Sec. 17. To guard against hasty or
partial legislation, and encroachments of
the Legislative Department upon the
co-ordinate Executive and Judicial
Departments, every Bill which shall have
passed the House of Delegates and the
Senate, shall, before it becomes a Law,
be presented to the Governor of the
State; if he approve, he shall sign it; but
if not, he shall return it, with his objec-
tions, to the House in which it originated,
which House shall enter the objections
at large on its Journal, and proceed to
re-consider the Bill; if, after such re-con-
sideration, three-fifths of the members
elected to that House shall pass the Bill,
it shall be sent, with the objections to the
other House, by which it shall likewise
be re-considered, and if passed by three-
fifths of the members elected to that
House, it shall become a Law. But, in
all such cases, the votes of both Houses
shall be determined by yeas and nays;
and the names of the persons voting for
and against the Bill, shall be entered
on the Journal of each House, respec-
tively. If any Bill shall not be returned
by the Governor within six days, (Sun-
days excepted) after it shall have been
presented to him, the same shall be a
Law in like manner as if he signed it;
unless the General Assembly shall, by
adjournment, prevent its return, in
which case it shall not be a Law.
Sec. 18. It shall be the duty of the
Governor, semi-annually (and oftener,
if he deem it expedient) to examine
under oath the Treasurer and Comp-
troller of the State on all matters per-
taining to their respective offices; and
inspect and review their Bank and other
Account Books.
Sec. 19. He shall, from time to time,
inform the Legislature of the condition
of the State and recommend to their
consideration such measures as he may
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judge necessary and expedient.
Sec. 20. He shall have power to grant
reprieves and pardons, except in cases
of impeachment, and in cases, in which
he is prohibited by other Articles of this
Constitution; and to remit fines and
forfeitures for offences against the
State; but shall not remit the principal,
or interest of any debt due the State,
except, in cases of fines and forfeitures;
and before granting a nolle prosequi,
or pardon, he shall give notice, in one
or more newspapers, of the application
made for it, and of the day on, or after
which, his decision will be given; and in
every case, in which he exercises this
power, he shall report to either Branch
of the Legislature, whenever required,
the petitions, recommendations, and
reasons, which influenced his decision.
Sec. 21. The Governor shall reside
at the Seat of Government, and receive
for his services an annual salary of Four
Thousand Five Hundred dollars.
Sec. 22. A Secretary of State shall be
appointed by the Governor, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate,
who shall continue in office, unless sooner
removed by the Governor, till the end
of the official term of the Governor
from whom he received his appointment,
and receive an annual salary of Two
Thousand dollars, and shall reside at the
Seat of Government; and the office of
Private Secretary shall thenceforth cease.
Sec. 23. The Secretary of State shall
carefully keep and preserve a Record of
all official acts and proceedings, which
may at all times be inspected by a com-
mittee of either Branch of the Legisla-
ture; and he shall perform such other
duties as may be prescribed by Law, or
as may properly belong to his office,
together with all clerical duty belonging
to the Executive Department.
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