Iowa Secretary of State

Iowa Secretary of State. The Iowa Secretary of State is an elected constitutional officer in the U.S. state of Iowa, responsible for a wide range of duties, including overseeing elections, maintaining public records, and serving as the state's chief business registrar. The office is established by the Iowa Constitution and is one of the four elected statewide offices in Iowa, along with the Governor of Iowa, Lieutenant Governor of Iowa, and Iowa State Treasurer. The current secretary of state is Paul Pate, who has been in office since 2015 and has previously served as the Mayor of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and a member of the Iowa Senate.

● History of

the Office The office of the Iowa Secretary of State was established in 1846, when Iowa was still a U.S. territory. The first secretary of state was William Thompson, who served from 1846 to 1850. Since then, the office has been held by a total of 32 individuals, including Josiah Bushnell Grinnell, a U.S. Representative from Iowa's 4th congressional district, and Melvin D. Synhorst, a former member of the Iowa House of Representatives. The secretary of state has played a crucial role in the development of Iowa's elections, including the implementation of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and the Help America Vote Act of 2002, which were signed into law by President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush, respectively.

● Powers and Responsibilities

The Iowa Secretary of State has a wide range of powers and responsibilities, including overseeing elections and maintaining public records. The secretary of state is also responsible for serving as the state's chief business registrar, which includes registering and regulating corporations, limited liability companies, and other business entities. Additionally, the secretary of state is responsible for maintaining the state's official records, including the Iowa Constitution and the Iowa Code. The secretary of state also serves as a member of the Iowa Executive Council, which is composed of the Governor of Iowa, the Lieutenant Governor of Iowa, the Iowa State Treasurer, and the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. The council is responsible for overseeing the state's budget and making key decisions about the state's fiscal policy, which is also influenced by the Iowa General Assembly and the Iowa Supreme Court.

● List of Secretaries of State

The following is a list of the Iowa Secretary of State since the office was established in 1846: * William Thompson (1846-1850) * James Wright (1850-1852) * George W. McCleary (1852-1856) * Oliver Farrington (1856-1860) * William G. Rice (1860-1864) * James T. Foster (1864-1868) * Edwin H. Stiles (1868-1872) * John M. Russell (1872-1876) * Josiah Bushnell Grinnell (1876-1880) * Buren R. Sherman (1880-1884) * Frank D. Jackson (1884-1888) * William M. McFarland (1888-1892) * William S. Allen (1892-1896) * George L. Dobson (1896-1900) * George W. Wilson (1900-1904) * Frank C. Hoyt (1904-1908) * William C. Hayward (1908-1912) * William S. Kenyon (1912-1916) * William H. Hart (1916-1920) * Walter C. Ramsay (1920-1924) * Charles R. Lyons (1924-1928) * Ed H. Campbell (1928-1932) * George L. Parker (1932-1936) * Robert E. O'Brien (1936-1940) * Earle D. McGovern (1940-1944) * Wayne M. Rasmusson (1944-1948) * Melvin D. Synhorst (1948-1952) * Chet B. Akers (1952-1956) * Marilyn L. Lloyd (1956-1960) * Norman A. Erbe (1960-1964) * Gary R. Blodgett (1964-1968) * Melvin D. Synhorst (1968-1972) * Delbert L. Robinson (1972-1976) * Mary Jane Odell (1976-1980) * Mary Lundby (1980-1984) * Paul Pate (1984-1988) * Chet Culver (1988-1992) * Paul Pate (1992-1996) * Chet Culver (1996-2000) * Chet Culver (2000-2004) * Michael A. Mauro (2004-2008) * Michael A. Mauro (2008-2012) * Matt Schultz (2012-2014) * Paul Pate (2014-2018) * Paul Pate (2018-present)

● Elections and Terms

The Iowa Secretary of State is elected to a four-year term, with no term limits. The secretary of state is elected in the same year as the President of the United States, and the election is typically held in November. The secretary of state must be at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of Iowa for at least 5 years prior to the election. The secretary of state is also required to take an oath of office, which is administered by the Iowa Supreme Court or the Iowa Court of Appeals. The secretary of state is also a member of the National Association of Secretaries of State and the Iowa State Bar Association.

● Duties and Authorities

The Iowa Secretary of State has a wide range of duties and authorities, including overseeing elections and maintaining public records. The secretary of state is also responsible for serving as the state's chief business registrar, which includes registering and regulating corporations, limited liability companies, and other business entities. Additionally, the secretary of state is responsible for maintaining the state's official records, including the Iowa Constitution and the Iowa Code. The secretary of state also serves as a member of the Iowa Executive Council, which is composed of the Governor of Iowa, the Lieutenant Governor of Iowa, the Iowa State Treasurer, and the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. The council is responsible for overseeing the state's budget and making key decisions about the state's fiscal policy, which is also influenced by the Iowa General Assembly and the Iowa Supreme Court. The secretary of state also works closely with other state agencies, including the Iowa Department of Revenue and the Iowa Department of Economic Development, to promote economic development and job creation in Iowa.