Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi

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

Current officeholder

See also: Current Lieutenant Governors

The 31st and current lieutenant governor is Phil Bryant, a Republican elected in 2007.

Authority

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

Under Article V, Section 128:

There shall be a Lieutenant Governor who shall be elected at the same time, in the same manner, and for the same term, and who shall possess the same qualifications as required of the Governor. Any person elected to the office of Lieutenant Governor shall be eligible to succeed himself in office, but no person who has been elected to the office of Lieutenant Governor for two successive terms shall be eligible to hold that office until one term has intervened.

Qualifications

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

The term of office of the lieutenant governor of Mississippi is four years. The fee for party candidates is $300 made payable to the appropriate state party executive committee. There is no fee for independent candidates but a total of 1,000 signatures must be submitted.

Additionally, a lieutenant gubernatorial candidate must be:

• at least 30 years old
• a citizen of the United States 20 years
• a resident of the state five years

Elections

See also: Gubernatorial election cycles by state

See also: Election of lieutenant governors

Mississippi belongs to the handful of states that hold off-year elections, that is, elections in off-numbered years that are neither Presidential nor midterm years. In Mississippi's case, elections are held in the year after a midterm and before a Presidential; thus, 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019 are all lieutenant gubernatorial election years. Legally, the inauguration is always held the second Tuesday in January after an election. Thus, January 10, 2012 and January 12, 2016 are inaugural days.

In the event of a tie, the House of Representatives casts ballots between the two highest vote getters.

If no candidate secures majorities of both the popular and electoral votes, under Article V, Section 141, the House of Representatives shall consider the two highest vote getters and vote, vive voce, to choose the governor. Such a vote shall be recorded in the journal.

Vacancies

Details of vacancies are addressed under Article V, Section 131.

The line of succession behind the Lieutenant Governor is the President Pro Tem of the Mississippi State Senate and the the Speaker of the House. If both those positions are vacant, the Senators convene to elect a President Pro Tem who may then serve as an Acting Lieutenant Governor..

Duties

The lieutenant governor is president of the state Senate and presides over that body, only voting to break a tie. Compared to the lieutenant governors in other states, Mississippi's has a great deal of power concerning the Senate. The lieutenant governor has the sole ability to appoint members, vice-chairmen, and chairmen to the various Senate committees, regardless of each party's strength in the chamber.

In the event of the death, resignation, or removal of the governor, the lieutenant governor assumes the higher office. Also, if the governor is out of state, then the lieutenant governor can act in the governor's place.

She 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 $61,714 a year, the 36th highest lieutenant gubernatorial salary in America.

Contact information

P.O. Box 1018
Jackson, MS 39215
Phone:601-359-3200
Fax:601-359-4054

See also

• Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant
• Governor of Mississippi
• Mississippi Attorney General
• Mississippi Secretary of State

External links

• Office of the Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant
• Official State of Mississippi Website
• Secretary of State, "Qualifications and Fees for Mississippi Candidates"

References

v • d • e Lieutenant Governors Current Lieutenant Governors Kay Ivey (AL)) • Mead Treadwell (AL) • Mark Darr (AK) • Gavin Newsom (CA) • Joseph Garcia (CO) • Nancy Wyman (CT) • Matthew P. Denn (DE) • Jennifer Carroll (FL) • Casey Cagle (GA) • Brian E. Schatz (HI) • Brad Little (ID) • Sheila Simon (IL) • Becky Skillman (IN) • Kim Reynolds (IA) • Jeff Colyer (KS) • Daniel Mongiardo (KY) • Jay Dardenne (LA) • Anthony G. Brown (MD) • Tim Murray (MA) • Brian Calley (MI) • Yvonne Prettner Solon (MN) • Peter Kinder (MO) • Phil Bryant (MI) • John Bohlinger (MT) • Rick Sheehy (NE) • Brian Krolicki (NV) • Kim Guadagno (NJ) • John A. Sanchez (NM) • Robert Duffy (NY) • Walter H. Dalton (NC) • Drew Wrigley (ND) • Mary Taylor (OH) • Todd Lamb (OK) • Jim Cawley (PA) • Elizabeth Roberts (RI) • James Ken Ard (SC) • Matthew Michels (SD) • Ron Ramsey (TN) • David Dewhurst (TX) • Gregory Bell (UT) • Phillip Scott (VT) • Bill Bolling (VA) • Brad Owen (WA) • Rebecca Kleefisch (WI) Lieutenant Gubernatorial Elections 2012 • 2011 • 2010 • 2010 results Features States with gubernatorial term limits • Election of lieutenant governors • How gubernatorial vacancies are filled • States with gubernatorial recall provisions • Gubernatorial impeachment procedures • Comparison of lieutenant gubernatorial salaries

v • d • e State executive offices Offices Governor • Lt. Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Schools • Insurance Commissioner • Controller • Agriculture Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Services Commissioner Elections 2012 • 2011 (Projected outcomes)• 2010 Features News • Chart of state executive officers • Term limits • Compensation

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