On three occasions prior to a 1970 change to the state constitution the Lieutenant Governor was of a different political party from the Governor. In each instance a Democratic Lieutenant Governor served under a Republican Governor. After the Lieutenant Governor comes the Attorney General.
As of January 2017[update], there are seven former U.S. lieutenant governors of Illinois who are currently living at this time, the oldest U.S. lieutenant governor of Illinois being George Ryan (served 1983–1991, born 1934). The most recent death of a former U.S. lieutenant governor of Illinois was that of Paul Simon (served 1969–1973, born 1928), on December 9, 2003. He is also the most recent serving U.S. lieutenant governor of Illinois to die.