SUPPORTING USE OF THE TITLE “LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR”

 IN GUBERNATORIAL SUCCESSION LAW

 

Whereas, it is the right and responsibility of each state and territory to affirm its own succession plan according to its constitution and founding documents, and

Whereas, it is United States policy to maintain continuity capability through continuity of operations planning (COOP) and continuity of government (COG) planning to ensure the preservation of constitutional government and the continuing performance of essential functions under all conditions, and

 

Whereas, Federal Preparedness Circular (FPC) 65 says one essential objective of a viable COOP program is to execute successful succession(s) to office should an event render leadership unable, unavailable, or incapable of performing duties, and

 

Whereas, National Security Presidential Directive (NSPD) 51 and Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 20 specify continuity requirements “shall include...succession orders and pre-planned devolution of authorities that ensure the emergency delegation of authority must be planned and documented in advance in accordance with applicable law, ” and

 

Whereas, the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) reports continuity of government and continuity of operations planning continues to be a deficiency for many states conducting assessments or seeking accreditation using the states’ Emergency Management Standard, and

 

Whereas, state gubernatorial succession plans are known to have inadequacies and inconsistencies, and

 

Whereas, demographic shifts have been named in recent years by The Council of State Governments (CSG) and the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) as among the most dynamic, societal shape shifting forces of this time, and

 

Whereas, a 2007 USA Today analysis of United States census data showed the percentage of Americans who say they moved from another state the previous year rose every year this decade, and

 

Whereas, the same analysis showed the increase in movers from the years 2003 to 2006 amounted to an extra 1.5 million people moving to another state every year, and

 

Whereas, nearly all states, forty-five as of this November, use the title “lieutenant governor” for the elected official first in line of gubernatorial succession, and

 

Whereas, the result is most voters in this mobile American society are familiar with the lieutenant governor and Vice-Presidential models of succession, and

 

Whereas, use of the title “lieutenant governor” may be a zero or low fiscal impact item in every remaining state by changing the existing title of the official first in line of succession to “lieutenant governor” or adding to the existing title of the official first in line of succession the title “lieutenant governor,” and

 

Whereas, NLGA advocated the use of the title “lieutenant governor” in every state in 1968 and in 1973, and

 

Whereas, the NLGA mission in its Articles includes “...to promote the efficiency and effectiveness of the Office of Lieutenant Governor; and generally to improve the efficiency of state and territorial administration...” and

 

Whereas, NLGA and its staff are called on to meet this mission in a myriad of ways, including responding to legislative, academic, media, candidate, and other inquiries, and

 

Whereas, as noted in the national succession planning items above, the overall efficiency of state administration will be more efficient with the use of the title “lieutenant governor” in every state, 

 

Therefore be it resolved, that the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) supports the use of the title “Lieutenant Governor” in every state for the officeholder first in line of gubernatorial succession, either as the title of the office or in addition to the existing title of the official first in line of succession, and  

 

Be it further resolved, NLGA and its staff are empowered to issue this statement of support in response to legislative, academic, media, candidate, and other inquiries, and

 

Be it further resolved, NLGA and its staff may place this record of support in testimony for pending legislation which may create, maintain, or enhance the title of “lieutenant governor, and

 

Be it finally resolved, this resolution will be posted to www.nlga.us and submitted to State News magazine to make state officials aware of its passage.

 

Passed this 30th day of July, 2009.

 

Sponsor:  Sec. of State Ken McClintock, P.R.    

Co-Sponsor:  Lt. Governor Michael Fedele, Connecticut
Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, Virginia
Lt. Governor Brian Dubie, Vermont
Lt. Governor Carol Molnau, Minnesota

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contact:  National Lieutenant Governors Association

Director Julia Hurst

(859) 283-1400 or jhurst@csg.org