Official Duties / Special Assignments / Office Location

Official Duties

The position of lieutenant governor was established in the first state constitution of 1835, and has been an elective office ever since.

Candidates for lieutenant governor are nominated at their respective political party conventions. The candidate runs as a team with his or her party’s gubernatorial candidate for election to a four-year term of office. In 1993, a constitutional limit of two lifetime terms in the office was enacted.

As defined in the state constitution, the lieutenant governor performs gubernatorial functions in the governor’s absence; presides over the state senate; provides a tie-breaking vote in the senate; serves as a member of the State Administrative Board; and represents the governor and the state at selected local, state, and national meetings. In addition, the Governor may delegate additional responsibilities to the Lt. Governor

In the event of a vacancy in the office of governor, the lieutenant governor is first in line to succeed to the position.

Special Assignments

Lieutenant Governor Cherry has been assigned the following responsibilities by the Governor:

• Serve as a liaison between the executive office and the natural resources and conservation communities
• Oversight of the implementation of the recommendations of the Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force
• Serve as the Governor’s appointee to the Great Lakes Commission (elected vice-chair in 2005)
• Spearhead the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit outreach initiative
• Serve as the Governor’s appointee to the Michigan Higher Education Compact
• Chaired the Lt. Governor’s Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth

Lieutenant Governor Cherry is active in the following organizations and boards:

• The National Lieutenant Governors Association (elected vice-chair at 2005 Annual Meeting)
• Cyber-State.org
• The Michigan Prospect

Office Location

Lieutenant Governor Cherry maintains an office in the Romney Building located at 111 S. Capitol Ave in Lansing, and has a ceremonial office located behind the senate chambers in the State Capitol Building.