When it comes to the Office of Lieutenant Governor, the Constitution, Code, and Senate Rules outline several specific duties. What a Lieutenant Governor does outside of that is largely up to their discretion. Throughout history, Lieutenant Governors have elected to be more or less active than their predecessor. I have chosen to work closely with the military to prepare for BRAC, serve as the spokeswoman for End Child Hunger in Alabama, and lead a national aerospace organization. In addition, I serve on many committees and task forces, and travel the state to meet with community leaders and citizens. Before we begin the Legislative Session when I will carry out the primary duty of the office as President of the Senate, here are 5 facts you may not know about the Office of Lieutenant Governor.
1. The Office of Lieutenant Governor is not as old as the State. Alabama became a state in 1819, nearly 50 years before the Office of Lieutenant Governor was established in the Constitution during Reconstruction. Though the Office was abolished temporarily in the late 1800’s, the need for a clear line of succession became exceedingly apparent after the Governor at the time died six months into his term. The Office of Lieutenant Governor was reestablished in 1901 when Alabama’s current Constitution was written. To this day, the Lieutenant Governor is designated to become Governor in the event that the Governor leaves office or is unable to fulfill the duties, which has happened twice in modern history.
2. Senate bills begin the legislative process at the Lieutenant Governor’s desk. Legislative Reference Service drafts bills for Senators that are introduced. The bills then arrive at my desk where I assign them to one of 16 committees. The assignment of bills is the first and an important step in the process. Some bills have an obvious assignment. The education budget is sent to the Education Finance & Taxation Committee. A bill dealing with changes to the Medicaid Agency, like one proposed in 2014, is assigned to the Health Committee. Other bills may be less obvious and their committee assignment could impact the bill’s chance of success or failure. That’s why it’s important that the individual elected to this office make decisions based on good judgment and not political persuasion. As long as I have served as Lieutenant Governor, I have endeavored to do what’s best for the people of Alabama and I will continue to do so.
3. The Lieutenant Governor is the Senate tiebreaker. With the current makeup of the Senate -- 26 republicans out of 35 members -- the likelihood of a tie is low, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. As President of the Senate, I preside over the proceedings as Senators conduct business. I only may vote on legislation in the event of a tie.
4. The position of Lieutenant Governor has been a part-time job for some. The Legislative Session lasts about three months, so some Lieutenant Governors in the past have maintained other occupations while in office. When I ran for my first term, I pledged to be a 365 day-a-year Lieutenant Governor. I feel it’s important to invest 100 percent of my time into public service rather than divide it. On March 3, 2015, I’ll preside over the Senate for my fifth Legislative Session and I’ll continue my commitment to serve the people of Alabama year-round.
5. Only two women in Alabama history have served as Lieutenant Governor. We’re about to enter Women’s History month so it’s fitting to highlight a fact about the office that’s personal to me. Only one woman has ever served as Alabama’s Governor -- Lurleen Wallace -- so the Office of Lieutenant Governor is in the lead, but only by one. I became the second woman to serve as Lieutenant Governor when I was elected in 2010. The first was Lucy Baxley who helped pave the way for future female leaders. One of the initiatives I support is a nationwide effort to recruit, train, and support female candidates for office. 7 out of 10 women would consider running for office, if asked. As I often say, you can’t play unless you enter.
