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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, Second Regular Session
lieutenant governor; joint ticket
Purpose
Subject to voter approval, constitutionally establishes the Office of Lieutenant Governor, beginning with the election for a term starting in 2027, and makes the Lieutenant Governor first in the line of succession for the Office of Governor.
Background
The Executive Department consists of the Governor, Secretary of State (SOS), State Treasurer, Attorney General (AG) and Superintendent of Public Instruction who serve four-year terms upon election (Ariz. Const. art. 5, § 1). A candidate for executive office must be at least 25 years old, have been a citizen of the U.S. for 10 years and have been a citizen of Arizona for 5 years before election (Ariz. Cons. art. 5 § 2).
In the event of the death, resignation, removal or permanent disability to discharge the duties of the Governor, the SOS succeeds to the Office of Governor until a successor is elected. If the SOS was not elected or fails to qualify as Governor, the AG, State Treasurer or Superintendent of Public Institution, in that order, succeed to the Office of Governor. Any successor to the Office of Governor are entitled to all emoluments, powers and duties of the Governor upon taking office (Ariz. Const. art. 5 § 6).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Establishes, beginning in 2027, the Office of Lieutenant Governor within the Executive Department.
2. Requires the Lieutenant Governor, rather than SOS, to succeed to the Office of Governor in the event of the death, resignation, removal or permanent disability to discharge duties of the Governor and serve until a successor is elected.
3. Requires the SOS, AG, State Treasurer or Superintendent of Public Instruction, in that order, to succeed to the Office of Governor in the event of a vacancy in both the Office of Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
4. Requires, beginning with elections for terms of office beginning in 2027, each nominee for Governor to name a Lieutenant Governor nominee at least 60 days before the general election to run on a ticket as a joint candidate with the Governor at the general election.
5. Requires the name of a nominee for Lieutenant Governor to appear on the ballot with or below the name of the joint-nominee for Governor in a manner that indicates they are running as joint candidates.
6. Requires a vote for a nominee for Governor at the general election to constitute a vote for the nominee of Lieutenant Governor on the same ticket.
7. Specifies that the Lieutenant Governor on the ticket of the winning candidate for Governor is considered the winning candidate for Lieutenant Governor.
8. Requires the Governor to appoint a person to serve as Lieutenant Governor, subject to approval of a majority vote of each legislative chamber, in the event of the death, resignation, removal or permanent disability to discharge duties of the Lieutenant Governor.
9. Requires the duties of the Lieutenant Governor to be prescribed by law.
10. Makes technical and conforming changes.
11. Requires the SOS to submit the proposition to the voters at the next general election.
12. Becomes effective for elections for terms of office beginning in 2027, if approved by the voters and on proclamation of the Governor.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 13, 2020
MH/gs