The lieutenant governor of Alabama is the president of the Alabama Senate, elected to serve a four-year term. The office was created in 1868,1868 Const. art. V, § 1 abolished in 1875,1875 Const. art. V, § 1 and recreated in 1901.AL Const. art. V, § 112 According to the current constitution, should the governor be out of the state for more than 20 days, the lieutenant governor becomes acting governor, and if the governor dies, resigns or is removed from office (via impeachment), the lieutenant governor ascends to the governorship.AL Const. art. V, § 127 Earlier constitutions said the powers of the governor devolved upon the successor, rather than them necessarily becoming governor,1819 Const. art. IV, § 18; 1861 Const. art. IV, § 18; 1865 Const. art V, § 19; 1868 Const. art. V, § 15; 1875 Const. art. V § 15 but the official listing includes these as full governors. The governor and lieutenant governor are not elected on the same ticket.

History In 1868, the state of Alabama issued a constitution which provided for the office of lieutenant governor. The document prescribed that the officer was to serve as the president of the State Senate and cast tie-breaking votes in that body, and made them first in line of succession to the governor's office. Andrew J. Applegate was the first person to serve as lieutenant governor. In 1875, conservative Democrats determined the content of a new constitution which abolished the office in an attempt to reduce the size of state government. Alabama convened another constitutional convention in 1901. During its session, the incumbent governor died. Partly motivated by the lack of a clearly delineated line of gubernatorial succession, the delegates reestablished the office of lieutenant governor with responsibilities similar to those it previously held. Its constitutional responsibilities have been little altered since.

Since the office's inception, 31 people have served as lieutenant governor of Alabama. Of those, only two have served two terms or more. The first woman to hold the office, Lucy Baxley, served from 2003 to 2007.

Duties, powers, and structure The lieutenant governor serves as president of the State Senate and assumes the office of governor in the event the gubernatorial office becomes vacant. Senate rules empower the lieutenant governor to determine the composition of Senate committees and refer bills to committees of their choosing. As a result, the lieutenant governor typically exercises significant influence over the progress of legislation in the body.

The state constitution does not provide any remedy in the event the lieutenant governor's office becomes vacant. In such an instance, their role as the presiding officer of the State Senate is assumed by the Senate president pro tempore.

List

+ Lieutenant governors of the State of AlabamaLieutenant GovernorTerm in officePartyElectionGovernor1Andrew J. ApplegateJuly 14, 1868–August 21, 1870Republican1868—VacantAugust 21, 1870–November 26, 18702Edward H. MorenNovember 26, 1870–November 25, 1872Democratic18703Alexander McKinstryNovember 25, 1872–November 24, 1874Republican18724Robert F. LigonNovember 24, 1874–November 27, 1876Democratic1874Office did not exist from November 28, 1876, to January 19, 19035Russell McWhortor CunninghamJanuary 19, 1903–January 14, 1907Democratic19026Henry B. GrayJanuary 14, 1907–January 16, 1911Democratic19067Walter D. Seed Sr.January 17, 1911–January 18, 1915Democratic19108Thomas KilbyJanuary 19, 1915–January 20, 1919Democratic19149Nathan Lee MillerJanuary 21, 1919–January 15, 1923Democratic191810Charles S. McDowellJanuary 16, 1923–January 17, 1927Democratic192211William C. DavisJanuary 18, 1927–January 19, 1931Democratic192612Hugh Davis MerrillJanuary 20, 1931–January 14, 1935Democratic193013Thomas E. Knight Jr.January 15, 1935–May 17, 1937Democratic1934—VacantMay 17, 1937–January 16, 193914Albert A. CarmichaelJanuary 17, 1939–January 18, 1943Democratic193815Leven H. EllisJanuary 19, 1943–January 20, 1947Democratic194216James C. InzerJanuary 21, 1947–January 15, 1951Democratic194617James AllenJanuary 16, 1951–January 17, 1955Democratic195018William G. HardwickJanuary 18, 1955–January 19, 1959Democratic195419Albert BoutwellJanuary 20, 1959–January 14, 1963Democratic195820James AllenJanuary 15, 1963–January 16, 1967Democratic196221Albert BrewerJanuary 17, 1967–May 7, 1968Democratic1966—VacantMay 7, 1968–January 18, 197122Jere BeasleyJanuary 19, 1971–January 15, 1979Democratic1970197423George McMillanJanuary 16, 1979–January 17, 1983Democratic197824Bill BaxleyJanuary 18, 1983–January 19, 1987Democratic198225Jim Folsom Jr.January 20, 1987–April 22, 1993Democratic19861990—VacantApril 22, 1993–January 16, 199526Don SiegelmanJanuary 17, 1995–January 18, 1999Democratic199427Steve WindomJanuary 19, 1999–January 20, 2003Republican199828Lucy BaxleyJanuary 21, 2003–January 15, 2007Democratic200229Jim Folsom Jr.January 16, 2007–January 17, 2011Democratic200630 Kay IveyJanuary 18, 2011–April 10, 2017Republican20102014—VacantApril 10, 2017–January 14, 201931Will AinsworthJanuary 15, 2019–IncumbentRepublican20182022

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