xxiv CONSTITUTION OF MARYLAND. [ART. 2.

ARTICLE II.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.

SECTION 1. The Executive Power of the State shall be vested
in a Governor, whose term of office shall commence on the
second Wednesday of January next ensuing his election, ond
continue for four years, and until his successor shall have quali-
fied; but the Governor chosen at the first election under this
Constitution, shall not enter upon the discharge of the duties of
the office until the expiration of the term for which the present
incumbent was elected; unless the said office shall become vacant
by death, resignation, removal from the State, or other disquali-
fication of the said incumbent.
Miles v. Bradford, 22 Md. 183

SEC. 2. An election for Governor, under this Constitution,
shall be held on the Tuesday next after the first Monday of
November, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, and on
the same day and month in every fourth year thereafter, at the
places of Voting for Delegates to the General Assembly; and
every person qualified -to vote for Delegates, shall be qualified
and entitled to vote for Governor; the election to be held in the
same manner as the election of Delegates, and the returns thereof,
under seal, to be addressed to the Speaker of the House of Dele-
gates, and enclosed and transmitted to the Secretary of State,
and delivered to said Speaker at the commencement of the
session of the General Assembly, next ensuing said election.

SEC. 3. The Speaker of the House of Delegates shall then
open the said Returns, in the presence of both Houses; and the
person having the highest number of votes, and being constitu-
tionally eligible, shall be the Governor, and shall qualify, in the
manner herein prescribed, on the second Wednesday of January
next ensuing his election, or as soon thereafter as may be practi-
cable.

SEC. 4. If two or more persons shall have the highest and an
equal number of votes for Governor, one of them shall be chosen
Governor by the Senate and House of Delegates; and all ques-