Iowans will vote on two Constitutional amendments during the upcoming general election, the second of which would clarify that the lieutenant governor will become governor when there’s a vacancy in the governorship. Then, it gives the governor power to appoint a new lieutenant governor.
The lieutenant governor is the second-highest officer in Iowa’s executive branch and first in line to succeed the governor.
Karen M. Kedrowski, director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics, said in an interview with the Daily that the role of the lieutenant governor depends on the state.
“There are some states where the lieutenant governor has a specific portfolio of responsibilities,” Kedrowski said. “That’s not the case in Iowa, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t govern as partners with the lieutenant governor having some specific responsibilities, but that would be at the governor’s discretion.”
The proposed amendment would replace Article IV, Section 17 of the Iowa State Constitution, stating: “If there is a temporary disability of the governor, the lieutenant governor shall act as governor until the disability is removed, or the governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office. In case of the death, resignation, or removal from office of the governor, the lieutenant governor shall become governor for the remainder of the term, which shall create a vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor. This section shall also apply, as appropriate, to the governor-elect and the lieutenant governor-elect.”
Kedrowski said the issue arose when Terry Branstad resigned as Iowa’s governor to become U.S. ambassador to China, raising questions about whether Gov. Kim Reynolds would officially become governor or just acting governor and whether she could appoint a new lieutenant governor. The amendment aims to clarify this in the state constitution.
“The controversy seems to be whether or not the appointment power should be checked or unchecked,” Kedrowski said. “If you look at the 25th Amendment, where there’s sort of an analogous power to the president to appoint the vice president if there’s a vacancy, then the vice president needs to be confirmed by the House and Senate. So, there is a check. It’s not an unchecked power.”
Kedrowski said people who oppose the amendment think “there should be some sort of check” or confirmation process on appointing the lieutenant governor.
“I would say that there’s a huge difference in degree,” Kedrowski said. “The vice president could end up taking over the presidency and leading the most powerful country in the world, and that’s not the case for most lieutenant governors.”
For more information about what’s on the ballot in Ames, see previous reporting from the Daily.
