122 PUBLIC EDUCATION. [ART. 77

and Washington of six persons, and in each of the other
counties of three persons, two of whom in the counties of
Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Dorchester and Washington,
and one of whom in each of the other counties shall hold their
office for the term of two years; two of whom in the counties
of Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Dorchester and Washing-
ton, and one in each of the other counties shall hold their
office for the term of four years; and two of whom in the
counties of Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Dorchester and
Washington, and one of whom in each of the other counties,
shall hold their office for the term of six years from the first
Monday of May next succeeding their appointment and until
their successors shall qualify. The Governor shall, at the
time of making said appointments, designate the terms of
years of each of the said commissioners when first appointed
under this article. The term of office of the said commissioners,
after the expiration of the term for which first appointed,
shall be a terra of six years; said persons shall be men of high
character, integrity and capacity. Two of said appointees
for the counties of Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Dorchester
and Washington and one of said appointees for each of the
other counties shall be selected and appointed by the Gov-
ernor from the political party which at the last preceding elec-
tion for Governor cast next to the highest number of votes in
the State, so that said minority party shall always have proper
representation upon each of said boards. The Governor may
remove for incompetency, neglect of duty, or misconduct any
person so appointed by him as commissioner of public schools,
after giving due notice to such person of the charges made
against him, and a reasonable opportunity to be heard in his
own defense. In case of vacancy by death, removal from the
county, removal from office by the Governor, resignation, or
disqualification from any cause, the Governor shall fill such
vacancy with an appointee from the same political party as
that of the person whose position shall have become vacated.