if passed over the veto by the affirmative vote of three-fifths of all
the members of each house. The law shall take effect on the first
day of July after passage, unless another effective date after pas-
sage is established by joint resolution of the General Assembly.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Section 4.17. Office of Attorney General.

The attorney general shall be the chief legal officer of the State.
He shall represent the State in all criminal cases in the Court of
Appeals, the Intermediate Appellate Court, and the courts of the
United States, and shall represent the State in all civil cases or
proceedings in which the State is a party or may be interested. He
shall have those other powers and duties with respect to criminal
and civil cases or proceedings, and with respect to his responsi-
bilities as chief legal officer of the State, that the General As-
sembly may prescribe by law. Upon request, he shall give his opin-
ion on any legal matter to either house of the General Assembly or
to its presiding officer, or to the governor, or to any other officer,
agency, or department of the State. The attorney general may
appoint, to serve at his pleasure, the number of deputies or
assistants that the General Assembly may prescribe by law.

Section 4.18. Qualifications.

The attorney general shall have been a qualified voter in the
State and have been authorized to practice law in the State
for at least five years immediately preceding his election or
appointment.

Section 4.19. Election.

The attorney general shall be elected by the voters of the State
for a term beginning on the first Wednesday in January following
his election and ending on the first Wednesday in January in the
fourth year thereafter, and shall serve until his successor has
qualified. If the first Wednesday in January is a legal holiday the
term shall begin on the next day. If the office becomes vacant the
governor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate,
a person to the office for the remainder of the term.

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