The second-ranking leader in the executive branch is typically the Vice President of the United States. However, based on the options you provided, none of them directly corresponds to the second-ranking position in the executive branch.
- The Secretary of State is the head of the State Department and typically ranks third in the presidential line of succession.
- The Attorney General is the head of the Department of Justice and is also not the second-ranking leader.
- The Lieutenant Governor is an elected official in a state and is generally not part of the federal executive branch.
- The Speaker of the House is a leadership position in the legislative branch, not the executive.
If you meant to refer to state-level governance, the Lieutenant Governor would be the second-in-command in the state executive branch. If you are asking about the federal level, the correct answer should be the Vice President.