Ch. 81

1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

CHAPTER 81
(Senate Bill 524)

AN ACT concerning

Charter Counties - Vacancies - Special Elections —Special Elections

FOR the purpose of proposing amendments to the Constitution of Maryland to authorize
a charter county, as authorized by statute, to enact local legislation permitting the
conduct of a special election, or provide other alternative means, to fill a vacancy in
the County Council; and submitting this amendment to the qualified voters of the
State of Maryland for their adoption or rejection.

BY proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Maryland
Article XI-A - Local Legislation
Section 3

BY proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Maryland
Article XVII - Quadrennial Elections
Section 2

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, (Three-fifths of all the members elected to each of the two Houses
concurring), That it be proposed that the Constitution of Maryland read as follows:

Article XI-A - Local Legislation

3.

Every charter so formed shall provide for an elective legislative body in which shall
be vested the law-making power of said City or County. Such legislative body in the City
of Baltimore shall be known as the City Council of the City of Baltimore, and in any
county shall be known as the County Council of the County. The chief executive officer,
if any such charter shall provide for the election of such executive officer, or the presiding
officer of said legislative body, if such charter shall not provide for the election of a chief
executive officer, shall be known in the City of Baltimore as Mayor of Baltimore, and in
any County as the President or Chairman of the County Council of the County, and all
references in the Constitution and laws of this State to the Mayor of Baltimore and City
Council of the City of Baltimore or to the County Commissioners of the Counties, shall be
construed to refer to the Mayor of Baltimore and City Council of the City of Baltimore
and to the President or Chairman and County Council herein provided for whenever such
construction would be reasonable. From and after the adoption of a charter by the City of
Baltimore, or any County of this State, as hereinbefore provided, the Mayor of Baltimore
and City Council of the City of Baltimore or the County Council of said County, subject
to the Constitution arid Public General Laws of this State, shall have full power to enact
local laws of said City or County including the power to repeal or amend local laws of said
City or County enacted by the General Assembly, upon all matters covered by the express
powers granted as above provided, AND. AS EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED BY STATUTE, TO
PROVIDE FOR THE FILLING OF A VACANCY IN THE COUNTY COUNCIL BY SPECIAL

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