THE GOVERNOR

Theodore R. McKeldin, Governor, 1959
Albert W. Quinn, Assistant to the Governor
William A. Gresham, Administrative Assistant
Thomas S. Carr, Executive Secretary
Mildred K. Momberger, Secretary to the Governor

State House, Annapolis Telephone: Colonial 3-2666
1833 Mathieson Building, Baltimore 2 Telephone: Mulberry 5-4300

The Governor is the chief executive officer of the State and the
Commander-in-Chief of its military forces. He is elected by popular
vote for a term of four years, his term of office beginning on the
second Wednesday of January following his election. No person may
serve as Governor for more than two consecutive terms. To be eligible
for the office of Governor, a person must be at least thirty years of
age, and must have been for ten years a citizen of the State, and for
five years preceding the date of his election a resident of the State.
At the time of his election, he must also be a qualified voter of the
State (Const. 1867, Art. II, secs. 1, 3, 5).

It is the duty of the Governor to submit to each annual session of
the General Assembly, a budget for the next ensuing fiscal year. He
shall also make recommendations for the raising of the principal and
interest of the State's indebtedness. The Governor may also inform
the General Assembly at any time of the condition of the State (II,
19; III, 62(3)).

Before a bill may become law it must be signed by the Governor,
with the single exception of the General Appropriation Act. How-
ever, any bill which he vetoes may be passed without his signature
by three-fifths of the total number of members of each house of the
General Assembly, either at the current session or at the session
next following, or should the Governor, while the Legislature is
in session, fail to return any bill with his objections within six days,
then the Act becomes law automatically; except, when the adjourn-
ment of the General Assembly prevents the return of the bill, then
the bill fails. The Governor has the power to veto any part of an
appropriation bill, in the same manner as other bills, without vetoing
all (II, 17 as amended by Acts 1949, ch. 714).

The Governor is Commander-in-Chief of the Military forces of the
State except when such forces shall be called into the national service.
He has the power to establish a State Guard when the National Guard
has been called into Federal service.

The Governor has power to appoint all military and civil officers of
the State subject to the advice and consent of the Senate except when
the election or appointment of such officer is otherwise provided for.
In addition to appointing the heads of major departments, boards and
commissions of the State Government, the Governor appoints certain
boards and commissions in each county and the City of Baltimore as is
provided by law. The Governor also commissions Trial Magistrates,
Justices of the Peace, and Notaries Public. The Governor has the
power to appoint persons to unexpired terms of the offices of Attorney
General, Comptroller, Treasurer, and members of the General As-
sembly. Any officer appointed by the Governor, excepting members of
the General Assembly, shall be removable by him for cause.

The Governor has the power to grant executive clemency, reprieves
or pardons to any person who is a prisoner of the State, and the
power to remit any fine or portion thereof to any person who has paid
the fine. He may extradite prisoners or persons wanted by other