MARYLAND MANUAL. 77

PART II.

Duties of Public Officers of Maryland.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.

DUTIES OF THE GOVERNOR.

The executive power of Maryland is vested in a Governor,
whose term of office commences on the second Wednesday of
the January ensuing his election. (Article II, section 1, Con-
stitution. )

The election for Governor is held on the Tuesday next after
the first Monday of November preceding the expiration of the
incumbent's term of office. The returns are to be transmitted
to the Secretary of State, and by him delivered to the Speaker
of House of Delegates. (Article II, section 2, Constitution. )

The returns shall be opened by the Speaker of the House of
Delegates in the presence of both houses, and the person having
the highest number of votes, being constitutionally eligible, shall
be Governor. (Article II, section 3, Constitution. )

In case of a tie one of the two shall be chosen Governor by
the Senate and House of Delegates. All questions in relation to
the election and eligibility of the Governor shall be determined
by the House of Delegates. Every election of Governor by
General Assembly shall be viva voce, and a joint majority shall
elect. If the vote should again be equal, the election shall be
determined by lot between the two. (Article II, section 4, Con-
stitution. )

A person to be eligible to the office of Governor must have
attained the age of thirty years, and must have been for ten
years a citizen of the State, and for five years next preceding his
election a resident of the State, and at the time of his election a
qualified voter therein. (Article II, section 5, Constitution. )

In case of vacancy by death, resignation or disqualification,
the Legislature, if in session, or if not, then at its next session,
shall elect a Governor to serve the residue of the term. (Article
II, section 6, Constitution. )