, and 20th-century reforms associated with the Progressive Era and New Deal implementations at the state level.

Notable Lieutenant Governors

Prominent holders include Oliver Wolcott Jr., who served in federal roles with connections to the United States Department of the Treasury, and John N. Dempsey, who later became governor and influenced policies around housing. Recent figures such as Nancy Wyman and Kevin Sullivan have engaged with statewide initiatives in collaboration with governors including Dannel Malloy and Jodi Rell. The office has been held by individuals who also served in federal positions or as members of institutions like the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston governing circles, linking state executive experience to national roles.

Office and Salary

The lieutenant governor maintains offices in Hartford, Connecticut with staff roles analogous to those in the Governor's Office, coordinating policy advisors, communications directors, and legislative liaisons. Compensation is set by statutes enacted by the Connecticut General Assembly and overseen by entities such as the State Ethics Commission (Connecticut); salaries have varied over time and are periodically adjusted through legislative action. The lieutenant governor also has access to official transportation and security resources coordinated with the Connecticut State Police and participates in ceremonial duties at venues like the Connecticut State Capitol.

List of Lieutenant Governors of Connecticut

A chronological roster includes early officeholders from the post-1818 era such as Oliver Wolcott Jr. and continues through 19th-century figures tied to the Whig Party and the Democratic Party, 20th-century leaders connected to the Republican Party and the Progressive movement, and contemporary lieutenant governors like Susan Bysiewicz and Nancy Wyman. This lineage reflects intersections with statewide political institutions including the Connecticut State Senate, the Connecticut House of Representatives, and municipal governments such as New Haven, Connecticut, Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Stamford, Connecticut.

Category:Government of Connecticut Category:Lieutenant governors of U.S. states