Territory of Montana Montana Territory was organized from
Idaho Territory on May 26, 1864. During its 35-year history, it had nine governors appointed by the
president of the United States, and three acting governors, all of whom had been appointed territorial secretary before becoming acting governor. The first,
Thomas Francis Meagher, served as acting governor from 1865 until 1867. The second,
James Tufts, served in for one month in 1869, and was succeeded by
Wiley Scribner, who served 1869–1870.
State of Montana Montana was
admitted to the Union on November 8, 1889. The current
Montana Constitution, ratified in 1972, calls for a 4-year term for the governor, commencing on the first Monday in January following an election. A 1992 amendment limits the governor to 8 years in any 16-year period. The constitution provides for the election of a
lieutenant governor for the same term as the governor. The two offices are elected on the same
ticket; ==Timeline==