of the State, and, in addition, it has the
power to pass public local laws for counties
not having home rule powers and for special
taxing areas. The Home Rule Amendment
of 1954 (XI-E) almost entirely prohibits
the General Assembly from passing local
legislation for incorporated cities and towns,
although the Assembly retains its power to
pass a general state-wide law that affects
them. The General Assembly may establish
such departments of the State government
as are necessary for its efficient operation
and may establish special taxing districts or
areas within the State for the purpose of
administering a special function or functions.
The General Assembly may establish such
taxes as are in accordance with the Consti-
tution of the State and of the United States.
It may propose amendments to the State
Constitution, which must be embodied in a
regular legislative bill and passed by three-
fifths of the total membership of each House.
All amendments to the Constitution must be
submitted to the voters at the next general
election after passage.
All bills passed by the General Assembly
become law when signed by the Governor,
or passed over his veto by three-fifths of
the membership of each House, on the first
day of June after the session in which the
law was passed; except (1) when a later
date is specified in the Act or (2) when the
bill is declared an emergency measure and
passed by three-fifths of the total number
of members of each House, in which case
the bill becomes law immediately upon its
approval by the Governor.
The General Assembly may add a refer-
endum provision to any local bill but may
not submit a state-wide bill to referendum
(with the exception of a proposed amend-
ment to the Constitution or a Soldiers' Bonus
Bill). Most state-wide bills, except an ap-
propriation bill, and any local 'trill which
concerns a county or Baltimore City may
be submitted to a referendum by petition.
No bill subject to a referendum shall be
enforceable until approved by a majority
of the voters at the election in which the
referred bill is voted upon, except an emer-
gency bill, which shall be effective imme- |
diately and shall remain effective thirty days
following its rejection by the voters (XVI).
The House of Delegates has sole power
of impeachment of any officer of the State.
A majority of the whole number of mem-
bers. of the House must approve any bill of
impeachment. The Senate tries all impeach-
ment cases, and two-thirds of the total num-
ber of Senators must concur in a verdict of
guilty (III, 26).
Both Houses elect the State Treasurer by
joint ballot. The General Assembly also
elects the Governor and/or the Lieutenant
Governor if the popular election has re-
sulted in a tie or the winning candidate
and/or candidates are ineligible. When a
vacancy occurs in the office of Governor,
the Lieutenant Governor succeeds to that
office for the remainder of the term. If a
vacancy occurs in the office of Lieutenant
Governor, the Governor nominates a person
to succeed to that office upon confirmation
by a majority vote of all members of the
General Assembly in joint session. If va-
cancies occur in both the offices of Gover-
nor and Lieutenant Governor at the same
time, the General Assembly must convene
and fill the office of Governor by a majority
vote of all the members in joint session.
The chosen Governor then nominates a
Lieutenant Governor with the same con-
firmation.
The President of the Senate serves as
acting Governor if the Lieutenant Governor
is not able to serve as acting Governor.
If there is a vacancy in the office of Presi-
dent of the Senate when he is authorized to
serve as acting Governor, the Senate must
convene and fill the vacancy (Const 1867,
Art. 11, sees. IA, IB, 6 and 7A).
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT TO
THE PRESIDENT AND THE SPEAKER
Orin J. Durey, Assistant to the President
and the Speaker
Legislative Services Building,
90 State Circle,
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 269-2745
The Office of the Assistant to the Presi-
dent and the Speaker was established in
1975 by joint action of the President and |
