There’s a lot of debate going on here around the Lt. Governor’s race and the convention. I’ve been able to get a good sense of what the various candidates stand for and why they’re running, and as an add-on delegate, I’m getting closer to making a decision about who I’ll cast my vote for in June.
However, the factor that I haven’t yet come to an understanding of is what the actual role of the Lt. Governor is.
I think that answering these questions may make it easier to for many of us to frame what it is that we want from our LG and subsequently decide who would be best for the job, but I’d like to hear what others have to say about it.
Please share widely!
Well that is a good question. First you have to distingush between powers granted under the Massachusetts Constitution vs. roles and responsibilites assigned by the Governor. Under the Constitution, the powers are fairly limited.
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OFFICAL CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES-
One: is to preside over the Governor’s Council meetings (Every Wednesday, 8 Council districts, one district equal to 5 senate districts). That is if the Governor isn’t there.
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Two: When the Governor leaves the state the Lt. Governor becomes the acting Governor. Some Governor’s have not travelled extensively. RIght now the Lt. Governor gets to be acting Governor on a weekly basis.
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Three: In case of death, resignation or incapacity of the Governor, you become
Governor.
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UNOFFICIAL PERKS/DUTIES-
Four: During the 1980’s Governor Dukakis assigned all Federal-State relations to Lt. Governor John Kerry. In effect Kerry became the Federal-State liaison.
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Five: If the Governor (Romney) happens to be running for President and you have the deal the currrent Lt. Governor (Healy) has, you get a lot of patronage hiring to “help assure a seamless transfer of power”.
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Six: Whatever other portfolio the Lt. Governor and the Governor agree upon. In the case of Governor Ed King and Lt. Gov. Tommy O’Neill, since King intensely disliked O’Neill no additional duties were forthcoming.
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I may have missed some other responsibilties, so feel free to comment on anthing I’ve written.
even if the elected Governor resigns or dies, the Lt. Gov. only becomes “Acting Governor.” There is no provision in the state constitution to make the Lt. Gov. into the Governor. (That, in part, is why there is no mechanism to put a new Lt. Gov. in place once the Lt. Gov. becomes Acting Gov.)
the liason for cities and towns?
Yes, that’s the role she’s been delegated, but we all know what a good job she’s been doing at that now don’t we…
that while the Lt. Gov. has certain defined constitutional roles, the LG’s most important roles come from that of an executive, as outlined by Richard Neustadt
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Presidential historian Neustadt argues that, while the chief executive’s powers are quite limited in writing, Presidents can use personal persuasion, professional reputation and public prestige to get what they want.
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This is rather obvious for the governor of any state, but equally applicable to the Lt. Governor. The Lt. Governor, presumably, can also get access to the Governor without much trouble. Kerry Healey in particular has maintained some strong political relationships in the State House, beyond the corner office, for her ability to keep her word.
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To answer the question, then, I think this position comes down to the individual occupying it. Does that person understand the implicit powers of the Lt. Gov. to call a press conference for a single issue, like gang violence, and have the media cover it? Does that person understand they are one spokesperson on an issue, versus the Legislature, which is filled with 200 battling voices? In Massachusetts, for the majority of LGs the answer to both questions is “yes”.