tive in 1970. The same kind of amend-
ment has passed the Wisconsin legislature
once, but must be passed again before
going to the voters.
Many states have recently increased
the salary of the lieutenant governor,
but salaries range from a low of $1,200
in Idaho to a high of $32,500 in Penn-
sylvania. While most states pay their
lieutenant governors on a yearly basis,
several states pay on a per diem basis.
Alabama's lieutenant governor, for ex-
ample, receives $12 per diem, and $20
per diem during the legislative sessions.
A number of states provide their lieuten-
ant governors with expenses. Iowa's lieu-
tenant governor, for example, receives
$60 per diem during the legislative ses-
sions, plus $5,000 expenses. Several states
pay their lieutenant governor only for
the legislative session. In Mississippi,
e.g., he receives $3,000 for each session
of the legislature; South Dakota's lieu-
tenant governor receives $2,400 per an-
num when the legislature is in session,
but only $1,000 per annum when there
are no legislative sessions.17
BROADENING THE DUTIES OF THE
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
By assuming new duties, the lieutenant
governor could be a greater help to the
governor and increase the importance of
the office as an executive rather than a
legislative position. The lieutenant gov-
ernor could assume some of the gov-
ernor's ceremonial duties, saving the gov-
ernor valuable time. It has been suggested
that "the average citizen does not differ-
entiate between the governor and the
lieutenant governor when thinking of the
prestige or importance of the office."18
17 book of the states.
18Nispel, supra note 15, at 5.
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Thus, the lieutenant governor's assuming
some of these ceremonial duties would
not cost the governor future support at
the polls. Utilizing the governor in cere-
monial roles cannot be legislated, but
depends upon a good working relation-
ship between the governor and lieutenant
governor. If the governor and lieutenant
governor are elected jointly, and function
well as a team, they should be able to
arrange for the assumption of some cere-
monial duties by the lieutenant governor.
The lieutenant governor could also serve
as a liaison between the governor and the
state senate or the majority party caucus.
Several students of government have
criticized the office of lieutenant gov-
ernor. One critic believes that the omis-
sion of the office "seems to occasion no
inconvenience. After all, the duties of
the lieutenant governor are unimpor-
tant."19
The value of having a lieutenant gover-
nor seems to outweigh the criticisms,
however. The lieutenant governor is a
popularly elected official who provides
a successor if the governor dies, resigns,
or is disabled. The lieutenant governor
can be an impartial presiding officer for
the state senate. The office of lieutenant
governor provides valuable political ex-
perience for higher public office.
The lieutenant governor can also
serve the state in a variety of adminis-
trative capacities. If the governor and
lieutenant governor are elected jointly,
and work smoothly as a team, the lieu-
tenant governor also can assume cere-
monial duties, act as a liaison for the
governor with the state legislature, and
in general, serve as the state's second
highest executive officer.
18 macdonald, supra note 10, at 177.
163
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