Page:Revised Statutes of the State of North Carolina - Volume 1.djvu/46

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STATE CONSTITUTION.

3. The General Assembly shall have power to pass general laws regulating divorce and alimony, but shall not have the power to grant a divorce or secure alimony in any individual case.

4. The General Assembly shall not have power to pass any individual private law, to alter the name of any person, or to legitimate any persons not born in lawful wedlock, or to restore the rights of citizenship any person convicted of an infamous crime; but shall have power to pass general laws regulating the same.

5. The General Assembly shall not pass any private law, unless it shall be made to appear that thirty days notice of application to pass such law have been given, under such directions and in such manner as shall be provided by law.

6. If vacancies occur by death, resignation or otherwise, before the meeting of the General Assembly, writs may be issued by the governor, under such regulations as may be prescribed by law.

7. The General Assembly shall meet biennially, and at each biennial session shall elect, by joint vote of two houses, a secretary of state, treasurer and council of state, who shall continue in office for the term of two years.

ARTICLE II.

1. The governor shall be chosen by the qualified voters for the members of the house of commons, at such time and places as members of the General Assembly are elected.

2. He shall hold his office for the term of two years from the time of installation, and until another shall be elected and qualified; but he shall not be eligible for more than four years in any term of six years.

3. The returns of every election for governor shall be sealed up and transmitted to the seat of government, by the returning officers, directed to the speaker of the senate, who shall open and public them in the presence of a majority of the members of both houses of the General Assembly. The person having the highest number of votes, shall be governor; but if two or more shall be equal and highest in votes, one of them shall be chosen by governor by joint vote in both houses of the General Assembly.

4. Contested elections for governor shall be determined by both houses of the General Assembly, in such manner as shall be prescribed by law.